The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-16
AT THE FRONT.
from First Page.)

patton of the town, if, indeed, the sea front
Iortlncatlons and all others are not in
Guided in the citys capitulation.
When General Toral on Monday last re-
fused absolutely to consider the terms of
unconditional surrender and when General
Shafter announced negotiations at an end,
1t was believed that the taking of the city
without further fighting was impossible
ity. The artillery Of the federal forces was
ordered to be rushed to the 'front.' the in
vesting line was extended to hem in the
town completely, and every preparation was
made for the final assault Acting under in
structions from Washington however Gen.
Shafter again proposed surrender yesterday,
and at a conference at which General Miles
and General Toral were present, it was pro-
posed to allow the Spanish officers to re-
tain their side arms, and the American COM
mander offered to send the defeated army
to Spain under convoy and on 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 to-day, at which hour the
extended armistice expired. The men at the
front made every preparation for battle, the
Ileet gathered around the little bay %. OF
city and into the city, and the combined
American force blindly and grimly awaited
the word of General Miles. But while all
these preparations were going forward Gen.
Shafter and General Miles were still hard
at work in an attempt to avoid the slaugh-
The telephone and telegraph wires from
the front to Juragua were burdened all the
forenoon with messages to and from Wash
ington, and General Toral was busy in COM
munication with either Captain General
Blanco or the government at Madrid. AT II
o'clock General Miles sent an aid-de-camp
at Juragua to Rear Admiral Sampson, tell
ing him that the chances for surrender were
good and that no shots must be fired from
the fleet without definite orders from the
shore.
AS the hour of noon approached the New
York ran close in shore at Aguadores and
took up position in readiness for the ex-
pected bombardment of the f1eet-hidden
city. The Brooklyn ranged in the rear of
the New York and the other vessels took up
positions assigned to them. The swift little
Hist steamed down to Juragua to await
word from General Miles. Noon came, and
although the expected call to quarters was
not issued, the men fingered anxiously close
to their places, eager to begin the work of
bombardment. From the bridges of the war
ships the officers trained their glasses alter
nately on the signal station ashore and on
the fleet of transports off Juragua behind
which the Hist had disappeared.
AS l and o'clock passed without an order
to begin the bombardment, the interest
among the officers who knew the signifi-
few minutes after o'clock when the Hist
pushed her way from behind the anchored
transports and started on the short run
from Juragua to Aguadores. Rolling and
pitching in the rough sea. the gallant little
yacht dashed for the flagship, signaling as
she pressed forward. The battle ship Oregon
THE enemy has surrendered" was first
made out from the bridge of Captain Clark's
snip. A cheer burst from the officers on the
after deck. and it was echoed by the men
clustered forward. At almost the same in
slant the other ships of the fleet caught
the nomentous meaning of the bright colored
signal flags which flashed at the Hists
swaying masthead and a great cheer from
host of American threats swept through
swering pennants flew from each vessel in
response to the New York's repetition Of the
Fists signals, Eventually. the Hist ran
alongside the flagship and delivered her dis
patch. 1t contained no details, being simply
brief message by wire to Admiral Samp-
son from General Shafter saying that the
enemy had surrendered.
The admiral has not taken an active part
in the negotiations. but he has been con-
suited freely by General Miles and General
Shafter, and undoubtedly he will be con-
sidered in the settlement of the final details
of the surrender. He declined to discuss
the matter further than TO express Joy at
the fact that the fall of Santiago was ac-
compished without further bloodshed. and
to remark that the returns of the capitula-
time.
Within five minutes of the Hist's arrival
the signal officers ashore began sending
messages with the wig-wag flag on the hill
top to the right of the ravine III which the
selected as the signal station and from
there was telegraphed to Admiral Sampson
confirmation of the surrender This mes
sage was as unsatisfactory as was the
Essts to the officers of the fleet, who were
anxious TO know the terms of the surrender
and other details, while the wig-waeged
messages simply set forth the bare state
ment that the surrender of Santiago had
occurred The Iowa was at once ordered to
steam west to MORO Castle, evidently being
sent TO watch the movements of the men
managing the shore batteries
General Toral surrendered In the niche of
time, for had the details of to-day's battle
been carried out the city Of SANTIAGO would
fleet had the exact range. and. although the
city was about eight miles away and hidden
BY the hills along the coast. Commodore
the heart Of the town every two minutes for