The evening times., 1898-09-14
You invited to participate i'm the enterprise

to witness the entrance of the American
troops. On all faces shone glad smiles
of welcome, but fear of the Spanish ef-
fectually checked anything like Il demon
stration. There was one exception TO this
rule. A diminutive Porto Rican. who had
followed the Americans on foot from
Guayama, had the nerve to display a
small American flag on his hat. These
were the only Stars and Stripes in sight.
and evidently displeased a member of the
Guardia Civil. who attempted 10 arrest
the man. But the Por,o Rican brushed
the soldier aside with a gesture of dis
dain.
Americana" he said proudly pointing
to the tiny, flag in his hat. The Guardia
Civil stood aside, abashed and uncertain.
while the Porto Rican walked on unmo-
Tested.
In the town the streets were so blocked
with people that progress was difficult
but there was no demonstration. Here
and there an aged. white-haired man
brushed away u tear of heartfelt thank
fulness. These people had waited 50 long
and anxiously for the coming of the
Americans that they had almost come to
doubt 1t. But now, sure enough, the
liberators had come, and while they could
not cheer or wave American flags, their
Difference and respect spoke in every at
titude and gesture. Some whispered to
their neighbors, asking if the handful of
men they saw constituted the entire
American army
Before dwelling in a street Just off the
plaza stood a file OF the Guardia Civil. at
its head a gray-headed sergeant. his
breast covered with medals This was the
house reserved for Gen. Brooke The
general dismounted and entered, followed
Of a
the wagon train passed through the town
and went into camp IN a meadow near
the road to Aioonito. Clerks attached to
headquarters. staff officers and newspaper
men soon filled the two small hotels TO
overhowing. and many were compelled to
seek accommodations for the night in
private residences, where hospitality was
freely rendered.
Further on to Caguns.
From Cayey to Caguas, the second
days journey, was less mountainous but
not less picturesque. Virtually the entire
adjacent population lined the road, con-
tinually offering water and fruit TO the
Americans. Five hours brought us over
lofty range of hills and through n
broad, fertile valley to Caguas. Caguas
is an important town, and now contains
more than 1000 Spanish regulars. which
constituted the garrisons at Aibonito and
Guayama. This influx of troops has
overcrowded the town. all the empty
houses being occupied by soldiers and
TO secure accommodation was almost i'm
possible. a house had been reserved for
Gen. Brooke which was large enough to
accommodate himself and immediate
staff, but the bulk of the HEADQUARTERS
attaches were compelled to shift for
rhny !,
at Cayey, the entire population turned
out. Two companies of Spanish troops
were drawn up in honor of Gen. Brooke
and saluted when he passed
1t is but little more than two hours by
coach from Caguas to Rio Piedras but
it required four hours for the cavalry
horses to walk the distance of twenty.
| five kilometers. The journey was over
rolling country and was marked by
incidents similar TO the TWO previous
days. Gen. Brooke was accompanied
from Caguas by a detail of Spanish
troops as a courtesy In Rio Piedras
and San Juan the pro-Spanish sentiment
is very strong, but the people, prompted
| by curiosity, turned out en- masse
Gen. Brooke was met by the chief OF
| staff of Gen. Macias and escorted to the
| captain generals summer residence
which had been prepared for his recep-
| ton. Rio Piedras is an aristocratic sub
| urb of San Juan, five miles out, and /.
| connected with the capital by a narrow.
| gauge steam railroad.
| On the day following his arrival at Ri,
| Piedras Gen. Brooke attended by hi.
staff, entered San Juan and formally
| called upon Gen. Macias. The reasor
| the American general called first upoI
the Spanish general is that the latter
| outranks the former.