The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-20
GAPTULATION 0F CITY.
Story Of Skaters Entry Into
Its Streets.
SAVED AWFUL SLAUGHTER
Desperate Resistance Made Posi-
bic by DefanseS.

Each Approach 10 the City Thrice
Barricaded-The Barrtcades High
Enough and strong Enough TO
Withstand Shrapnel-Barbed Wire
EntangIemcntS That No Body of
Infantry Could Have Passed
Through AIive-NO Hostile Demon
stration Made on the Entry of the
Americans.
Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press.
Santiago de Cuba, July Is, via Kingston,
July 49, Ills a. m.-The events preceding
the hosting of the American flag over the
Governors palace here was full of inter
est
Shortly after O'Clock on Monday morn
ing, Lieut.. Crook of Gen. Skaters staff
entered the city, and all the arms in the
arsenal were turned over to him. The
work of removing the mines which OBJ
structed navigation at the entrance of the
harbor had been progressing all night.
At about O'Clock Gen. Toral, the Span
ish commandant, sent his sword to Gen.
Shafter, as an evidence of submission, and
at S:45 a. m. this morning ali the generals
and their staffs gathered al their head
quarters, and each regiment was drawn
up along the crest of the nights.
Gen. shafter and his generals, with
mounted escort of 100 picked men of the
Second Cavalry, then 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 works. There
they were met by Gen. Toral and his staff
all in full uniform and mounted and a
select detachment of Spanish troops.
What followed took place in fun view of
our troops.
The scene was picturesque and dramat-
ic Cen Shafter with his generals and
staff grouped Immediately in the rear and
with the troops of cavalrymen with drawn
sabers on the left, advanced to meet the
vanquishod foe.
After II few words of courteous greet
ing Gen. Skaters first act was to return
Gen. Toral's sword.
The Spanish general appeared to be
touched by the complimentary words with
which Gen. Shafter accompanied this ac-
ton, and he thanked the American com
mdnder feelingly.
Then followed a short conversation as to
the place selected for the Spanish forces
to deposit their arms, and a Spanish in
fantry detachment marched forward to a
position facing our cavalry, where the
Spaniards were halted. The latter were
without their colors
Eight Spanish trumpeters then saluted,
and were saluted in return by our trump
eiers both giving fOuTishes for lieuten-
ants and major generals.
Gen. Toral personally ordered the Span
ish company which, in miniature, repre-
sented the forces under his command to
ground arms.
Next, by his direction, the company
wheeled and marched across our line into
the road, and thence to the place selected
for camping them
The Spaniards moved rapidly to the
quick notes of the Spanish march, played
by the trumpeters, but II impressed one
Ike the Dead march from Saul"
Although no attempt was made to hu-
initiate them, the Spanish soldiers seem
ed to feel their disgrace keenly and
scarcely glanced at their conquerers as
they passed.
But this apparent depth Of feeling was
not displayed by the other regiments
Without being sulen, the Spaniards APP
peared 10 be utterly Indifferent 10 the re-
verses suffered by the Spanish arms, and
some of them, when not under the eyes
of their officers seemed TO rejoice at the
prospect Of good food and an immediate
return to Spain.
Gen. Toral throughout the ceremony was
sorely detected. When Gen. Shafter in
| troduced him by name TO each member
of his staff the Spanish general appeared
10 be a very broken man. He seems TO be
| man of epyears Of age The lines are
strongly marked and his face is deep
drawn, as Il in physical pain.
Cen TOTaI Tar)lia1 with an nj Of h
straction to the words addressed 10 him
and when he accompanied Gen. Shafter
at the head of the escort, into the city TO
take formal possession of Santiago, Gen.
Toral spoke but few wOtds
The Appealing faces OF the starving refu-
gees strung back into the city did not
move him, nor did the groups Of the
Spanish soldiers lining the road and gaz-
ing curiously at the fair skinned stall
wart-framed conquerors.
only once did the faint shadow Of a
smile lurk about the corners of his mouth
This was when the cavalcade passed
through barbed wire entanglement No.
body Of infantry could have gotten through
this fence alive, and Gen. Skaters re-
marks on the resisting power found the
first gratifying echo in the defeated Gen.
Toral.
Further along the desperate character
of the Spanish resistance as planned.
amazed our officers. Although primitive
il was well done. Each approach 10 the
city was thrice barrcaded and the barri-
cades were high enough and sufficiently
strong to Withstand shrapnel.
The slaughter among our troops would
have been frlghtful had Il ever become
necessary to storm the city.
Around the hospitals and public build
ines and along the west side OF the lines
there were additional empiacements for
guns. though no guns We're mounted on
them.
The streetsof Santiago are crooked. mar
row lines Of one-story houses, most OF