VOL. 33
DEWEY'S GREAT VICTORY.
The Official Report of the big Naval Battle at
Manila received at Washington Saturday.
Not an American Life Lost.
Spaniards Suffered a Frightful Loss—6oo Killed.
Commodore Dewey's official report
of his battle with the enemy at
Manila reached Washington Saturday.
The story briefly told is as follows :
The entire fleet of eleven Spanish
ships was distroyed with losses in kill
ed and wounded running far up into
the hundreds, while the American
fl eet lost not a single man and cnly
s. were injured. It was the most
coi <plete victory ever known.
Following is a summary of the news
of the week.
FRIDAY.
Preparations are in active progress
for augmenting Commodore Dewey's
fleet at Manila, while the authorities
are anxiously awaiting for the tidings
which determine how much if any as
sistance he will need.
Secretary Long has informed the
War Department that the cruiser
Charleston, which has been placed in
commission at Mare Island, will be
the man-of-war which will convoy the
troop ships to Manila.
Secretary Alger will therefore deter
mine the date of the departure of the
cruiser with the army expedition from
Mare Island. It is proposed by the
War Department to place at least a
regiment of infantry on board of the
City of Pekin, which is expected to
sail Irom San Francisco for Manila
about May 15. The City of Pekin,
beside carrying a machine shop for
the repair of the conquered vessels of
the Spanish men-of-war, will carry a
lar/e amount of ammunition.
The American liner St. Paul now
an auxiliary cruiser which went into
commission at Philadelphia yesterday,
will be attached to the Flying Squad
'ron as a scout boat.
SATURDAY.
Dewey's report reached the depart
ment to-day. The news could be no
bet er. The completeness of the
great victory is almost beyond one's
comprehension. The whole Spanish
fleet was wiped out withoift the loss I
of single American and only six
we injured, none seriously.
ewey's squadron first had to run
pa . the strong fortifications at the
er ranee of Manila Bay. The Cavite
fortifications were twenty miles above.
About ten miles further lay the town
ot Manila. Right at this harbor, and
directly within range of the shore bat
teries the battle took place. The
American squadron consisted of the
following vessels : Flagship Olympia,
the Baltimore, Raleigh, Petrel, Con
cord and Boston. The Spaniards
opened fire from their shore batteries
nut nearly every shot either fell short
or else passed over the top without
hitting any of the Americans.
All the ships under Dewey's com
mand did great work. The rapid fir
ing guns were too much for the
Spaniards and they were forced to fall
back.
"Capture or destroy the Squadron"
were Dewey's orders. Never were
instructions more effectually carried
out. Within seven nours after the
.'arrival of the American squadron
J.iothing remained to be done.
) The Spanish, flag on the arsenal
staff was hauled down and a white
flag hoisted in its stead. Dewey has
not landed and taken possession of
the town for a lack of men. But
Manila is wholly at his mercy. He
lean take possession of it at any tiihe,
and as soon as the troops can be for
warded from San Francisco he will
lave an army at his command and
vill at once land and fortify the place,
vhich will render it impregnable.
SUNDAY.
Cable advices from Rear-Admlral
fapson announce his arrival of!
Haitian coast with a division of
fleet. He will remain at the point
xe he is now located until the
lartment or one of the scouts in
as him Of the appearance of the
nish man-of-war which sailed from
Vincent nine days ago.
ome apprehension exists in naval
les at the possibility that the Span
vessels may have passed the
erican scouts at night or in misty
ther, in which event of course it
1 will be more difficult to find them.
I The American Consul at St. Thomas,
I however, is under instructions to be
I diligent in learning of the arrival of
I the Spanish men-of-war, and he will
cable at once to the State Depart
ment whatever information he has.
This will at once be transmitted to
Rear-Admira! Sampson, who will then
carry out the plan drawn up by the
War Board.
MONDAY.
Admiral Sampson with his fleet is
expected to bombard San Juan in a
day or two. The Spanish fleet has
not been sighted and it is believed in
Washington that it has not crossed
the Atlantic.
The battleship Oregon and Mari
etta, reached Bahia, Brazil yesterday
and have over 4000 miles yet to sail.
All the necessary preparations were
made to-day in the War Department
to send an army, consisting of both
volunteers and regulars, of over
61,000 men to invade Cuba.
The first detachment of this army
will be in Cuba by Sunday next, and
will immediately establish a base ot
supplies for the United States troops.
