The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-11

Secretary Moore In behalf of the United
States commission and by Senior yiliaruti
In behalf of the Spanish owing to the corr
tlnued illness Of Senior Ojeda, secretary
Of the Spanish commission.
Each copy contained the English and
Snanish text of the treaty In parallel lines.
The wording had been approved previously
nv the commission at a joint session. SO
there was no controversy on this aubiect.
The signing Of the treaty tonight would
have afforded subject for great his
torical painting. The group, gathered
about the table In the stately chamber Of
the foreign Office. was impressive in
itself. while the sense OF the momentous
Issues to be decided was deeply felt by
all the participants aud gave an impreGi
and solemn tone 10 the scene. Around the
great table sat the ten arbltrators OF the
icstinics or an old ard new nation.
Standing behind them were numerous at
taches OF the American commission. The
chandeliers above those present magnified
the brilliant green and scarlet of the up
holstering into gaudinoss.
There was n theatrical contrast between
the black clothed actors and The scenerf.
To the Americans 1t was happy ending
Of the epilogue of war; for the Spanidds
1t was plainly bitter tragedy, none the
less painful because long forcseen. They
sat silently ss though almost crughed. hut
no one could Withhold sympathy from Sc
nor Montero Rios. president of the Spanish
commission. who, coming from his bed.
was bundled in a great overcoat. though
logs were burning in the flresidc
The spirits OF the two bodies ~ero sym
bolized by the clothes worn by tho NOM
bers. Although the commissions met at
8: 80 o'c.ock expecting to iinish their work
il half an ho,r, the engrossing of tho
treaty parchment was found to be 60
troublesome that 1t delayed the signing OF
The document urtil 500. Clerk Martin OF
the American commission worked all day
without even stopping to eat, when ne
came into the chamber at 7.So With the
document he found the commissioners
waiting. Tho Spanish company had arrived
a hat hour earlier,
MIR. Arthur Ferguzon then protested to
read first the English and after that tho
Spanish version OF the treaty. This finished,
two copies were passed around tho table,
tho commissioners signing them In the
o. der present, az follows: WIN. II. Day,
Senator CuShman X. DAVIS, Senator Win
r. Frye. Nhitelaw Reid and Senator
Geoigs, Gray; Senor MonterO Rios. sencr
Abarzuza, Senor Garnica, Seror Villaruti
and General Cerrero Sasns, each com
mission slgning its opponents treaty,
Both We're tied with tho Spaaiah and
American colors. When the seals Were ex-
changed TO be affixei. aticnsants were
rent securing for ribbons OF the French tri-
COCO with which the documents wire
sealed AZ u comp .iment TO The FscEca hoses
OF the commissioners.
Many officials iaterestedly watched every
detail OF the procecding5 Tho seals being
affixed ana without Formally each mem
be- shook hands With all his antagonists
and exchanged assurances OF sirccre per-
eonal esteem. The Spaniaatys nfferward
CONNIE ted acridly upon what they termed
the bad taste OF The Ainer.cins In muster
ing q crowd OF attaches 10 gioat over the
ocI.s1ai nation of their downfall and TO
scramble for relfcs,
T6e signing was finished at $40 At that
tine tho door OF the chamber opslsi ard
senior yails Reutti appeared any axcsa med
TO n group Of s,hondents who were
waiting e The cciEsjcr: III esq AMI"
The other members OF the Spanish COM
mission followed Senor Villa Reufti and
passed silently through the vest.bule to
their waiting carriages. The American COM
mjssiorers strolled ous chatting com
R.aeentiy and as they descended the steIs
the lights In the chamber we're darkene5.
Resid~ncr at Jacixsonsiiic.
JaessonviIle Texas December n--The