Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-03
Enthusiastic Porto Ricans.

PONCE, Aug 1.-The army has been
here almost week and with the excep-
ton of one night not shot has been
fired. Rumors are continually coming
10 that the Spanish soldiers have gath
cred at this or that point, but none are
ever found when they are looked for.
Yesterday there was report that some
Spanish soldiers were at Juan DiaZ, and
four companies of the 10Th Pennsylva-
MIA were sent to find them. When the
troops approached the town a brass
band came out to meet them. All the
citizens were assembled on the outskirts
of the town and as the Americans ap-
peared up the road the band played
Yankee Doodle" and other patriotic
American airs, while the people cried
viva los Americanos" Many had
presents of cigars, cigarettes, tobacco,
bananas and other fruits, with which
they loaded down the soldiers, and in
sisted upon taking the visitors to their
homes and making them welcome. Half
the houses in the town had the Ameri
can flag waving over them. In the
public square the Mayor made speech
OF welcome, in which he said that all Of
the people of Juan Diaz were Ameri-
cans now, while the crowd shouted
Death to the SpaDiardsm Besides the
towns already reported nine others
have signified their delight at the COM
ing of the Americans. There were
Spanish troops in all of these towns.
Guayamo had large garrison. 1t was
reported to the American entrench.
ments that the Spanish soldiers intend
ed to make a fight and this morning
General Wilson sent two companies
there. On the way the Americans met
couriers who said that the citizens had
ordered the Spsniards out of the town
and hoisted the American flag. The
soldiers marched into the town where
they found bigger reception than that
which was given them at Juan Diaz. The
American flag was waving over the
public buildings, the bands were play
ing American airs and the men and
women fell upon their knees before
our soldiers. The mayor made speech
in which he said the day of deliverance
OF Porto Rico had come. The en-
thusiasm of the people was unbounded.
Crowds followed the soldiers every
where and the Americans could
hardly get away from them.
The Mayors of four other towns visited
Ponce and told General Wilson that
the towns had surrendered and they
were ready, they said, to turn over
everything to the Americans and have
American officials appointed. Word
was received from other towns that
had not been visited to the effect that
the Spanish soldiers fled in fright as
they did from Ponce. The Spaniards
took the road, going toward San Juan.
When the American soldiers arrived
here the Spanish citizens was naturally
alarmed and many of them fled with
the Spanish soldiers to the mountains.
They began returning on Sunday and
are nearly all back to-day, The first
thing they did when they got back was o
begin shouting: "Viva los Americanos"
They are apparently good Americans,
but the Porto Ricans do not trust them.
They say they will watch for the first
sign of disloyalty on their part and
shoot them or turn them over to the
American soldiers. The returning
Spaniards profess not to know the
whereabouts of the troops that fled
with them. and said they were unable
to keep up with them.