The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-12


p,ns signed at s:l5 GEOLOGY last evening.
The Joint commission met at $3.50 p.
M, the Americans being the first to
arrive, and the spanIards coming half
an hour later. Senior Aontero Rios,
president of the Spanish Commission as
Cended the steps leaning on a cane and
bundled up in fur coat, The Ameri-
cans shook hands with the spanIurds
when the latter entered the conference
hall. The faces OF the representatives
Of spain we're exceedingly solemn. APP
parentlV they regarded the occasion US
a f1nereal one.
The treaty, which was not completed.
was brought in in sections in the hands
Of the engrossers while the commission
was sitting. After being photographed
the commissioners listened to the read
ing OF the treaty until Sis o'clock.
when they took a recess until O'Clock.
while awaiting the arrival OF the last
sections Of the treaty.
There has been great contest among
the families and friends Of the Ameri-
can commissioners for possession Of the
pens with which the signatures to the
treaty were written. Some OF the
Americans were provided with hand
some pens purchased for the purpose.
The Spaniards appeared to be unahect.
ed By the souvenir craze and contented
themselves with the ordinary quill pens
strewn on the tables When Arthur
Ferguson, the Interpreter OF the Ameri-
can commission, requested Senior Mon
tero Rios to give him his pen, saying,
Have Vou any desire to preserve the
pen with which you will siEn? the
Spaniard said, with q courtly bow
''Not In the slightest"
The signing OF the treaty would have
Afforded subject for n great historical
painting. The group gathered about the
table in the stately chamber OF the for
eign office was impressive In itseltwhile
the fact that the sense of the momen-
tousness OF the issues which the act de-
clded was deeply felt by all the particle
pants, gave an impressive and solemn
tone to the scene. Around the great
mahogany table sat the ten arblters OF
the destinies OF an old and a young ma
tion. Ranged. standing behind them.
were numerous attaches Of the Ameri-
can commission. The Jets from the
crystal chandeliers above the heads OF
those present magnifed the brilliant
green and scarlet OF the upholsterings
into gaudiness.
There was theatrical contrast be-
tween the black-clothed actors and the
scenery. To the Americans II was
happy ending OF the epilogue Of war;
for the Spanlards. It was plainly bit
ter tragedy, none the less. painful be-
cause long foreGeen. They sat silently
as though almost crushed. and none
Sonld withhold sympathy from Senior
Montero Rios, the president OF the
Spanish commission, who, coming from
his bed. was bundled in a great over
coat, though logs were burning In the
fireplace nearby.
The spirits Of the two bodies were
symboIlEed BY the clothes worn bR the
members OF the commissions, for the
americans were attlred IN evening
dress for the dinner given them imne-
dlately after the meeting by the Duo
Z de Loubat. and the Spaniards wore
black frock coats.
Although the commissions met at $3.50
o'clock. expecting to finish their work In
half an hour the engrosslng OF the
treaty on parchment was found TO be so
troublesome that It delayed the signing
OF the document until $50 o'clock. Clerk
Martin. of the American commission.
worked all day. without even stopping
TO eat. When he came into the cham
Der at $50 o'clock with the document he
found the commissioners waiting. The
Spanish copy had arrived half hour
earlier. Arthur Ferguson then proceed
ed to read first the English and then
the Spanish version Of the treaty.
This finished. two copies were passed
around the table, tle commissioners
signing them In the order OF their
rank: William r. Day, Senator Cush-
man X. Davis, Senator William p.
Frye, WhItelaw Reid and Senator
George Gray; Senior Montero Rios. SEN
OF Abarzuza. Senior GarnicH. Senior VII
iaurutla and General Cerero y Snons,
each commission signing its opponents
treaty. Both were tied with the Spanish
and American coiors.
When the seals were prepared 20 be
afixed. attendants were sent scuTrylnE
for ribbons OF the French tri-color, with
which the documents were sealed as
compliment 10 the French hosts OF the
commission. Many officials inte:estedlP
watched every detail or the proceedings.
The last seal being Impressed. the
SVHuHis5ttlSIN IOhe' anu WlbNOAt lOA
malltY each member shook the hands Of
all his antagonists and exchanged as
aurances OF sincere personal esteem.
The Spaniards afterward commented
Rcridly upon what they termed the bad
taste OF the Americans in mastering a
crowd of attaches TO ElOat over the
contamination Of their downfall nad 10
scramble for relies.
Gen. Brooke Arrives.