The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-28
Four Alleged Privates and n Camp
Follower, who Appeared without
Arms, Not Given the Coveted $50.
ONLY SEVEN MEN GOT MONEY
AND NOT ONF: OF THEM HAD WEAP-
ONS TO SURRENDER.
Governor General Brooke Not Discon-
certed, but officials at Washing
ton Sorely Disappointed.

HAVANA, May 27.-Not a soldier has thus
far appeared at La Punta to receive the
honorarlum of $75 allotted by the United
States for the surrender of arms and dis
bandment of the men composing the Cuban
army. At three minutes Of 10 o'clock this
morning, the hour set to begin payment
of the troops, Major Francis S. Dodge, OF
the paymasters department, drove up in
four-mule team with $4,000 in gold and 5000
in silver. Six guards accompanied him and
details of men from the Eighth Infantry
were under arms to preserve order among
the mobs which 1t was supposed would
gather. Colonel George Nj. Randall, of the
Eighth Infantry. was present as Commits
sioner of the United States. General Ruiz
Rivera, who was to-day inducted into the
Office of civil governor of Havana, was
there to receive the arms, with repre-
sentative of General Gomez. four or five
Cuban officers and fifteen reporters. Half a
dozen American clerks, with the rolls of
the Cuban army, sat at a long table at the
headquarters of the Eighth Regiment. A
bag of gold was displayed, but there were
no applicants for share of it. The specta-
tors spent the time in discussing why no
Cubans appeared.
4319 enrolled privates and noncommissioned
officers in the Fourth Corps, few of them
lived in Havana. He explained they were
outside the city and would probably appear
at other places in the province and get their
apportionment. Nearly all the officers, he
added, are in Havana. The representative
of Gomez. who has been acting with the
latter in the interviews with Governor Cen
he alr ole xyfa of fhc a.
fair. He said the Americans had made a
mistake in stipulating that the Cubans must
give up their arms, as this had caused bad
impression among the Cubans.
CUBAN OFFICERS HAPPY.
A group OF Cuban officers who proved to
be some of Gen. Mayai Rodriguez's staff,
had in the meanwhile assembled. They
stood about, twisted their mustaches ana
grew confident as the hours passed and no
soldiers appeared. Finally they jeered in Il
quiet way at the whole proceeding. To-
wards IL o'clock an unarmed colored man
i'm a Cuban uniform came across the dusty
square attended by all the American spec
tators. He was shown to the paying mas
ter, but turned out to be an assistant" or
camp follower. The American military men
consulted together and as 1t was thought
he was not entitled to a share of the 49,,
600, 900 and his name not being on the rolls,
he was dismissed.
Major Scott, General Ludlow's adjutant.
sent word that a man named Harris. a
Cuban-American serving a sentence in tho
penitentiary. would be sent under guard to
get his $75 so at least one man was sure
to take the gratuity. About 400 men had
been expected and possibly many of these
will come later. But the scheme of pay
ment so far as Havana Is concerned looks
like a failure. Quite different results are
expected in the country districts. where the
Cuban Military Assembly and anti-Gomez
influence is not as strong.
At noon General Rivera left. remarking 1t
was wasting his time to stay there, and
Major Dodge went TO the Hotel Trocha
to inform Governor General Brooke of the
state Of affairs. Four professed privates ap-
peared at about IL 80 without arms, but as
their names were not on the rolls they
were not paid.
ONLY SEVEN MEN PAID.
Seven Cubans were paid SO each as the
result of the first days distribution of the
money. The cabal of the members of the
former Military Assembly to prevent the
soldiers from accepting the gift of the
United States and giving up their arms is
successful. therefore, far as Havana is
concerned. 1t is too early to predict what
will be done in other cities and in the in
terror. but the indications are that the
money will not be asked for to any great
extent Some arms may possibly be turned
in voluntarily.
The anti-Gomez and anti-American ele-
ments are cheerful tonight, thinking that
the Americans are baffled and angry. Gov
r1 TO
day as settling the question or as especially
significant. A few privates in this city and
a number of officers have had sufficient
influence to intimidate some who were
otherwise willing to accept the American
terms but different results are expected in
the country districts.
Two hours elapsed after the application
of the four professed privates whose de-
mands were refused, owing to their lack OF
proof OF service, before any applicant ap-
peared who furnished satisfactory evidence
that he had served in the Cuban army.
Several persons applied, but were refused
because they could not furnish the neces-
sary proof. Some were musicians and otn-
ers hospital attendants, but all were with
out the necessary vouchers.
1T seemed for long time as though none
would qualify, but carly in the afternoon
one man, about twenty-six years of age,
arrived and gave his name Hilario
Esquivel Perez. He claimed that he had
been an orderly at General Gomez's head
quarters. He had no arms. but stated that
Lis duty consisted IN gathering forage for
the horses and hunting for food. etc. After
scme delay the necessary papers were signed
ard the money was handed over Colonel
Randall found one man threatening persons
who wished to apply, and ordered him on
the premises.
Within the next two hours six more men