The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-08-10
ovatioas At Every Turn!
Miles Triumphal March Into Porto
Rico.

Miles Irlumphat March Into forto
Rico.
Eztravagantly Joyful Welcome Given
to the Stars and Stripes by the
Inhabitants of tie Towns Being
Taken-The Army Hailed as One
of Liberation, ard Men, Women
and Children Hug the Officers and
Men.
Ponce, Aug. 2, via St. Thomas,
Aug. 3.-The march Of the Ameri-
can army towards San Juan is more
of triumpbal procession than any
thing else. The citizens of Porto
Rico everywhere hail the appearance
of the Americans with delight, with
banners flying, with bands playing
stirring American tunes, with pres
ents of food, cigarettes, cigars, with
hugs and kisses from men, women
and children alike. The scenes des-
cribed of the occupation OF
Suan Diaz are repeated as we march
quickly inland, only the futher we 60
the more enthusiastic the people be-
come.
TOWNS OCCUPIED.
Besides the towns already reported
as being occupied we are in
possession of nine others. These
towns are Arroyo, Satillas, Yiabucoa,
Salinas, Ssntaisbel, Ajuntas, Panue-
las Guayamala and Guayamo.
There were Spanish troops in all
of the important towns in this list.
Guayamo has large garrison.
PUT UP OUR FLAG.
1t was reported 10 the Americans
that these soldiers intended to make
fight and this morning General
Wilson sent two companies there.
On the way the Americans met cou-
.o:I Iok hn hod
ordered the Spsniards out of town
and had hoisted the American flag.
The soldiers thought this was
trick and observed great caution in
approaching, but getting nearer they
saw the American flag waving in the
town without hesitation.
BIG RECEPTION.
Here they found a bigger recep-
ton than ever. The American flag
was waving over the public buildings
and not many in the town had op-
posed it's being raised. The brass
bands were playing yankee Doodle"
ia Rs Boom de Ave." and the men
and women fell upon their knees and
worshipped our soldiers.
SPEECH BY THE MAYOR.
The mayor made speech in which
he said that the day of deliverance
for Porto Ricans had come. Crowds
followed the soldiers everywhere and
the Americans could hardly get
away from them. They insisted on
taking our men into their houses and
giving them feasts such "a no invad-
ing army ever saw. The best they
had was none too good for the hum
blest private.
The mayor made another speech
of welcome at the public square
where the people shouted "Down
with Spain?' and Viva live Ameri-
canos." etc. The Americans hardly
know what Spanish soldiers look
like.
The mayors of four other towns
have visited Ponce and told General
Wilson that the people Of their towns
are glad to be Americans Their
towns had surrendered and they
were ready to turn over everything
to the Americans and have American
officials appointed.
sPANIARDs FLED.
Word was received from other
towns that had not been visited by
the soldiers and consequently had
not formally surrendered, but the
people and officials heard Of the
landing of the Americans and had
hoisted the American flag at once
and kept it hoisted ever since, driv-
ing out the Spaniards from towns
where the soldiers were stationed.
The people in these towns report
that the Spanish soldiers fled in
fright as they did from Ponce. The
Spaniards took the military road
toward San Juan.