The entire policy of the administration
has been changed since the day that
the news of Admiral Dewey's great
victory reached Washington. From
a defensive plan of operations the
government has now taken a most
aggressive stand. In the Cabinet
meeting to-day the final arrangements
weie made, which it is hoped will cul
minate in the capture by the United
States army and navy of all Spanish
possessions.
It was decided by the President
and his Cabinet that it would be
much better to await a report from
Admiral Sampson before the grand
invasion of Cuba was begun. The
administration fully expects to receive
a definite report from Admiral Samp
son by Thursday of this week, and
it is hoped that in this report danger
hitherto experienced from the Spanish
armada will be entirely eliminated.
As soon as this report is received at
the Navy Department orders will be
immediately sent to General Shafter,
commanding the regular army at
Tampa, Fla., to move at once upon
Cuban soil.
By unanimous vote in both the
Senate and the House of Representa
tives the thanks of Congress and of
the American people have been ten
dered to Acting Rear Admiral Dewey,
and through him to the officers and
men of the fleet under his command.
By a similar unanimous vote a bill
has been passed through both houses
increasing the number of Rear Admir
als in the United States Navy from
six to seven, so as to enable the
President to nominate Acting Rear
Admiral Dewey to be a Rear Adtr'-al.
The Senate has gone further, and
has passed a bill, to which the House
will certainly agree, authorizing the
Secretary of the Navy to present a
sword of honor to Admiral Dewey
and to cause to be struck bronze
medals commemorating the battle of
Manila Bay and to distribute such
medals to the officers and men under
the command of Admiral Dewey in
that battle.
TUESDAY.
The only thing in the way of infor
mation received to-day as to the
whereabouts of the Spanish fleet came
in the way of a cable despatch from
Ambassador Hay, reporting that news
had reached London of the presence
at Cadiz of four Spanish cruisers and
three torpedo boat destroyers.
The information indicated that these
were the four cruisers and the three
torpedo boat destroyers that were at
the Cape Verde Islands.
It is not thought probable that Am.
bassador Hay would send such a des
patch without he had good reascn to
think that it was trustworthy. A' the
same time it was received with in
credulity in the Navy Department.
It is thought that if the Cape Verde
! fleet reappears at a Spanish port be
fore meeting the enemy it will have a
very bad effect in Spain. Still things
are about as bad there now as they
can be.
The most vigorous thing now bring
done in the way of war preparai . n is
that of making preparation for the
invasion ot Cuba. Since the prospect
of meeting the Spanish fleet has g.own
dimmer the decision to drive the
Spanish out of Cuba as quickly as
possible has grown stronger.
BLOOMSBUKG, l'A., THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1898.
Every energy will now be directed
to that end. For that reason the or
der for the volunteers to concentrate
at Chickamauga was countermanded
to-day and they will go at once to
Tampa, Mobile and New Orleans,
where they will embark as soon as
possible for Cuba. The regulars have
already started from Chickamauga.
It is expected that Portb Rico will
fall into the hands of the United
States, perhaps this week, and troops
will have to be sent there. It takes
considerable time to send a large
body of troops even a short distance
in transports, but it is expected that
i s,coo or 20,000 men will be landed
in Cuba within the next ten days.
WEDNESDAY.
From reports received at the Navy
Department, there isn't likely to be
any battle very soon between Samp
son and the Spanish squadron as it is
stated on good authority that the
latter has returned to Cadiz.
Plans were perfected to day by the
Strategy Board for the combined at
tack of the land and naval forces of
the United States on Havana. The
invading army, comprising 16,000
regulars, will leave for Cuba on Mon.
day under the protection of naval
vessels, and will immediately prepare
for an attack on Havana.
Major General Miles and his staff
will leave Washington to-morrow
night and proceed directly to Tampa,
where he will assume command of the
invading army of the United States.
General Miles will first establish head
quarters at Tampa and will do all in
his power to hasten the forward move
ment on Cuba.
The messenger that has been ex
pected from General Gomez has arriv
ed in the United States, and will pro
bably be in Washington to-morrow.
He brings word to the effect that the
United States may depend upon the
assistance of at least 40,000 insur
gents. If this is true the War De
partment will do all in its power to
ward arming and equipping the men
in Gomez's army.
Lieutenant Rowan, who made such
a daring expedition in Cuba, will in
all probability arrive in Washington
by the same train that brings the
messenger from Gomez. Lieutenant
Rowan will also bring information of
the most definite nature in regard to
the assistance that the United States
army can expect to obtain from the
insurgents.
