Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-25
Major General Skater Passed
Through the City Today.
BIG CROWD AT THE DEPOT.
The General wss In Reminiscent
Mood, Tsikcd Army Experiences,
and Praised Ussb Volunteers.

The hero OF tho Santiago land cam
palrn. Major General VIM. II. shaftcr.
Passed through this city today. on the
Mo Grande Road. on his way TO San
Francisco. where he goes TO take COM
mand Of the California or Pacific d.
vision.
A considerable crowd gathered at
the depot to gct a look at the general.
amc.g them Major Thompson. COM
mandlng officer at Fort Douglas. and
some other military men. The train
nrfi,,d at ~ minutes to u o'clock. and
na the general stepped on the train
10 lo.k around he was Immediately
ihronged by the large crowd and by
the school children. all OF whom de-
sired TO shake his hnnc. privilege
which the general Rood-naturcdly gave
10 nH many aa possible.
MAJOR Thompson cngroascd the gem
erals chief attention and By him the
News reporter was introduced to
General Shaftcr. The general In "a
stout man. above medium height. He
II courteous In dcmcnnor. with n mu-
alcal voice. and blcnda with the bear
inF u true gentleman the dignity OF
soldier. A ready conycrHaiionniiat.
Nv NAHNkFu ~ NIlfN W INNfllllNtfIlNfN VI
their early association In the scenes
~ the civil War and spoke also OF
experiences on the plains In buffalo
lighting. ''rhe last buffalo hunt
had" said the general II mnnagcd To
set three bunnlos with Ave shots"
General Shnftur. Il can be seen at
a glance. IN every Inch soldier. His
much from the impression that he n a
tighter. Ills head n massive. his gray
eyes keen. his face bronxcd from OK
ppguro to tho cuban climate. His
muntnchc and hair are Iron gray and
Inclined 10 be short. His movements
are quick. his talk direct. lie seems
active and his muscles are well de-
ysloped.
After n scene OF handwriting and
pleasant words 10 the crowd about
him as each extended his hand. the
general turned 10 10 into the car. one
more woman extended her hand and
raid; Il Wish To shake hands with
the general. God bless YOU"
Thank you. madam" said General
shaf,er; sivinE her his hand; God has
surely done So" And with this rcvcrrnt
remark on hlu lips tho general mounted
the car platform. thinking. no doubt. 81
the scenes of danger through which he
has passed In the civil ana In the Span
lHh war.
Within the car. Lieut.. Col. John o.
Cannon. Col. G. =. burton. Lawyer
brown. and Major Thompson engaged
In a lively and Interesting conversation
for half an hour.
when arr the Utah volunteers TO be
rclcnHcdf" was the frrt question put
TO the general. Just us soon as We can
POSSIBLY spare them" he replied. ''rhcy
are line batteries" he remarked. and
Utah has good reason 10 be- proud of
L. -. .I..a. a
fact that like all the other American
troops they are fighters, and their eS-
copilonally finc services ARE due To the
fact that they have had prior practice
~ handling their pieces before they
went Into action. Why. ON one train
rolne toward Floor. In division ~
l,soo men, 300 81 them. the command
before fired n gun. ! told him to get
ammunition right there and then and
start them nt II. for there was no tell
Ing how soon they might have TO IRE at
nn enemy"
THE Western men know how to shoot
they are handy with their guns"
suggested Col. Cannon.
Yea" said the general. "and that
was the differcnc. nj Santiago. The
sponlnrdH about Santiago In great
numbers did not strike n blow. When
my men won't out 60 one large division
OF several thousands OF the spanish
troops with the message that General
Toral. the Spanish commander. had
hurrenden.d and had included his out
lying commands In the surrender. they
would not believe II. They thought the
Americans could not be In Santiago.
and sent two officers back with some ot
my men To see II II We're actually
iaot that wo had taken the city"
Why did they surrender" some one
Well. we had no idea that that little
campaign 81 mine 10 drive the Spanish
feet out OF the Santiago harbor would
end thu war: but when the Spanish ofii-
Gals realized that they had In Cuba
about $4,000 men wholly cut on from
supplies and assistance by the des-
truction ~ cervcrn's fleet. they con-
Guided tina, they might a. well stop
then, aH later. when their condition
General Toral could be In earnest when
DO said he would surrender all his
men. most Of whom were away out OF
our reach. but the Englihh consul there,
whose friendship was invaluable, re-
leatedly assured me that Toral would
do an he said and that he would sur
Tender all these mon"
What OF the war In Manila? Wen
! only hope while American blood IN
being split there, that no one VIII dis
courage our boys out there, who arc
doing the lighting. They are not dis
Outraged by any means. and whether
any mistakes have been or may be
made as TO our policy there while the
nshung " going on. there should be
no stumbling that might discourage
them"
The colored troops. too made
splendid record In Cuba. There was
some contempt felt towards them AT
hrst among some OF the regiments,
particularly Of the volunteers. but that
quickly passed away after the first
nTht or two"
Your firnt command OF u regiment,
was Of n colored one. was II notg'
asked Arthur Brown.
Yes said General Shafter; land
mat was what first brought me to
the attention of General Thomas al
We battle ~ Nashville There was
,hen some feeling against the colored
troops ana some sighting remarks Were
made, which had TO bear, both In
reference TO myself and to my COM
nand, but those little things passed
away. When General Thomas chose
hk Held men, was among those
chosen TO assist him."
AGAIN and again the general talked
or other matters only to be led arnln