The evening times., 1898-09-20
WAVING IN THE CAPITAL.
Old Glory Hoisted on the Ho-
tel TrOtcha in Havana.
COMMISSION NOW ASHORE
Spaniards Want Their Soldiers to
Depart Fully Equipped and With
Flags FIying-NO Reply to the De-
mand Concerning the Comal-The
Situation Unsatisfactory.

Havana, Sept. 2O.-The American occu-
patton has begun. The Stars and Stripes !
wave over the salon of the Hotel Trot- |
cha, a tree-e -embowered villa in the sub |
urb of Vedado. A happy omen and EN- |
blem of beneficent power raised on |
Havana soil for the first time since 1t was |
removed from the American consulate
not flying in the narrow-confined streets |
of the antique business section, but in the |
newer portion, is the breeze-blown flag, |
flying over a region suggestive of the
natural riches of land of plenty con- |
verted into an abode of want by inter-
necine strife.
The whole commission party moved |
from the Resolute to the Trotcha yester-
day. The party includes three commits
sioners, Recording Secretary Clous thir-
| teen army officers, one naval aide, one
| counsellor, his two assistants fifteen in
terpreters, stenographers, typewriters,
| and clerks. three messengers, and six
| servants.
The impedimenta comprising desks and
! baggage, were taken to the Machna
/ wharf in boats, and thence fifteen great
carloads were drawn by little mules
looking dwafed by their burdens, but
| which they drew them.
The whole place is now In the hands
/ of the commission, at cost of 81, 400 a
week Even the public bar was closed
for cash compensation. The hotel is
! still guarded by the orden publicos
against possible foes. The commission
! will probably post marine sentines as
protection from possible over-intrusive
would-be friends
All Hands Feeling Well.
The whole party is in the best of
| helath. Admiral Sampson has notably
improved in strength since the voyage
began. Gen. Wade emphatically contra
diets the reports that he and others are
suffering from yellow fever and other ill
nesses. He is anxious to stop needless
alarm at home. There is not an i'll man
in the party.
The Commission will begin its session
in new quarters today, when Major Clous
and Quartermaster Brooks have reduced
the confused chaos TO systematic order.
! The Commission Will meet in d spacious
hail. room of pictures and bronZes,
which is Gen. Buffers quarters, where a
big. open window looks toward the open
sea, ever restless like the island, and sep
aratins it from the land of freedom
The first work of the Commission will
tions answering the Spanish reply to The
first series sent week ago
Secretary Girauta, of the Spanish Com
mission. was about TO take the ponderous
document 10 the Resolute when Major
Clous called and the response was deliv-
cred to him. 1t somewhat pleased the
American Commission, especially the
date set for the completion of the evac-
uation, February Is, 1899.
The plan suggested, that the evacuation
should begin with Gibara, Nuevitas,
Cienfuegos and Havana in the order
named, though in consonance with the
American idea of experimenting with a
small port before the capital, was regard
ed as Indicative of a desire to cling to the
main source OF revenue as long as posi-
BILE.
Spain Wants Her Flags TO Fly.
The Spanish reply asks also that the
soldiers be allowed to depart fully equip
ped. with flags flying. The Americans
were surprised at the number of troops
being placed at so large figure as lis, 900,
having expected fewer.
There has been no Spanish response yet
to the second demand of the American
Commission in regard TO the CoInal, upon
. which the whole question of landing sup
plies depends. The ComaI is still at Key
: West awaiting orders TO return. The
report that supplies have been landed at
Bahia Honda is erroneous and premature,
based solely on the fact that ii is one OF
several places under consideration Fer
D nandez de Castro said yesterday after
noon:
81 understand the Spanish authorities
have considered the advisability of grant
ing permission TO land supplies at sew
eral points near MatanzaS and Havana
] among which is Bahai Honda, but moth
ing has been settled
BInnco Calls on General Butler.
!, Gen. Blanco and several aides paid a
purely social call on Gen. Butler last
j | evening at the Trotcha, expecting 10
find all the commissioners there. The
, visit lasted about fifteen minutes, in the
= course of which Gen. Blanco courteously
expressed a desire TO do anything posi-
BILE to increase the comfort and con-
yenience of the commission.
II He asked Gen. Butler to send mmedi-
j ately to him If he could do anything
q Taking advantage of this, Gen. Butler
sent DIR. Lame today, asking that the
barracks between the Trotcha and the
I shore battery, Immediately in the rear OF
the hotel, be cleaned and the sanitation
improved.
l. The medical authorities, discussing the
arrival of the American troops, suggest
the Importance of putting them in new
barracks, rather than in quarters pre-
viously occupied by Spanards.
The immediate reconstruction of such
J. buildings, in sections, suitable for trans
d portation and quick erection here, Is
II strongly advocated as likely to minimize
n the tent life from danger of disease
- The big Spanish mail steamer Alton
so XIII leaves tomorrow for Spain. One
e of her passengers will be Rear Admira
e Pastor Landero, the captain of the port
/ originally appointed one of the Spanish
e commissioners. Admiral Landlords del
icate health was the cause of his with
!. drawal from the commission. Admira
. Manterola was appointed in his place
u and it necessitates his departure fol
Spain.