The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-02

Many interesting letters received by
friends and relatives in this city from
our soldier boys in Cuba, Porto Rico
and elsewhere have appeared in The
Tribune. All sorts of interesting events
heretofore only told in commonplace
press dispatches have been perused
with renewed interest. None of the
letters, so far as known. have described
the great "flag-raising" held Novem-
Der IS. 1898, at San Juan, Porto Rico.
Beside. not many soldiers have the
time, inclination. or ability to write an
interesting description of such stirring
events in letter. Such an one, how
ever, was recently received by Frank
Hepler, of Jackson street, from his
'croney," George W. Ives, who enlisted
with Lieutenant Dentler. Private Ives
is member of Company NJ. of the
Eleventh United States infantry His
company SISTED in the ceremony at
San Juan and-well here is his letter
telling all about it.
1t will be remembered that this COM
pany was part of the detachment of
the Eleventh infantry which accom-
panied General Miles to Porto Rico in
the latter part of July. The letter is
as follows:
THE LETTER.
San Juan, Porto Rico, Nov. 13 1898.
Friend Frank: In compliance with your
request and knowing that my friends and
the friends of other soldiers in our COM
mand whose homes are in the vicinity of
Scranton, take more than a passing in
teTest in what We are doing here, take
this opportunity of reciting some of the
experiences we have passed through since
a king sion nf harptOinrG t.
ed stronghold of the now defeated and
humbled Spanish army.
The sixteenth day of October we left
Mayaguez where our regiment had been
Quartered for two months on the trans
port Rita for San Juan. We arrived at
the latter place the day following but Ow-
ing to some misunderstanding We're de-
laNed in landing until the morning of the
18th.
When we did get ashore, however, we
learned, with considerable satisfaction,
that ii was to our command the honor
had been given of taking possession Of
the city and fortifications and of partici.
patinS in the ceremony of raising the
American flag over the various goven-
ment buildings and on the top of Moro
castle and other forts. 1t was IL o'clock
noon that the flag raising took place AMI
the enthusiasm which attended the cere-
mony was such as may be looked for
only on occasions of a like kind where ;hc
VictOrS are possessed OF that generous
spirit that enables them to treat kindly
the vanqushed enemy.
As the flag GSccndCd the poles at the va
rious points the heavy guns of the forts
roared out In salute, drowning for the in
stant the lusty cheer that went up from
| the few American citizens and sympa hiz-
erS who We're here. After the flag raising
We marched to the Spanish barracks. in
the rear of Moro castle and took nOS-
session. Within a week after our land
| ing the Spanish soldiers had all left for
| Spain, though in the city there are MANY
| SUanish residents whose hatred of the
Americans is intense.
THE BCMBARDMENT.
Among the many interesting thing@ to
| be observed here. one Of the principal is
| the effect of SIMPSONS Dombardment.
| Old Moro castle, which Spain boasted
| was proof against almost anything, shows
many ugly scars on her walls where Am
| crican shells had taken out large bites.
| In several places the outer wall was so
badly injured that it will undoubtedly
| have to be rebuilt. In my opinion, the
| American gunners on board Sampson $
| boats could have shelled the old castle
| out of existence without receiving in
| jury III return, in a very few hours, had it
| been the desire of that able naval officer
TO do SO. And Sampson knew it,
| Nor was the fort the only building that
| suffered from the bcmbardment. Directly
| behind the Notifications and for some
| distance into the town the buildings show
| holes and large breaches In their walls
| where exploding shells had found their
| way. The barracks in which we are quar-
| tered was the worst wrecked. One whole
| section, large enough to accommodate to
| 800 soldiers, is entirely torn away, and the
whole side that was exposed to the sea
| Is peppercd with small holes. The land
| approaches to the city appear to be im-
| pregnable and might defy the strength
| of the whole American force on The
| island.
| Tho city of San Juan is an ancient look
| ing old place, the streets are narrow. the
| houses low and dirty, with thick walls
| and closed blinds over holes where win
| dows of glass ought to be but are not,
| and the natives are in keeping with tho
| houses they inhabit. OF course In the
| business section of the town and around
| the main Plaza" tevery Porto Rican
| town has its Plaza, the buildings present
| n much better appearance and the high
| cr classes of society also dwell in build
| ings of finer structure than their poorer
| neighbors. The whole. however, reminds
me of pictures | have seen in childrcn's
Sunday school papers of the ancient ci,ics
| of the Old World.
| A novel experience which / had since
|