Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-07-21
SANTIAGO sURRENDERS.

that he would hold out no longer. Our
government had determined that there
should be no further delay in the ne
gotiations with the Spanish, and Gen
eral Toral was plainly told that unless
he surrendered by Thursday at noon
the bombardment would begin, His
position was hopeless. Our troops
hemmed the city in on every side,
preventing reinforcements from reach
ing the Spanish, and at the same time
making their escape impossible, The
Spanish commander, at the last mo-
ment, hoisted the white flag, and the
news was quickly flashed to this coun-
try. There was hitch in the terms,
however, and it was not until Sunday
that our flag was raised over the city.
The Spanish authorities wanted to re-
tain the arms Of the soldiers, but Gen
eral Shafter would not listen to any
such proposition. He didn't propose
to let the Spanish carry off the guns
with which they had been shooting our
men. General Toral finally yielded
every point, the only promise that
General Shafter made being that our
government would send the Spanish
soldiers back to Spain at our expense.
The formal surrender Of the city
was an impressive scene. General
Toral and General Shafter met mid
way between the lines. The Spanish
general and his staff, Immediately
clad, approached General Skaters
party slowly. As the two command
ers neared each other they rode
in advance of their attending
officers, and when within easy speak
ing distance drew rein simultaneously
and raised their hats. Immediately
every officer on both sides uncovered
his head and remained so until Shat
ter and Toral had replaced their hats.
After exchanging salutations General
Shafter announced that he was ready
to receive the surrender Of the city
under the terms Of capitulatiOn al
ready agreed upon and signed. Gen
eral Toral, speaking in Spanish, then
said:
a deliver up the city and Province
of Santiago de Cuba into the authon-
ty Of the United States"
General Toral then offered his sword,
but General Shafter courteously babe
him retain it. The General and mem
bers of his staff were then introduced
to the principal American officers.
While this function was under way
the Ninth Regular Infantry, in full
marching order, advanced from onr
lines. The American infantry took
position at the rear, having been Sc
lected as the regiment to occupy the
city. At the same time the Thirteenth
Infantry descended into the valley to
receive the Spanish garrison, which
began to emerge from the city and
which slowly marched along the broad
road until within three hundred yards
of our lines. AS the Spanish soldiers
filed past General Toral they saluted
him and he gravely bowed acknowl-
edgment with sorrowful face. To the
front the officers went and stacked
their arms and then moved along into
positions where the men could recline
on the grass.
This formaity being over, General
Toral saluted General Shafter and
turned toward the city. General
Wheeler wheeled his horse, and the
two commanders, conqueror and con-
quered, enter Santiago side by side.
The entire population Of the city lined
the streets or gazed upon the process
sion from the housetops and windows.
A majority of the people seemed
pleased to see the Americans enter
and welcomed our soldiers with glad
faces and smiles.
The cavalcadep passed slowly through
the streets until the plaza was reached.
In front of the Governors palace the
two generals and the members of their
stats dismounted.
The party entered the governors
palace, where the officials of the city
were presented to General Shafter and
his officers. An hour was spent in
this ceremony, and at noon three
American officers who had been select
ed to perform the ceremony Of unfurl-
ing the flag, assembled to the cupola of
the palace. As the cathedral bells
rang out the hour of noon the stars
and stripes shot to the top of the flag
pole where for centuries had waved
the banner of Spain. General Shafter,
General Wheeler and every American
present uncovered, while the soldiers
presented arms and the band played
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