The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-19
TIE END CAME SWIFTLY AND UNExpEcr.
EDLY,

Tho end camo swiftly and unex
pectodly. Tho Santiago campaign,
with it's dcods Of splendid daring
ana dark with tho record of slaugh-
ter had been believed by many mon
high IN rank to have only just bo,
gun. The refusal Of tho Spanish to
surrender has beon so emphatic and
so recent that both army and navy
had forsaken the idea of victory
without further bloodshed, and noon
today had been set for tho final and
desperate assault upon the stubborn
defenses Of the city.
That it's Notifications were strono
and that it's forces woro brave all
knew, and today had boon looked
forward to rs likely to be tho blood
lost in the history Of the campaign;
and, when soon after 2 o'clock this
afternoon Admiral Sampson received
by signal the news that General
Ioral had surrendered, tho admiral
and his officers scarcely credited the
story.
When Gonora] Toral on Monday
last refused absolutely to consider
tho torms of unconditional surrender
and when General Shafter announced
negotiations at an end, it was be-
loved that the taking Of the city
without further fighting was an i'm
possibility. The artillery of the
Federal forces was ordered to be
rushed to the front, the investing
line was extended to tho town com
pletely and evcry preparation was
made for the final assault.
Acting under instructions from
Washington, however, General Shat
ter again proposed surrender, and at
a conference yesterday at which
General Miles and General Toral
were present, it was proposed to al
low the Spanish officers to retain
their side arms and tho American
commander offered to return the de-
foated army to Spain under convoy
and parole.
The story of the conference has
already been told. General Torals
announcement that the matter would
have to be referred to his government
convinced the majority of the officers
at headquarters that nothing further
would come of the negotiations and
an order was issued to prepare for
general attack at noon today, at
which hour tho extended armistice
expired.
Tho mon at the front made everv
preparation for battle, tho fleet gath
cred around the little bay of Aguad-
ofns to hurl shells over the hill and
into tho city, and tho combined
American forces quietly aud grimly
awaited tho word Of General Miles
But while all these preparations
were going forward General Shafter
and General Miles were still hard at
work in IN attempt to avoid tho
slaughter which must follow IN at
tack.
Tho telephone and telegraph wires
from tho front to Jaragno wero bur.
doned all the forenoon with mes
sages to and from Washington, and
General Toral was busy in communi-
cation with either Captain General
Blanco or with tho government ut
Madrid.
At about 1 o'clock General Miles
sont an aide do. camp from Jaragua
to Rear Admiral Sampson telling
him tho chances for n surrender were
good and that no shots must be fired
from tho fleet without definite orders
from tho shore.
AS tho hour Of noon approached,
the Now York ran close in shore ut
Aguadorcs and took up position in
readiness for the expected lombard
ment Of the, to the fleet, hidden
city. Tho Brooklyn ranged in tho
rear of tho Now York and the other
vessels took up positions assigned to
them. The swift little Hist steamed
to Jaragua to await word from Gen
eral Miles