The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-11
Plate and window glass at Butte Art
Stained Glass works.
SHE SAVED THE FLAG.
Goodness and Bravery of a Young Woman
in Porto Rico.

in Porto Rico.
Perhaps few readers of the daily pa
pers are aware that the American flag
was ever in imminent danger Of capture
during the brief conflict in the island
of Porto Rico last year, but such was
the fact, and to a young woman, ma
tive of the island. is due the preserya-
ton from contact with profane hands
of the emblem of freedom. Miss Car
men D'Antonsanti is the name of the
young heroine and in Brooklyn she OBJ
tanned her education. She is striking
ly handsome brunette, thoroughly
American as to her views and self
possessed manner but having the will
Lowry figure, natural gracefulness and
facial characteristics Of the typical high
born Spanish senorita. She speaks En-
glish perfectly and is charming con-
versationalist.
To this young woman belongs the dis
tinction of having provided the f1rst
American flag raised over municipal
building in Porto Rico after the invest
ment of the island by the United States
troops. Relating the incident, Miss
D'Antonsanti said There were but
three American families living In Ponce
at the outbreak of the war with Spain
and you may readily believe that their
situation at that time was anything
but agreeable. That of our family was
particularly precarious for the reason
that it was known to the Spanish au-
thorities that we were intensely Amer
lean in our sympathies and that for
long time we had been in frequent
communication with our relatives and
friends in the United States. During
the early days of the war we We're the
objects of suspicion and hatred on the
part of the Spanish officials and were
made to feel uncomfortable and at
i,sa
southern coast of the advance ships OF
the American fleet was the cause or
much excitement among the Spanlards,
especially those holding office under the
crown But the climax of the excite
ment was not reached until it was re-
ported that warships conveying Amer
lean troops were approaching the har-
bor OF Ponce. 1t was about that time
that my mother and l closed our house
in the city and hastily departed to take
refuge at the home of my uncle, short
distance inland. Among my personal
effects was an American flag made OF
silk, about five feet in length by three
and a half in width. This flag / had
brought to Porto Rico from Brooklyn
and I assure you was very proud of it.
1t had been used as decoration in one
of the rooms of our house in Ponce and
quite a number of persons, including
several Spanish officers, had seen and
admired it. OF course, when 1t became
necessary to flee from Ponce we were
obliged to decide quickly what articles
to take with us and my first thought
was of the flag. To carry it openly was
out of the question and to attempt to
conceal 1t seemed equally hazardous.
But a happy thought came to me. Why
not sew the flag to the lining OF my
petticoat? And that is precisely what
I did
I'VE reached my uncle's house in
safety and there we remained quietly
and without special incident until news
came of the landing of the American
troops and of the withdrawal of the
Spaniards almost without the firing OF
a shot. Then it was that without mo-
ment's hesitation / cut loose the flag,
and having made it fast to an impro-
vised staff. set out, with others of the
family, for Ponce. We had gone but a
little way when we met with f1ying
column of American soldiers, who had
been sent to reconnoiter and to assure
the country people of the good inten-
lions of the Americans. AT first sight
of the soldiers, who proved to be de-
tachments of Kentucky and Wisconsin
regiments, l unfuTled the flag ana
waved it frantically. The scene that
followed was so indescribably thrilling
that ] shall never forget it. Officers
fiocked about me, asking all manner OF
questions; the boys in blue cheered and
sang; the flag was snatched from my
grasp and passed down the long line
from man to man; scores or simple
peasant folk who had come out from
the bush to see what all the noise was
about were as enthusiastic as the rest
of us and cried repeatedly: Viva los
Americanos! 1t was certainly most
exciting moment The commanding Of
ficer confirmed all the good news we
had heard back in the mountains and
urged me to hasten on to the city OF
fering me an escort of soldiers and tell
ing me that the flag lieutenant was
prepared to raise the colors over the
public buildings and might be glad to
have my flag. This turned out to be
the case. The lieutenant had brought
ashore a number of flags, but all of
them had been put to use before he had
arrived at the city hall. He greeted me
cordially, and then, as he espied the
flag, exclaimed: Where did you get
that fine flag? Do you know, it is just
what / have been vainly searching fora