Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-08-03
AN INCIDENT OF WAR.
IwrIilen Coz rhls Parer.l

r.
M''i,am +. Crafts was an American resi-
dent OF Santiago de Cuba. For ~, &C.,. A..
and has family had lived in prettv horn. ~,
the outskirts OF the city. In tho bvs;nrss
section he had diney office and Warehouse
~nere he had accumulated a fortune in the
business Of exporting sugar aud tobacco 10
Tue United States aud European ports.
The Crafts household consisted of the 4,
Their. mother and two children. The ON,
son OF some 10 years and the other a daueh
yer lnst last her teens. who had the bcau,i.
'ui ialr complexion and golden hair so fire..
quenty seen IN the New England states.
Every year during the summer months the
mother, son and daughter visited the old
home on the banks of the Hudson. near far.
iamed West Point. and IL was al a eradua
ton ball al our military school that Miss
Grace made her debut into American So
eicty. II was here also that she met Lieut.
stanton. who had that day finished his
course at the Point aud graduated with
honor.
The love the handsome young soldier fell
Tor the fair girl at almost their FIRST meeting
was fully returned by her. aud ere the SUM
mer was over and the time at hand for NrS
Crafts and her two children to return TO
Their Cuban home. and for Lieut.. stanton
TO JOIN the regiment TO which he had been
assigned, he had secured her permission
to ask her father for her hand. The oppor,
tunity for this presented itself few DAYS
later. when the father came north ON a bus,
ness trip. aud to remain until time for the
family 30 return.
When Lieut. Stanton stated his case the
father found no objection TO him ns a .,,i,
able husband for bis daughter. but requested
that the marriage be postponed TN such
time rs the young lieutenant should he
more firmly established IN the army To
tins the lovers readily consented. and after
piom'sing TO spend his FIRST leave OF absence
with his hancc Lieut.. Stanton left for the
Tar west TO join his command.
ln Santiago the Crafts family were uni
versal'y respected by both Spanish, Cuban
and foreign residents. They had not taken
sides in the revolution which was dcvastat.
ing the island and 30 had retained Tie good
wall OF all those interested in IL on either
side. When they returned to their home. in
the fall OF last year. Il was without a thought
OF danger TO themselves or even the
possibility Of war between Spain aud the
United States. Even when war between the
two countries was finally declared they felt
secure, and u was not until an invading
army from the states had landed near San
NaSo hnI Az ckrcss ana tngrcnr 10 and from
the city was shut of that their fears were
aroused. Then all the years Of friendship
and respect the Spanish bad given the Amer.
lcan residents was forgotten. American OF
ices. stores and warehouses were pilnged
and sacked and the owners and their FAM
lies insulted and threatened.
Among the officers Of the invading army
was Lieut.. Stanton. His regiment Of cavalry
was one Of the FIRST TO land on Cuban soil,
and Il was with feeling Of citation that he
regarded the chances Of soon claiming his
bride at her fathers house.
Cdban spies were sent into the city to
gain information a. TO its dcfenses. and 20
one of these Lieut.. Stanton intristed a mes
sage TO his hance informing her Of his pres
ence with the American forces, and asking
her II herself or her family needed assist.
ance OF any kind which he could render.
IL was not until after the first shots at the
battle Of Santiago had been fired and the
Spaniards driven in from the outposts that
the spy was enabled TO deliver his message
TO Miss Crafts. BY that time true Spanish
vengeance was being rcekcd against every
American in tho city. The Crafts home was
practically blockaded. and for any Of its in
mates to show themselves meant insults and
violence
IL was with prayer OF thanksgiving that
the fair girl read Lieut.. Stanton's message.
They were inside the inner Notifications
while he and his regiment had but that day