IR Series Presents:
Wertie J. Craig
Spanish American War Lasted 6 Days
Age 15
6th Cavalry
Spain's rule in the Philippines came to an end as a result of United States involvement with Spain's other major colony, Cuba. American business interests were anxious for a resolution--with or without Spain--of the insurrection that had broken out in Cuba in February 1895. Moreover, public opinion in the United States had been aroused by newspaper accounts of the brutalities of Spanish rule. When the United States declared war on Spain on April 25, 1898, acting Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt ordered Commodore George Dewey, commander of the Asiatic Squadron, to sail to the Philippines and destroy the Spanish fleet anchored in Manila Bay. The Spanish navy, which had seen its apogee in the support of a global empire in the sixteenth century, suffered an inglorious defeat on May 1, 1898, as Spain's antiquated fleet, including ships with wooden hulls, was sunk by the guns of Dewey's flagship, the Olympia, and other United States warships. More than 380 Spanish sailors died, but there was only one American fatality.
As Spain and the United States had moved toward war over Cuba in the last months of 1897, negotiations of a highly tentative nature began between United States officials and Aguinaldo in both Hong Kong and Singapore. When war was declared, Aguinaldo, a partner, if not an ally, of the United States, was urged by Dewey to return to the islands as quickly as possible. Arriving in Manila on May 19, Aguinaldo reassumed command of rebel forces. Insurrectionists overwhelmed demoralized Spanish garrisons around the capital, and links were established with other movements throughout the islands.
In the eyes of the Filipinos, their relationship with the United States was that of two nations joined in a common struggle against Spain. As allies, the Filipinos provided American forces with valuable intelligence (e.g., that the Spanish had no mines or torpedoes with which to sink warships entering Manila Bay), and Aguinaldo's 12,000 troops kept a slightly larger Spanish force bottled up inside Manila until American troop reinforcements could arrive from San Francisco in late June. Aguinaldo was unhappy, however, that the United States would not commit to paper a statement of support for Philippine independence.
By late May, the United States Department of the Navy had ordered Dewey, newly promoted to Admiral, to distance himself from Aguinaldo lest he make untoward commitments to the Philippine forces. The war with Spain still was going on, and the future of the Philippines remained uncertain. The immediate objective was to capture Manila, and it was thought best to do that without the assistance of the insurgents. By late July, there were some 12,000 United States troops in the area, and relations between them and rebel forces deteriorated rapidly.
By the summer of 1898, Manila had become the focus not only of the Spanish-American conflict and the growing suspicions between the Americans and Filipino rebels but also of a rivalry that encompassed the European powers. Following Dewey's victory, Manila Bay was filled with the warships of Britain, Germany, France, and Japan. The German fleet of eight ships, ostensibly in Philippine waters to protect German interests (a single import firm), acted provocatively--cutting in front of United States ships, refusing to salute the United States flag (according to naval courtesy), taking soundings of the harbor, and landing supplies for the besieged Spanish. Germany, hungry for the ultimate status symbol, a colonial empire, was eager to take advantage of whatever opportunities the conflict in the islands might afford. Dewey called the bluff of the German admiral, threatening a fight if his aggressive activities continued, and the Germans backed down.
The Spanish cause was doomed, but Fermín Jaudenes, Spain's last governor in the islands, had to devise a way to salvage the honor of his country. Negotiations were carried out through British and Belgian diplomatic intermediaries. A secret agreement was made between the governor and United States military commanders in early August 1898 concerning the capture of Manila. In their assault, American forces would neither bombard the city nor allow the insurgents to take part (the Spanish feared that the Filipinos were plotting to massacre them all). The Spanish, in turn, would put up only a show of resistance and, on a prearranged signal, would surrender. In this way, the governor would be spared the ignominy of giving up without a fight, and both sides would be spared casualties. The mock battle was staged on August 13. The attackers rushed in, and by afternoon the United States flag was flying over Intramuros, the ancient walled city that had been the seat of Spanish power for over 300 years.
