The Globe-republican., 1898-07-21
HOSTING Of OLD GLORY.
It Was Worth All the Blood and
Treasure It Cost at Santiago.
A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.
A Stirring and Thrilling Scene That VIII
Live Forever In tho Minds Of An
Those Present-"The Star SpanEled
Banner Played.

SANTIAGO De CUBA, July II. noon
Amid impressive ceremonies the Span
ish troops laid down their arms be-
tween the lines of the Spanish and
American forces at 9 o'clock this morn.
ing.
General Shafter and the American
division and brigade commanders and
their stats were escorted by troop of
cavalry and General TOral and his staff
by 100 picked men. Trumpeters ON
both sides saluted with fourishes.
General Shafter returned to General
Toral the latter's sword after it had
been handed to the American COM
mander.
Our troops, lined up at the trenches,
were eyewitnesses of the ce remony.
General Shafter and his escort, accom-
panied by General Toral, rode through
the city, taking formal possession.
The city had been sacked before
they arrived by the Spaniards.
AT the palace elaborate ceremonies
took place. Exactly at noon the Ameri-
can flag was raised over the palace
and was saluted by twenty-one guns
by Captain Capron's battery. At the
same time all the regimental bands in
our line played 1.-The Star Spangled
Kinley's congratulatory telegram was
read to each regiment.
The Thirteenth and Ninth regiments
of infantry will remain in the city to
enforce order and exercise municipal
authority. The Spanish forces are to
encamp outside of our lines.
General Mckibben has been ap-
pointed temporary military governor.
The ceremony of hosting the stars and
stripes was worth all the blood and
treasure it cost. A vast cOncourse of
10, QUO people witnessed the stirring
and thrilling scene that will live for
ever in the minds of all the Americans
present. A finer stage setting for a
dramatic episode it would be difficult
to imagine. The palace. a picturesque
old dwelling in the Moorish style of
architecture, faces the Plaza de la Rel
ma, the principal public square. OPP
pOsite rises the imposing Catholic ca
thedral. On one side is quaint. bril-
liantlv painted building, with broad
verandas-the club of San CarlOs-on
the other building of the same de
scription is the Cafe de Ia Venus.
Across the plaza was drawn up the
Ninth infantry, headed by the Sixth
band. In the street facing the
palace stood a picked troop of the Sec
ond cavalry. with drawn sabers, under
command of Captain Brett. Massed on
the stone tagging between the band
and the line of hOrsemen were the bri-
gade commanders of General Skaters
division, with their stats.
On the red-tiled roof of the palace
stood Captain McKittricls, Lieutenant
Miley and Lieutenant Wheeler. imme-
diately above them, upon the flagstaff,
the Illuminated Spanish arms and the
legend: viva Alfonso MIL" All
about, pressing against the YER
anda. crowding to windows and
doors and lining the roofs, were
the people of the town, princi-
pally women and non-combatants.
AS the chimes of the old cathedral
rang out the hour of L.. the infantry
and cavalry presented arms. Every
American uncovered, and Captain Nc
kittrick hoisted the stars and stripes.
AS the brilliant folds unfurled in q
gentle breeze against fieckless sky,
the cavalry band broke into the strains
of 1.-The Star Spangled Banner maxi
ing the American pulse leap and the
American heart thrill with JOY.
At the same instant the sound of
distant booming of Captain Capron's
battery, firing salute of twenty-one
guns, drifted in. When the music
ceased, from all directions around our
line came floating across the plaza the
strains of the regimental bands and
the muffied. hoarse cheers of our
troops.
The infantry came to ''Order arms"
a moment later. after the flag was up.
and the band played Rally Round
the Flag, Boys" Instantly General
called for three cheers for
General Shafter, which were given |
with great enthusiasm. the band play !
ing Sousas The Stars and Stripes |
Forever"
The ceremony over. General Shafter |
and his staff returned to the American |
lines, leaving the city in the posses
sion of the municipal authorities. sub
iect to the control of General Nc |
kibben.
To Carry Prisoners Home.