The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-18


ceremonies the Spanish troops laid down
their crms between the lines of the
Spanish and American forces at 8
o'clock Sunday morning. General Shaf-
ter and the American division and bril-
gade commanders and their staffs were
escorted by troop Of cavalry and Gen.
eral Toral and his staff by 100 picked
men. Trumpoters on both sides saluted
with fourishes. General Shafter re-
turned to General Toral the latter's
sword after 1t had been handed to the
American commander. Our troops,
lined up at the trenches, were eye wit
nesses Of the ceremony. General Shaf-
ter and his escort, accompanied by
General Toral, rode through the city,
taking formal possession. The city had
been sacked before they arrived by the
Spaniards.
The ceremony Of hosting the stars
and stripes was worth all the blood and
treasure II cost. A concourse OF 10000
people witnessed the stirring and thrill
ing scene that will live forever in the
minds Of all the Americans present.
A finer stage setting for a dramatic
episode 1t would be difficult to imagine.
The palace, picturesque dwelling In
the Moorish style of architecture, faces
the principal public square. Opposite
rises the imposing Catholic cathedral.
Across the plaza was drawn up the
Ninth infantry. headed by the Sixth
cavalry band. In the street facing the
palace stood picked troop OF the Sec
90 Irxy xsvith Ax~ox
command of Captain Brett. Massed on
the stone tagging between the band aud
the line of horsrmen were the brigade
commanders OF General Skaters divi-
sion, with their STATS. On the red
tiled roof of the palace stood Captain
McKittrick. Lieutenant Miley and Lieu
tenant Wheeler; Immediately above
them upon the Flagstaff were the IL
Illuminated Spanish arms az 4 the legend
'Vive Alfonzo XIII" All about, press
ing against the veranda rails, crowding
TO windows and doors and lining the
roofs, were the people OF the town. prin-
cipally women adm non-combatants.
AS the chimes of the old cathedral
rang out IL, the infantry and cavalry
presented arms. Every American un-
covered, and Captain McKittrick hoist
ed the stars and stripes. AS the bril-
liant folds unfurled in a gentle breeze
against a freckless sky. the cavalry
band broke into the strains of The
Star Spangled Banner" making the
American pulse leap and the American
heart thrill with JOY At the same in
stant the sound Of the distant booming
of Captain Capron's battery, firing a
salute of 81 guns, drifted In. When the
music ceased from all directions around
our lines came flying across the plaza
The strains of the regimentaI bands and
the muffied, hoarse cheers of our troops.
The infantry came to order arms'i a
moment later after the flag was up, and
the band played Rally Round the Flag.
Boys"
Instantly General McKibbon called for
three cheers for General Shafter. which
were given with great enthusiasm, the
band playing Sousa's The Stars and
Stripes Forever" The ceremony over,
General Shafter and his staff returned
TO the American lines. leaving the city
in the possession of the municipal au-
thorities, subject to the control Of Gen
eral McKibbon. who is acting as military
governor. backed by the EiR-h and
Aihi ecShSh Co eah'es''".
The formal sanction by the Madrid
government Of the terms of capitulation
Saturday unravelled the tangled skein
Of demands and counter demands be-
tween the opposing commanders which
threatened TO end the negotiations and
compel return to arms. After nu-
merous conferences had resulted in the
agreement already sanctioned by Gen
eral Blanco, General Toral decided that
the approval OF the Madrid government
was necessary before he would leave the
city.
General Shafter maintained that such
approval was not necessary; that when
General Toral agreed TO surrender the
province Of Santiago and General Blanco
sanctioned IL. the agreement became an
accomplished fact. He insisted that
General Torai had either surrendered
Thursday or acted In bad faith. but doc
umentary evidence bore out the fact
that General Toral mentioned that he
only capitulated subject to his govern
ment's approval. and the six commits
sioners by whom the articles were signei
at 2:1O Saturday afternoon go ruled.
The whole matter was cleared up Sat
urday morp:ns. however. when General