The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-20

copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press).
The events preceding the hosting OF the
American flag over the governors palace
here amid the booming of guns, the strains
Of martial music and the wild cheering of
twenty thousand men along seven miles OF
entertainments, were full OF interest. Short
" after o'clock on Monday Lieut. Crock,
of Gen. Skaters staff, entered the city,
and all the alarms in the arsenal were
turned over to him. The work OF removing
the mines which obstruoted navigation at
che entrance Of the harbor had been pro-
crossing all night. About Z o'clock Gen.
Toral. the Spanish commander, sent his
sword to Gen. Shafter as evidence OF his
submission, and at 8:45 a. m. all the general
oficers and their STATS assembled at Gen.
Skaters headquarters Each regiment
was drawn up. along the crescent OF the
heights.
Skaters Escort
Gen. Shafter and his generals, with q
mounted escort of q hundred picked men OF
the Second cavalry, then rode over our
trenches to the open ground. at the foot OF
the hill, In the main road to Santiago mid
way to the then deserted Spanish works.
There they were met by Gen. Toral and his
etaff, all in full uniform and mounted, and
. select detachment OF Spanish troops.
What followed took place in full view OF
our troops.
The scene was picturesque and dramatic.
Gen. Shafter, with his generals and stan
grouped Immediately in the rear. and with
The troops of cavalry with drawn sabers on
the left, advanced to meet the vanQuished
foe.
Torals Sword Returned
After few words Of courteous greeting.
Gen. Skaters first act was to return to
Gen. Toral bis sword. The Spanish general
appeared to be touched by the compliment
airy words with which Gen. Shafter accom-
panied this action, and he thanked the
American commander feelingly.
Then followed q short conversation as to
the place selected for the Spanish forces to
deposit their arms, and q Spanish infantry
detachment marched forward to 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 trumpet
ers, both giving fiourishes for lieutenant
generals and major generals.
Gen. Toral then personally ordered the
Spanish company which in miniature rep
resented 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 1t
impressed one like the Dead March from
SAUL" Though no attempt was made to
humiliate them, the Spanish forces seemed
to feel their disgrace. and scarcely glanced
at their conquerors as they passed by.
But this apparent depth of feeling was
not displayed by other regiments. With
out being sullen, the Spaniards appeared to
be utterly Indifferent to the reverses suf-
fered by the Spanish arms, and some of
them. when not under the eyes Of their Off
GERS, 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
introduced him by name to each member OF
his staff, the Spanish general appeared to
be a very broken man. He seemed to be
about 60 years of age and of frail constitu-
ton, though stern resolution is shown by
every feature.
The lines are strongly marked and his
face Is deeply drawn, as if in physical pain.
Gen Toral replied with an air Of abstrac-
ton to the words addressed to him when he
accompanied Gen. Shafter, at the head of
the escort, into the city to take formal pos
session Of Santiago. Gen. Toral spoke but
few words. The appealing faces of the
starving refugees streaming back into the
city did not touch him, nor did the groups
of Spanish soldiers lining the road and gag
ing curiously at the fair-skinned, stalwart-
framed conquerors. Only once did the
the faintest shadow Of a smile Turk about
the corners of his mouth. This was when
the cavalcade passed through a barbed-
wire ENHANCEMENT. No body of infantry
could ever have gotten through this de-
tense alive, and Gen. Skaters remark
about its resisting powers found the first
gratifying echo In the defeated generals
heart.
Further along the desperate character
of the Spanish resistance, as planned
amazed our officers. Although primitive
It was well done. Each approach to the
city was thrice barricaded and wired. ant
the barbados were high enough and suf
ficiently strong to withstand shrapnel
Slaughter Would Have Been Awful.
The slaughter among our troops woult
have been frightful had it ever become nee
essary to storm the city
Around the hospitals and public build
ings and along the west side OF the linz
there were additional works and emplace
ments for guns though no guns wer,
mounted on them. The streets Of San
tiago are crooked, narrow lines Of one
story houses. most Of which are yer,
dilapidated. but every veranda Of ever.
house was thronged by its curious inhab
itants and disarmed soldiers. These wer
mostly of the lower class. Few expires
sions of any kind were heard along tn
line There were some shouts for fire.
Cuba, but as rule these were only NUT
terings. The better class OF Spaniards re
mainded indoors or satisfied their curiosi
ty from behind blinds. Several spanisl
ladies in tumble down carriages averte,
their faces as we passed. The squalor Il
the streets was frightfuL The bones o
dead horses and other animals wsr