Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-07-23
OUR FLAG WAVES
OVER SANTIAGO.
Band Played Troops Cheered.

Santiago, Cuba, Sunday, July II.
The American flag is floating in
triumph over the governors palace
in Santiago de Cuba, General Nc
Kibben has been appointed tempo
rary military governor.
The ceremony OF hosting the
tars and stripes was worth all the
blood and treasure il cost. Ten
tiIonsan people witnessed the stir
ring and thrilling scene that will
live forever in the minds of all the
Americans present.
Finer stage setting for a dramatic
episode it would be difficult to i'm
agine. The palace, q picturesque
old building in the Moorish style OF
architecture, faces the Plaza de La
Reina, the principal public square.
Opposite rises an imposing Cath.
Ole cathedral. On one side is a
quaint, brilliantly painted building
with broad verandas, the San Carlos
Club, on the other a building OF
much the same description, known
as the Cafe de La Venus.
Across the plaza was drawn up
the Ninth Infantry, headed by the
Sixth Cavalry band. In the street
facing the palace stood a picked
troop OF the Second Cavalry, with
drawn sabres, under command OF
Captain Brett. Massed on the stone
tagging, between the band and the
line of horsemen, were the brigade
commanders of General Shafter s
division, with their stats. On the
red tiled roof of the palace stood
Captain McKittrick, Lieutenant
Miley andLieutenant Wheeler.
Immediately above them, upon
the flagstaff were the illuminated
Spanish arms and the legend "Vive
Alfonso Kill" All about, pressing
against the veranda rails, crowding
to windows and doors and lining
the roofs, were the people of San
tiago, principally women and non
batants.
As the chimes of the old cathe
dral rang out the hour of twelve the
infantry and cavalry presented arms
Every American took off his hat and
Captain McKittrick hoisted the
stars and stripes. AS the brilliant
folds unfurled in a gentle breeze
against cloudless sky the cavalry
band broke into the strains of "Ths
Star Spangled Banner" making the
American pulse leap and the Amer
lean heart thrill with joy.
At the same instant there driftet
in the sound of the distant booming
of Captain Capron's battery, firing
salute of twenty-one guns.
When the music ceased, from al
directions around our line cam,
floating across the plaza the strains
of the regimental bands and tn
muffled, hoarse cheers of our troops
The infantry came to "order arms
a moment later, after the flag wa
up and the band playad "Rall.
Round the Flag, Boys" Genera
McKibben called for three cheer
for General Shatter, which wer'
given with great enthusiasm, th,
band playi Sousa's 'The STAR
and Stripes Forever"
The ceremony over, General Shat
ter and his staff returned to th,
American lines, leaving the city il
possession of the municipal author
tiles, subject to the control of Gen
eral McKibben.
The Thirteenth and Ninth regi.
ments OF infantry will remain in th,
city to enforce order and Isl
municipal authority. The Spanish
forces are to encamp outside of oul
lines.
This afternoon the torpedoes ant
mines were taken up or exploded
after which the Red Cross steamer
estate of Texas" entered to give as
sistance to the sick and wounded il
| the city.