The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-11
SIGNED IN PARIS.
A HAPPY DAY FOR AMERICANS
BUT TRAGIC FOR sPANIARDS.

American and Spanish Copies Tied
with the COIOrs of Both Countries.
documents Sealed With the
French Tri-COIOrs-Spaniards Con-
sidered the Presence of Attaches
in had Taste-Thc Treaty Contains
seventeen Articles.
Paris. Dec. 10-The treaty of peace was
signed at S:45 this evening.
The signing of the treaty would have
afforded a subject for a great historical
nainting The group gathered about ia
he in the stately chamber of the foreign
Office. was impressive in Itself. while the
fact that the sense of the momentousness
of the issues which the act decided was
deeply felt by all the participants, gave an
Impressive and solemn tone to the scene.
Around the great mahogany table sat the
Ten arbiters of the destinies of an old and
Young nation. Ranged, standing behind
them were numerous attaches of the Amer
lean commission. The jets from the crystal
chandeliers above the heads of those pres
ent, magnihed the brilliant green and
scarlet of the upholstering into gaudiness.
There was a theatrical contrast between
the black clothed actors and the scenery.
To the Americans it was a happy ending
of the epilogue of war; for the Spaniards
il was plainly a tragedy, none the less
painful because long foreseen. They sat
silently as though almost crushed, and
none could withhold sympathy from Senor
Montero Rios, the president of the Span
ish commission, who coming from his
bed was bundled in great overcoat, al
though logs were burning in the fireplace
near by.
The spirits of the two bodies were SYM
bolized by the clothes worn by the mem
bers of the commissions, for the Ameri-
cans were attired in evening dress for the
dinner. given them Immediately after the
meeting by the Due 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 engrossing of the treaty
on parchment was found to be so trouble
some that it delayed the signing of the
document until $40 o'clock tonight. Clerk
Martin. of the American commission,
worked all day without even stopping to
eat.
When he4came into the chamber at 1:SO
o'clock with the document, he found the
commissioners waiting. The Spanish copy
had arrived half an hour earlier Mr..
Arthur Ferguson then proceeded TO read
first the English, and after that the Span
ish version of the treaty. This finished,
TWO copies were passed around the table,
The commissioners signing them in the or
der of their rank:
William r. Day. Senator Cushman x.
Davis, Senator William P. Frye, White
law Reid and Senator George Gray; Senor
3lontero RIOS, Senor Abarzuza, Senor Car
Mica, Senior Villaurutia and Gen. Cerero
saons, each commissioner signing its
opponents treaty. Both were tied with
Spanish and American colors
When the seals were prepared 10 be af-
fixed, attendants were senL scurryinS for
ribbons of the French tri-coor, with which
the documents were sealed, as compli-
ment to the French hosts of the commits
slons
Many officials interestedly watched ev-
cry detail of the proceeding. The last seal
was impressed, the commissioners rose,
and without Formally, each member
shook the hands of all his antagonists
and exchanged assurances of sincere per-
sonal esteem,
The spaniards afterward commented
acridly upon what they termed the bad
taste OF the Americans in mastering
crowd of attaches to gloat over the con-
summation of their downfall, and to
scramble for relics.
The signing was finished al S:45. AT that
time the door of the chamber opened and
Senor Villaurutia appeared and exclaim-
"a to a group of correspondents who were
waiting in the corridor: "C'est fni!'
The other members of the Spanish com
mission followed Senior Vallaurutia. and
ci' hp IN
their waiting carriages. The American
commission strolled out chatting complac-
entity and as they descended the steps the
lights in the chamber were darkened
The treaty assigned consists OF seventeen
articles, il having been found advisable
70 sub-divde two or three Of the articles
in the draft agreed upon at the last meet
ing.
The commissioners of the two nations
wrote their signatures on two copies of
me treaty, one copy being for the archives.
The document was prepared by Secre-
tafy Moore, in behalf of the United States
oommisson, and by Senor Villaurutia for
spain, on account Of the continued Illness
OF Secretary Ojeda of the Spanish com
mission
Each copy contained the English and
spanish texts of the treaty in paraleled
columns. The wording had been approved
previously by the commissions without
JOINT meeting. so there was no controver-
sy on this subject
There has been great contest among
'he families and friends of the American
commissioners for possessions of the pens
with which the signatures to the treaty
were written. Some of the Americans
We're provided with handsome pens pur-
chased for the purpose. The Spaniards
appeared TO be unaffected by The souvenir
'raze, and contented themselves with the
ofalhary quill pens strewn on the table,
Just prior TO the final reading Of the
'eaty the commissioners were photograph
Cd