The agreement between Jaudenes and Dewey marked a curious reversal of roles. At the beginning of the war, Americans and Filipinos had been allies against Spain in all but name; now Spanish and Americans were in a partnership that excluded the insurgents. Fighting between American and Filipino troops almost broke out as the former moved in to dislodge the latter from strategic positions around Manila on the eve of the attack. Aguinaldo was told bluntly by the Americans that his army could not participate and would be fired upon if it crossed into the city. The insurgents were infuriated at being denied triumphant entry into their own capital, but Aguinaldo bided his time. Relations continued to deteriorate, however, as it became clear to Filipinos that the Americans were in the islands to stay.
The " Instant Relative Series " is a means to connect stories with names, lives and memories of intriguing people from the past. Series has been created because of our interest in history, genealogy research, people and Geo-caching. Instant relatives are not related directly to our family. BUT …who knows? The goal is to geo-cache cemeteries in order to share stories which will entertain, educate and on occasion provide a little humor. If one should find inaccuracies within information posted, please email and corrections will be made as necessary.
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Alva Baxter Horine
Alva Baxter Horine, born August 17, 1890, died July 4, 1970 in Eaton, Ohio, buried Monroe Cemetery, Preble Co., Ohio. Married November 15, 1911 to Lousetta Blanche Deem , born July 11, 1891 Hamburg, Ohio, died March 14, 1967, buried Monroe Cemetery, Preble County, Ohio. Thirteen Children!
Blanche's father was John Howard Deem, born January 24, 1855 in Scuffletown, Ohio. He was a farmer and teamster. Her mother was Lydia Catherine Petry Deem, born November 29, 1863 in Monroe Township Preble Co., Ohio. She was a member of the Church of the Brethren.
Alva was a scrap metal dealer and furrier. His hobbies included Mushroom and berry hunting, as well as Pinochle and other card games
Alva Horine and Blanche Deem were married November 15, 1911. They lived in the Eldorado, Ohio area; Alva was a farm hand. Then Alva moved the family to Eaton, Ohio (about 1921) on Mechanic Street. Then they moved to West Alexandria on State Route #35, east of Eaton, in 1924. In the short time they lived at this location, Blanche, Helen, Dwight, and Dale Horine came down with typhoid fever. [black tongue and bowel trouble]. They were fed tapico cooked in water and lemonade. Mom (Blanche) was taken to the hospital suffering a miscarriage while suffering with the typhoid fever. Dwight and Helen were taken to Grandma Horine's on the farm in Castine, Ohio where Aunt Mendia took care of them. Dale was taken to Grandparent Deem's home (John and Catharine Petry Deem) to be cared for.
While living in West Alex. on route #35 by the Twin Creek, Dale was hit by a car, thought to be a Model A. The people who hit him turned around and then drove Dale and Mom to Dayton to the hospital where they had to put a metal plate in Dale's head. Uncle Ernest and Aunt Mary Deem (Blanche's brother from West Alexandria) were at our (Alva Horine's) house at the time Dale was hit; Alva and Dwight were fishing out of town.
We moved to Eaton again about November, 1925 on North Maple Street. Dwight was in fourth grade in Alex and when the family moved to Eaton, he was put back in 3rd grade. Helen was in 8th grade and she was put back in 7th because Eaton was a class A district and West Alex. was a class C district. At this time Alva worked at the fur house of Harry Fudge and Joe Glick hauling coal; then he went into business for himself at Bob Nunlist in the fur business. Eventually the fur business became bad so he went into the waste management business [junk-recycling].
Alva and Blanche lived their lives out in the white house on North Maple Street in Eaton. A big red climbing rose grew up the wall behind the glider couch on the front porch, a favorite spot to sit and visit. Alva was known for his mushroom hunting and berry picking; he knew the best spots in a wide area. He and Blanche were long time members of the Eagles F.O.E where he excelled at pinochle. He instilled the love of card games in his children who gather still to this day to play Hand and Foot (a form of canasta), Euchre, Pinochle, and other games. Blanche raised twelve children on potpie and other good farm-like cooking. The grandchildren who grew up on this delicious treat are still making her sugar cookie recipe