Epworth League Convention-
The eighth annual convention of
the Danville district Epworth League
opens at Catawissa, Friday evening,
May 20 to continue until the follow
ing Saturday and Sunday. The d's
trict comprises lower Luzerne, Col
umbia, Montour, Northumberland and
parts of Schuylkill and Carbon coun
ties. There are 150 leagues in the
district and 300 delegates will repi -
sent the membership of nearly 10,000
Epworthians. A strong program has
been arranged by R. M. Tubbs, of
Shickshinny, the district president.
Rev. Charles M. Boswell, secretary of
the Philadelphia church extension
and Missionary Society, will deliver
the address Friday evening. Satur
day will be devoted to addresses and
papers by league workers. Saturday
night the student volunteer movement
will be presented. Sunday morning
Prof. M. D. Buel, S. T. D., dean of
the theological department of Boston
University, will preach the sermon.
Sunday night a platform meeting will
be held followed by evangelistic ser
vices in charge of Rev. B. C. Conner,
of Bloomsburg. Prof. J. M. Black, of
Williamsport, will be the musical
director.
JACOB BIEFFENBAOH.
The subject of this sketch was born
near Washingtonville, in 1819, and
died at his home on Tenth Street this
town Wednesday evening last, being
79 years of age. He was very well
known having resided here since 1853.
A wife, formerly a Miss Funston, sister
of J. A. Funston, and five children
survive. The funeral took place on
Saturday afternoon and was conduct
ed by Rev. C. H. Brandt of the
Retormed Church.
Full details of Commodore Deweys'
battle with the Spanish at Manila
prove that it was one of the grandest
and most complete victories in the
history of naval warfare. Think of it,
standing the fire of both the Spanish
squadron and land batteries and
coming out without the loss of a
single man. History doesn't contain
a single instance that can be com
pared to it.
With every Boy's Knee Pants Suit we give a
United States Scientific Box Kite, exact count
erparts of those now being used by the United
States Government,
Last Saturday's Busy Buyers
PLAINLY TOLD OF THE MANY BARGAINS WE ARE
OFFERING IN
Men's and Boys' Suits.
We are saving from 15 to 20 per cent, for every buyer who come 3 here.
No trash, no sweatshop clothing, the very best, Saturday will be another
busy day. Tell your friends and neighbors; keep the good news spreading.
Elegant All Wool Hen's Suits,
Of pure wool cloths, satin piped seams, French facing, sewed throughout
with silk, a strictly high grade suit at $7.90.
Splendid all wool Suits for men at $3.98.
A splendid line of all wool Men's Suits at $5.90.
Nothing in these parts can match the suits we sell at SIO.OO, plain or
silk lined.
We have just received a large invoice of Men's All Wool Spring aud
Summer Pants, made by Sweet, Orr & Co., therefore insuring strength and
wearing qualities, $2.00, all sizes.
We sell Mother's Friend Shirt Waists for boys, laundried or not.
Straw and Crash Hats,
New line just in, 25c. and up.
Gidding & Co.
Almost Opposite jfre White Front.
Court House.
rtp, ~ ~ r, . Almost Opposite
The White Front. Court House.
IIEE AT JAMISON OITY-
Jamison City was threatened by a
destructive fire Sunday afternoon, and
for a time it was feared many build
gs would be destroyed but by dint
of hard work on the part of the em
ployees, the large saw mill of the
Union Tanning Company was the
only loss. The mill was one of the
largest and best equipped in this sec
tion, having cut on trial, 113,000 feet
of lumber in ten hours. A portion of
the loading dock together with a
freight car belonging to the P. & R.
Company was also destroyed. The
origin of the fire is not exactly known
but it is supposed to have started
from an over heated stove. The loss
is probably about 30,000, covered
partly by insurance.
The mill gave employment to a
large number of hands, who will now
be thrown out of work.
WOMEN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY
SOCIETY.
The fifteenth annual convention
of the Women's Foreign Missionary
Society of the Danville District con
vened in the Methodist Church,
Tuesday afternoon.
The addresses of welcome were
delivered by Mrs. G. E. Wilbur
and Rev. B. C. Conner. The for
mer for the Society, and the latter
on the part of the Church.
Miss Lulu Bucher, of Sunbury,
responded.
Every session was largely attend
ed.
Mrs. Purdy, of Sunbury, was re
elected President; Mrs. Stehly,
Treasurer, and Miss Bucher, Secre
tary. The following committees
were appointed:
On Press Work—Miss Ella De-
Moyer of Northumberland, Mrs.
