Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-01-05

of gun brought all eyes to tho point in
the room where stood the CAPTAIN gener-
al. who was talking with an American
officer Immediately all was silence The
captain general stepped to the left, TAX
ing his position directly in front of his
staff. On his right stood Capt. Juan 5.
Hart, Interpreter to the United States
military commission. Next to Capt. Hart
in the order named, were Gems. Chaffee
Brooke. Ludlow, Lee, Wade Butler and
Clous. Immediately behind Gen. Chaffee
was Senator John w. Daniel of Virginia
AT this moment the band on the plaza
was playing tho Spanish national hymn.
As the guns at Cabanas fortress cca sed
firing there was a GREATNESS pause in the
salon. Everybody knew that the Ameri-
can flag was being raised on the staff of
the roof of the palace by Major Butler
son of Gen. Butler and that the stars and
stripes was going up on all the other Of
iiciaI STATS in Havana. After this second
of silence the band on the plaza played
"The Star Spangled Banner" while the
guns of the fleet and fortresses began to
roar out the national salute of % guns
Immediately Captain General Castel-
lanos handed the manuscript of his speech
to Captain Hart and began to speak
Amid the strains of the band and the noise
of the guns it was impossible to hear him.
/ Close the windows" said some one
and the easements were closed. but the
sound of the cheering still visibly disturb
ed the captain general.
Addressing himself to Major General
Wade, president of the United States mill
tary commission, though he seemed to .ook
at the floor. General Castelanos, said
'Gentlemen-In complying with the
treaty of Paris the agreement of the mill
tary commissioners OF the island and the
nj
noon. January list. 1899, there ceases In
cuba Spanish sovereignty and begins that
of the United States. In consequence /
declare you in command of the island,
with the object that you may exercise 1t,
declaring to you that | will be first in
respecting il. Peace having been estab-
lished between our respective governments
! promise YOU to give all due respect to
the United States government. and hope
that the good relations already existing
between our armies will continue until
the termination of the evacuat ion of
those under my orders in this territory"
After Capt Hart had translated the adj
dress Gen. Wade said to Gen. Brooke:
II transfer this command to you"
Mai. Gen. Brooke said:
81 accept this great trust in behalf of
the government and President of the Uni
ted States, and Undressing Capt Gen.
Castellanos) ! wish you and the gallant
gentlemen with you pleasant return to
your native land. May prosperity attend
You and all who are with you"
Gems. Brooke and Cast ellanos then shook
h"'us uiter WIllch cen NaSlel4ahos ana
stan rctired from the throne room shak-
lhs haHas with MI Jerome VINO stood
near ire uoor OIL exit AS 'hey retlred
mere was movement toward Gen.
Brooke. Brighten. Clous shaking him by
the hand and saying Success TO you"
Hens' BROOKE ana Chattee, with others,
then stepped upon the balcony and look
cd down upon the plaza A Dig American
nag hEins over the arsenal was In fuli
view ana farther away the stars ana
stripes streamed over Cabanas fortress
Meanwhile the officials of Snain were say
ing Farewell TO their nation seat or pow
er in the new world,
turning to his officers. Gen. CastelIanos
said, with tears in his eyes:
"Gentlemen. | have been in more bat
ties than | have hairs on my head and
my self possession has never failed me
until to-day. Adeu. gentlemen, adieu.'
Then with arms appraised, he moved
swiftly toward the stairway, escorted by
Gen. Chaffee and followed by his stan.
AS he crossed the plaza the American la
dies who wore standing in the balcony Of
the barracks waved their handkerohiefs
and Gen Castellanos responded by bow
ing and kissing his hand toward them. At
the corner of the plaza, with Irs IN his
eyes, ne turned To take a mai look AT Inc
palace. He could see the American gem
erals Oh the balcony. Without u word he
turned sharply in the direction of the
wharf. History had reversed The last
sigh of the Moor At the dock Gems
Clous and Chaffee babe him farewell, and
the retiring captain general put off for
the Spanish transport Rabat on which he
will proceed to Matanzas. He will be ac-
companied by a battal on of the 3Sth in
fantry.
The parade of the United States troops
showed the feeling of the Cuban element
of the population. The march was from
FL Nedado, along the Achia Del Norte, the
Prado and Central Park, to Cerro and
Quemados About every fourth house dis
played some decoration-a palm branch
bit of red, white and blue bunting or
flag. Not a dozen flags were to be seen
IN the stately Prado. In the Achia Del
Norte the troops passed under the skele-
tons of triumphal arches, left unfinished
when it was decided to postpone the DEM