The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-13

The American Com mnlissfoners Reee1v.
ed by General Blaneo-Ffrst Meeting
of the Commissioners Today.


Havana, September 10.-The United
States transport Resolute, having the
United States Cuban evacuation COM
mission on board, entered the port
shortly after o'clock. There were no
Spanish flags flying at that time and
no salute was fired.
Immediately after the arrival Of the
Resolute, which reached here flying
some white bunting forward and an
admirars flag from her mainmast,
she was visited by the commander of
the French gunboat Fulton, who board
ed the Resolute in full uniform. Short
ly afterward, a government launch ran
alongside the Resolute. She had on
board Dr. Congosto, the secretary gen.
eral of the government; General So
lano, the chief of staff, representing
Captain General Blanco and Major
Garcia Benitz, of the general staff.
Their visit lasted fully an hour. AT
the expiration of the conference an
officer of the Spanish warship Alfonso
XII paid his respects to Rear Admiral
Sampson. This interview was Of a very
formal nature. Shortly afterward Cen
eraI Solano, acting for Captain General
riage at the disposal of the commits
sioners.
All the foreign and American ship
ping in port displayed every available
piece of colored bunting, and the Reso-
lutte dipped her colors in answer to
every salute. The ResOlute is moored
to a buoy close alongside the steel
dock. She was surrounded all the
morning by hundreds of small boats,
WI re hot
handkerchiefs.
At 9:15 o'clock the American commits
siOners, accompanied by the Spanish
officers representing Captain General
Blanco. landed at la Machina wharf
and arrived at the palace at $40 o'clock
where the captain generals body
guard presented arms as they appear
ed.
Captain General Blanco, dressed in
full uniform received the commission
ers in the reception room, where, after
the formal presentations had taken
place and the official courtesies had
been exchanged, they sat down and
conferred for about twenty minutes.
The Spanish commander sat in the CEN
ire, with General Butler on his right
and Admiral Sampson on his left.
Next to General Butler sat General
Parade, and next to him was General
Wade. On Admiral SIMPSONS left
sat Colonel Clous and Captain Hart,
the official Interpreter.
The. captain general addressed the
commissioners in English. He asked
them to excuse any mistakes which he
might make, explaining that it was
long time since he had used that Ian
guage. -
The United States commissioners left
the palace shortly after 10 o'clock, ac-
companied by General Solano and DR..
Congosto. They were driven to the
Machina wharf opposite the wreck of
the Maine, where they took lunch, be-
fore returning to the Resolute for
breakfast.
Colonel Clous and Captain Hart, ac-
companied by a Spanish officer, then
paid a visit to Admiral Mantorolo and
to the captain of the port, after which
they returned on board the Resolute.
The general public crowded the
wharf when the arrival Of the Resolute
became known, but there was no dem
onstration. Every body behaved quiet
ly and respectfully.
Late this afternoon the American
commissioners, on the advice of the ac
companying physicians, decided to live
ashore while here, but they have not
yet chosen places of residence. They
will probably remain on board the Res
Olute this evening and make the change
tomorrow.
The first session of the commission
will take place tomorrow morning at
8 o'clock at the colonial government
office. Judging from conversation with
the commissioners, all the sessions will
be behind closed doors.
At noon today Lieutenant G. G.
Morse, representing Rear Admiral
Sampson, paid his respects to the Brit
ish consul, who returned the visit an
hour later, when a salute was fired.
The Spanish steamer Ciudad de Ca
diz left this afternoon for Spain with
600 sick soldiers, two generals and
their staffs.