Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-07-23
military govern

The ceremony of hosting the stars
and stripes was worth all the blood
and treasure it cost. A concourse of
10000 people witnessed the thrilling
scene that will live forever in the
minds of all the Americans present.
A finer stage setting for a dramatic
episode it would be difficult to i'm
agine. The palace, n picturesque old
dwelling in the Moorish style of archi-
lecture, faces the Plaza de la Reina,
the principal public square. Opposite
rises the Catholic cathedral. On one
side is a quaint. brilliantly painted
building, with broad verandas-the
club of San Carlos-on the other, a
building of much the same descrip-
ton, the cafe de Venus.
Across the plaza was drawn up the
Ninth infantry, headed by the Sixth
cavalry band. In the street facing the
palace stood a picked troop of the
Second cavalry, with drawn sabres,
under command of Capt. Brett. Massed
on the stone tagging between the
band and the line of horsemen were
the brigade commanders of Skaters
division, with their staffs.
On the red tiled roof of the palace
stood Capt. McKittrick, Lieut. MiIey
and Lieut.. Wheeler, Immediately above
them, upon the flagstaff, the illuminat-
ed Spanish arms and the legend "Viva
Alfonso MIL" All about, pressing
against the veranda rails, crowding
windows and doors and lining the
roofs, were the people of the town.
principally women and non-combat-
ants.
AS the chimes of the old cathedral
rang out the hour of 12 the infantry
and cavalry presented arms. Every
American uncovered and Capt. McKit.
trick hoisted the stars and stripes. As
the brilliant folds unfurled in gentle
breeze against fieckless sky, the cav
airy band broke into the strains of
"The Star Spangled Banner" making
the American pulse leap and the
American heart thrill with joy.
AT the same instant the sound of
the distant bomming of Capt. Capron's
battery, firing a salute of 81 guns.
drifted in. When the music ceased,
from all directions around our line
came floating across the plaza the
strains of the regimental bands and
the cheers of our troops. The infan-
try came to "order arms" a moment
later, after the flag was up, and the
band played rally Round the Flag,
Boys" Instantly Gen. McKibbin
called for three cheers for Gen. Shat
ter, which were given with great en-
thusiasm, the band playing Sousa's s
''The Stars and Stripes Forever"
The ceremony over, Gen. Shafter
and his staff returned to the American
lines, leaving the city in possession of
the municipal authorities, subject to
the control of Gen. McKibbin.
Scarcely warship remains off San
tiago harbor entrance, almost the en-
tire fleet holding positions directly op-
posite the deserted fort at Aguadores.
Since o'clock Sunday morning a
stream of refugees has been pouring
into the city, some naked, and all hun
CRY, skeletons and footsore. MANY
had fallen by the wayside.
The contact mines in the harbor
were removed the day Admiral Ger
vera left, but two chains of electric
mines are still down.
Twenty-Five thousand refugees are
quartered at El Caney, 5000 at Firm
eza and 5000 at Cuabitas and San Vim
cente, where they have been living for
fortnight In one case 500 were
crowded into one building, which was
a regular pig-sty, with a horrible
stencil.