Rev. Wm. Houck of Mt. Carmel,
Mrs. G. E. Wilbur, Bloomsburg.
Enrollment Com. Miss May
Sharpless, Miss Fannie Peacock.
Resolution Com.—Mrs. Booth,
Shamokin; Mrs. Mackey, Main
ville ; Mrs. Mendenhall of Berwick.
Captain Gearhart, of Danville,
came up on Monday to see about
the light artillery company recently
organized in town, and also to get
a few recruits ft. Company Fof the
12th RegimeaC Jjt
TOWN COUNCIL.
The Council met Thursday even
ing. The President and all the mem
bers with the exception ot Lockard
were in attendance.
A petition for an arc light on West
First Street was referred to the Com
mittee on Light.
Building permits were granted to
John Fortner for an addition to his
house on West Third Street and to
S. E. Reynolds for a frame house on
Fiftn Street.
Mrs. Cadman asked to be released
from paying for sewer connections on
two of her properties, because she has
suffered considerable damage to her
properties on account of the town.
W. U. Jury was chosen building
inspector.
Postmaster Mellick asked whether
or not the extension of Fourth Street
had been accepted by the town, as
complaint has been made to him
about the free delivery on that street.
The Street Commissioner was in
structed to notify Dr. B. F. Gardner
to lay a pavement along his property
on the Light Street road, and if the
I same is not done within twenty days,
the same will be put down by the
' town.
Orders were drawn for the follow
ing bills :
Moyer Bros, for cement.... $ 600
G. B. Martin, smithing 2 40
Harman & Hassert, repairs.. 15
Creasy & Wells, lumber.... 8 49
W. L. Dematee, lumber.... 937
L- Keller, railing at retaining
wall 39 39
I. Ilagenbuch, health officer 12 50
A. DeShepperd, keys, &c... 1 80
Water Co. for water 6 04
G. M. Quick, court costs... 9 50
Electric Light Co. street lights 432 90
Water Co., water plugs 91 67
Steam Co., heat 26 35
C. W. Hassert, Fire Co. rent 300
John Corbett, police service 123
F.Drake, police service.... 1 25
A. Herbine, police service.. 1 25
G. Girton, police service.... 1 25
Wesley Knorr, police service 40 00
G. F. Quick, Secretary 20 00
A claim for $25 damages was made
by Mrs. E. W. Wyncoop, for tenants
lost by reason of a closed sewer.
Referred to proper Committee.
William Gilmore and A. M. Winter
steen were present and made inquiry
r.onrprnintr due the F.
NO. 19
Insurance Companies.
Notice was given that a nine rrillj
tax rate would be proposed at 'he
next meeting.
Several other subjects of minor im
portance occupied the attention of
Council for some time, after wnich it
adjourned. |
Some of our citizens are complain
ing about flags being stolen off" of
their buildings, and steps should be
taken to arrest and make an example
of the petty purloiners. It is not thel
value of the flags, but they were putl
up by reason of Dewey':, triumph over'
the enemy, they are the emblems of
liberty and every true American
should be content to see them flutter
ing in the breezes. It is one of the
meanest species of robbing, and a
person with any self respect or love
for his country would not do it.
A very sensational case was tried at
Bellefonte last week. It was the
Commonwealth against Rev. J. H.
Erdman a former pastor of the Evan
gelical church at Centre Hall, Centre
County. The charge was criminal
intimacy with a young woman, a mem
ber of his church. The Jury finally
brought in a verdict of guilty, and the
preacher was sentenced to pay a fine
of sr, costs of prosecution and six
months imprisonment in the county
jail. As a minister, he was highly
successful and his downfall has created
great surprise. He has a wife and
six children now living at Shamokin.
There will be a number of vacant
positions in the telegraph offices off
the Pennsylvania and Reading rail
roads in case of a continuance of war,
as a large number of telegraphers of
both companies have offered their ser
vices to the government and are re
ceiving notification of their accept
ance. All who return with an honor
able discharge will be reinstated by
their employers.
"It is more than likely that Blooms
burg will be in the Central Pennsyl
vania Base Ball League Mr. Harrv
VV. Jungkurth will transfer his Germa>'-
town club to that place it a guarantee
fund is raised. It is said that the
amount necessary will be quickly sub
scribed.— Willianisport Grii.
1 here is a debt from last year's
; before there will