The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-08-04
AN INCIDENT OF WAR.
written for This Paper.l

Written for This Paper.l
William F. Crafts was an American resi-.
dent of Santiago de Cuba For ten years he
and his family had lived in pretty home on
the outskirts OF the city. In the business
section be had dingy office and warehouse,
where he had accumulated fortune in the
business of exporting sugar and tobacco to
the United States and European ports.
The Crafts household consisted of the ia.
ther, mother and two children. The one
son of some Is years and the other daugh-
ter just past her teens, who had the beauti-
full fair complexion and golden hair so fire.
quently seen in the New England states.
Every year during the summer months the
mother, son and daughter visited the old
home on the banks of the Hudson, near far
famed West Point, and it was at gradual
ton ball at our military school that Miss
Grace made her debut into American So
ciety. It was here also that she met Lieut..
Stanton, who had that day finished his
course at the Point and graduated with
honor. :,
The love the handsome young soldier felt
for the fair girl at almost their first meeting
was fully returned by her, and ere the sum-
mer was over and the time at hand for Mrs.
Crafts and her two children to return to
their Cuban home, and for Lieut.. Stanton
to join the regiment to which be had been
assigned, he had secured her permission
to ask her father for her hand. The oppor-
tunity for this presented itself few days
later. when the father came north on a bust
ness trip, and to remain until time for the
family TO return.
When Lieut.. Stanton stated his case the
father found no objection to him as suit
able husband for his daughter, but requested
that the marriage be postponed till such
time as the young lieutenant should be
more firmly established in the army. To
this the lovers readily consented, and after
promising to spend his first leave of absence
with his fance Lieut.. Stanton left for the
far west to join his command.
In Santiago the Crafts family were uni
versally respected by both Spanish, Cuban
and foreign residents. They had not taken
sides in the revolution which was devastat.
ing the island, and so had retained the good
will of all those interested in it on either
side When they returned to their home, in
the fall of last year, it was without thought
| of danger to themselves or even tho
| possibility of war between Spain and the
| United States Even when war between the
two countries was finally declared they fell
secure, and it was not until an invading
army from the states had landed near San
tiago and all egress and ingress to and from
the city was shut off that their fears were
aroused. Then all the years Of friendship
and respect the Spanish had given the Amer
lean residents was forgotten. American of
fees, stores and warehouses were pillagec
and sacked and the owners and their fami
lies insulted and threatened.
Among the officers of the invading army
was Lieut.. Stanton. His reg iment of cavalry
was one of the first to land on Cuban soil
and it was with feeling of elation that h'
regarded the chances of soon claiming hi
bride at her fathers house.
Cuban spies were sent into the city t.
gain information as to its defenses, and t.
one of these Lieut. Stanton intrusted mes
sage to his fance informing her of his pres
ence with the American forces, and asking
her if herself or her family needed assist
ance of any kind which he could render.
1t was not until after the first shots at t4'
battle of Santiago had been fired and tn
Spaniards driven in from the outposts tina
the spy was enabled to deliver his messag
to Miss Crafts. By that time true Spanish
vengeance was being reeked against ever,
American in the city. The Crafts home wa
practically blockaded, and for any of its in
mates to show themselves meant insults ant
violence.
It was with a prayer of thanksgiving tina
the fair girl read Lieut.. Stanton's message
They were inside the inner fortitication