The age-herald., 1899-05-28
As They Watched Astonished
 American Officials.
GOMEz'S FRIENDS DIscoNsoLATE
Failure of Insurgents to Accept Money is in Support of the Officers Who Advised Them to Retain
 Their Arms

Havana, May 27.-Not soldier has thus far appeared at La Punta to receive the honorarium of $75 allotted by the United States for the surrender of arms and dis bandment of the men composing the Cu- ban army.
 At three minutes of 10 this morning, the hour set to begin the payment of the pay ment of the troops, Major Francis s. Dodge of the paymaster's department drove up in a four-mule team with $3O,OOO in gold and 5000 in silver. Six guards accompanied him and details of men from the Eighth in- fantry were under arms to preserve order among the mobs which it was supposed would gather.
 Colonel George M. Randall of the Eighth infantry, was present as commissioner of the United States.
 General Ruiz Rivera, who was today in- ducted into office of civil governor of Ha- vana, was there to receive the arms with a representative of General Gomez, four or five Cuban officers and fifteen reporters. Half a dozen American clerks with the rolls of the American army sat at long table at the headquarters of the Eighth regiment.
 Bag of Gold But No Applicants
 bag of gold was displayed, but there were no applicants for a share of 1t.
 The spectators spent the time in discuss ing why no Cubans appeared. General Rivera said that there were 4,319 enrolled privates and non-commissioned officers In the Fourth corps, few of them lived In Havana. He explained that they were out side the city and would probably appear at other places in the provinces and get their apportionment Nearly all the off, cers, he added, In Havana
 The representative of Gomez, who has been acting with the latter in the interviews with Governor General Brooke, took gloomy view of the affair. He said the Americans had made a mistake in stipulat- ing that the Cubans must give up their arms, as this had caused bad impression among the Cubans.
 Cuban Officers Jeered
 group of Cuban officers who proved to be some of General Mayai Rodriguezs staff had in the meantime assembled They smiled at each other, twisted their mus taches and grew confident as the quarter hours passed and soldiers appeared Finally they 1eered in a quiet way at the whole proceeding.
 Toward Il o'clock an unarmed colored man in Cuban uniform came across the dusty square. attended by all the American spectators. He was shown to the paymas- ter, but turned out to be an assistant, or camp follower.
 The American military men consulted to- gether, and as it was thought he was not entitled to a share of the $3,000,000 and his name not being on the rolls. he was dis missed.
 Convict Got His Money
 Major Scott, General Ludlows adjutant, sent word that a man named Harris, Cuban-American, serving a sentence in the 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 payment, so far as Havana is concerned, looks like a failure. Of course different results are expected in the country districts, where the Cuban military assembly and anti-Gomez influence is not so strong.
 At noon General Rivera left, remarking that 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 prfvates appeared at about 11:30 without arms. but as their names were not on the rolls they were not paid
 Seven Cubans were paid s75 each as the result of the first days distribution of the money allotted by the United States for the payment of the Cuban soldiers
 The Cabal Successful
 The cabal of the former military assem- bly to prevent the soldiers from accepting the gift of the United States, and giving up their arms, Is successful so far. It is too early to predict what will be done in other cities and in the interior, but the in- dcations are that the money will not be accepted to any great extent. Some arms may possibly be turned in voluntarily. General Gomez anticipates no trouble The Cubans think the Americans are baffied. General Brooke does not regard today as settling the question, or as specially slg nihcant.
 A few privates in this city and a number of officers have had sufficient influence to intimidate some who were otherwise will ing to accept the American terms. Two hours elapsed after the application of the four professed privates, whose demands were refused on account of the lack of proof of service. Witnesses appeared who furnished sufficient evidence that one had seen service in the Cuban army. Several persons applied but were refused, being unable to furnish the necessary proof.
 It seemed for long time as though none would qualify, but early in the afternoon one man about 26 years old arrived and gave his name as Hario Esquivel Perez He claimed that he had been an orderly at General Gomez's camp He had no
 4. I..ArK a<xw1r.S Suf.