Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-07-21

ship, while answering pennants flew |
from each vessel in response TO the New |
,York's repstition OF the Hist'h signals.
Eventually the Hist ran alongside |
the flagsh ip and delivered her dispatch. |
Ii contained no details, boing simply a
brief message by wire to Acting Rear
Admiral Sampson from Gen. Shafter,
saying that the enemy had surrendered.
Within five minutes of the Hist'a
arrival the signal oliicera ashore hogan
sending messages with the wigwag flag
on hilltop to the right of the ravine
in which the ruins of Aguadpres fort
lie. This hill has bean selected IA the
signsl station and from there was tele-
grnphed to Capt Sampson a contirma-
ton of the surrender. This message
was az unsatisfactory as was the Hist's
to the officers of tine feet, who were
anxious to know the terma OF the aur-
render and other details. while tho
wigwagged message simply set forth
The bars statement that the eurrender
Of Santiago had occurred.
Tbs Iowa was at once ordured to
steam west to Moro Castle, evidently
being sent to watch the movements of
the men manning the shore batteries.
IN THE NICK OF TIME.
Gen. Tcral surrendered in the nick
| of time, fur had the plans of battle
bsBn carried OUT the City Of Santiago
| would have been torn TO pieces before
night. The feet han the exact range,
| and although thh city wns about eight
| miles away and hidden by the hills
along the coasi, Commodore Schley
said that shells could be dropped in
| the heart OF tho towu every two
minutes for as long Tins us Gen.
Skater thought it necessary.
Aside from the work of the fleet,
i seven batteries of artillery were 10
position, and 10 placed that three. inch
shells could hnva been hurled into the
town on all aides.
The Spaniards, however, had made
careful preparations and had even
erected barbados in the streets, ready
to fight tn the very last,
Gen. Shaftor and his officers con
6dently expected the American loss to
be heavy il the attempt had to be
made to capture the city by assault,
and elaborate hospital arrangements
were made in anticipation of such an
occurrence. a large number OF tents
having boen erected at Sihoney since
the buildings there were burned.
At Gen. Wheeler's Headquarters,
before Santiago de Cuba, July Is, II
a. m, via Kingston, Jamaica, July 16
1926 q. m.-The preliminary hasis fol
the capitalization OF the Spanish forcel
.. 10 Eastern Cuba was agreed to ant
signed under picturesque ciebH tree
half way between the lines shortly nfte
midnight. Our commissioners were in
: vited to onter tine city by those repre-
senting Gen. Toral, but the invitutioI
! was declined and the conference wa
! held under the spreading cieba, jus
9 such u tree az that under which
: Columbus assisted at the celebration
OF mass on his frat landing nsa
Havana.
AT the very outset hitch occurred
!. owing to q Misunderstanding Of wha
! was ssid, at the personal interview be
Q tween Gen. Shaftsr and Gen. Toral q
noon. At that time our interpreter
translating the language Of Gen. Tofal
{ had given Gems. Shafter, Mileu an
. WHISTLER distinctly to understand thu
Captain General Blsnco had consents
. that the commissioner should hay
. plenary powers to negotiate the tern
y Of surrsnder--such tsrmB as they agree
70 upon TO no binding upon both pRrtisl
% Something was said about modification
10 TO the Madrid government, hut Ger
!, Shaftsr insisted that the cHpitulatio
q had bean actually agreen to and thl
u no further consent Of the Madri
goysrnment was required.
J. When the commissioners met short
10 altar o'clock ia the afternoon, tho
in behalf of Gen. Toral tGen. Eatari
% lieutenant Colonel Fortap and Robe
o Mission. tho British vios- copsul) COZ
20 batted at once the idea that IL
l. cupitulation had 10 fact actually take
.. place. The consent of Madrid, thl
~ insisted, was still accessory; but
tine same time they claimed strong
% that it would be 'forthcomipg, az Ca
70 tain General Blanco had authorized
W and the hons government would DO u
81 same. Gen. Toral. who was present al
ne who, In fact, directsd tbs negotiation
90 on his own behalf, said he had ney
.. been ovsrruled by the Captain Genera
~ Still, he added, until Madrid h
60 sanctioned 1t, Santiago had not capt.
". lated.
nd All this was extremely upshtisfacto
y, to our commissioners, who chung I
80 naciously to the understanding Ga
Shafter had received earlier 10 ths ds
Finally, with the question OF wheth
,re or not the Spanish forces bad actua
IN. surrendered. still open, the comm
an Hioners proceeded to tho coneidernti
oh of the Jprsliminaries.
eFN. ToBAI's REQUESTS.
res Capt. Miley had drawn up ID artic
't' OF general nature and these were al
70 nitted to Gen. Toral personally.
RAJ made strong appeal that the VIC
ler capitulation" be used instead of |
lhe harsher term surrender and ii
his army be allowed to march out, |
'nt officers with their side arms and [
ear men with their small arms. He 81
me the arms coult afterwards be sent
IND Spain, either on the same fps W
me the troops or on some other Bhipe.
sho Gen. Toral further remprked that
expected our com N issioners, MS rep
sentatives Ut brave and chivplr,
the people, would not SEEK to humiliats
ua- army or make 1t appear that he ,
ldi- vanquished. As brave men, his solid
OF desired to 60 home with honor. III
ged had simply yielded to superior for
the and they would prefer dying to 60
pre- home without their honor.
Wifi Our commissioners could not re-
, to this appeal. hut said II lay beyond
terms laid down by our government
,ted they could only recommend the ma
the to Washington. tH
heir At o'clock Gen. Toral returned
OF the city to consult with Gen. Lima
OF who had been erroueously repol
heir dead.
tion Gen. Toral and the Spanish O
J oil missioners returned at Q. 30, saying t
had desired still further lchange in