The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-20

Kingston, July 20.-lThe events pre-
ceding the hosting OF the American flag
over the governors palace in Santiago,
amid the booming of guns. the strains
OF martial music and the wild cheering
or $4,000 men along the seven miles of
entrenchments were full of interest.
Shortly after 9 o'clock Monday morning
Lieutenant Cook, OF General Shafter's 4
stan. entered the city. and all the arms
In the issenal were turned over to him.
ihe work OF removing mines which OBJ
structed navigation at the entrance OF
the harbor Mad been progressing all
night. At about o'clock, General
Toral, the Spanish commander sent his
sword to General Shafter as evidence of
his submission, and at S:45 a. m, all
the general officers and their stats as
sembled at General Skaters headquar-
ters. Each regiment was drawn up
along the crest Of the heights. General
Shafter and his generals. with a mount
ed escort OF 100 picked men OF the Second
cavalry. rode over our trenches to the
open ground at the foot OF the hill on the
main road to Santiago, midway TO the
then deserted Spanish works. There
they were MET by General Toral and
his staff. all in fun uniform and mounted,
and select detachment Of Spanish
troops.
what followed took place In view Of
our troops. The scene was picturesque
and dramatic. Afer few words of
courteous greeting, General Skaters
first act was TO return General Torals
sword. The Spanish general appeared
TO be touched by the complimentary
words with which General Shafter ac-
companied this action, and he thanked
the American commander feelingly.
Then followed O. short conversation as
TO the place selected for the Spanish
forces to deposit their arms.
General Toral personally ordered the
Spanish company which in miniture.
represented the forces under mis- COM
mand. to ground arms. Next. by his
direction, the company wheeled and
marched across our line into the rear
and thence to the place selected for
camping. The Spaniards moved rapid
ly, to the quick notes of the Spanish
march. played by the trumpeters; but
1t impressed one like the Dead March"
from Saul" Although no attempt
was made to humiliate them, the Span
fish soldiers seemed to feel their dis
grace keenly and scarcely glanced at
their conquerors as they passed: but
this apparent depth Of feeling was not
displayed by the other regiments.
Without being sullen. the Spaniards ap-
peared to be utterly Indifferent to the
reverses suffered by the Spanish arms.
and some Of them, when ont under the
eyes of their officers, seemed to secretly
rejoice at the prospect OF food and an
immediate return to Spain.
General Toral, throughout the eere-
mony. was sorely detected. When Gen
eral Shafter introduced him by name to
each of his staff, the Spanish general ap-
peared to be p very broken man. He
seemed to be about 60 years of age and
OF frail constitution, though stern reso-
luton Is shown in every feature. The
lines are strongly marked and his face
is deep drawn, as IL In physical pain.
General Toral replied with an air of
abstraction to the words addressed to
him, and when he accompanied General
Shafter at the head of the escort into the
city to take formal possession of San
tiago, he spoke but few words. The
appealing faces Of the starving refugees
streaming back into the city did not
move him. nor did the groups of Span
fish soldiers lining the road and gazing
euriously at the fair-skinned. stalwart-
framed conquerors. Only once did the
the corner Of his mouth. This was when
the cavalcade passed through a barbed
W<ire ENHANCEMENT. No body of in
fantry could have got through this de-
tense alive. and General Skaters re-
mark about its resisting power found
the first gratifying echo In the de-
feated generals heart,
Further along the desperate character
Of the Spanish resistance, as planned,
amazed our officers. Although prim.
itive, IL was well done. Each approach
to the city was thrice barricaded and
wired. and the barricades were high
enough and sufficiently strong to with
stand shrapnel. The slalfghter among
our troops would have been frightful
had II become necessary to storm the
city.
The squalor In the streets was fright
full. The bones OF dead horses and
other animals were bleaching In the
streets. and buzzards. as tame as spar
rows. hoped aside TO let us pass. The
windows OF the hospitals In which there
were over 1900 sick men were crowded
with invaIids who dragged themselves
there TO witness our incoming. In
one square. relic Of an old merrygo-
round told of happier days. but on every
side there were evidences OF the pitt
less siege and of starvation.
The palace was reached after 10
O'Clock. There General Toral intro
duced General shafter and the other
American generals to the alcalde and
the chief OF police. as well as to the
other municipal authorities. Luncheon