The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-21
Formally Assumed the Relgns Of Govern
ment at Noon Yesterday.
A Big Sensation Created at Havana
by the Arrest Of Ten Appraisers
of the Custom-House Staff on
Charges Of Being in Collision
With Many Merchants to Swim
Large Sums.

HAVANA, Dec. 20.-Major General
Leonard Wood, the new Governor Cen
era1, arrived here at daybreak to-day
on the steamer Mexico, which left New
York for this port December 10Th. The
steamer was gayly decorated with flags.
From Cabanas Fortress a Major Cen
erals salute of thirteen guns was fired,
and the CubanS from the Punta fired a.
Governor Generals salute of twenty
one guns by the explosion of petards.
Civil Governor Nunez was the first
man after the pilot to board the Mexico.
He was accompanied by Commissioner
of Customs Bliss, Generals Chaffee,
Richards and Humphreys, Mayor La
Coste, deputation from the courts and
every department of the Government.
General Wood was deeply affected
upon hearing of the death of General
Lawton, and was unable to converse for
several minutes.
Every launch in the harbor, barges
and rowboats were hired and decorated
with bunting. Even a big ferryboat,
with band, was pressed into service.
Three bands played during the hour
which General Wood remained on the
Mexico, after her arrival Then he
tertainment Committee, while a salute
of twenty-one rockets, each having
American or Cuban flags attached. was
fired Much enthusiasm was mani
tested on every side.
A large crowd received General Wood
at Machina wharf and upon landing
there he was greeted with hearty
cheers. He was then driven to the
Hotel Inglaterra. No reception was
given to General Wood on shore, as the
committee thought to do this might
show want of proper respect for Gen
eral Brooke, the retiring Governor Cen
eral.
One of the callers on General Wood
was Senior Quesada, special Commits
sslener of Gs2'1l1ssas Washington, who ar
rived on the steamer Mascotte at the
same time that the new Governor Cen
eral arrived on the Mexico.
The welcome given General Wood
this morning upon entering Havana
was, according to all old residents.
without parallel in the history of the
island. The elaborate display of bunt-
ing in the harbor and the multitude of
boats and bands showed that the hast
lily formed Reception Committee had
done excellent work Moreover. there
was a heartiness in the cheering that
was quite unusual
During the morning there was con-
slant stream of callers at the Hotel
1ngleterra, where General Wood will
remain until General Brooke departs.
During the next few days General
Wood will only attend to routine work
at the palace. He is the recipient of
numerous invitations to stay at private
houses, but has felt it wiser to remain
at the hotel
Next Saturday General Ludlow will
give an official reception in honor of the,
new Governor
General Ludlow, accompanied by his
staff, visited General Wood by appoint
ment at 10 this morning. He was fol-
lowed by General Wilson and his staff.
Accompanied by General Chaffee and
Lieutenant Brooks, General Wood
called upon General Brooke at noon.
When the Governorship was officially
transferred. The retiring Governor
General will leave for the United States
Saturday, remaining for some time in
Tampa before going further north. The
only additional formal ceremony. prior
to General Brooke's departure will be
the Introduction to General Wood of all
the staff officers, Secretaries and Off
Gals of note.
Inc o1nclal papers devote consider
able space to the reception. declaring
mat General Wood is the most accept
able man who could have been an
pointed to bring Cuba out of her diff
culties and into a quiet harbor.
n no
enough to lngratiate himself with the
cuban people, because he declared he
nad no intention to issue proclama-
ton This is a novelty which Cubans
Will Keenly appreciate, as it indicates
that ne means to rely upon deeds,
rather than words. Cubans will feel
tnat no other American would be re-
ceived here with such heartfelt reioic-
ing. Our people, OF an Shades of opin-
ION, will give him all the assistance in
their power"
The 'Nuevo Pals believes that "a
bright future is about to commence"
and all the papers allude to the extra
ordinary number of representative men
who participated in the reception. Par
tlcular reference is made to the pres
ence of General Maya Rodriguez and
the aides OF General Maxine Gomez
owing to illness General Gomez was not
able to be present himself.
The ''Nuevo Pals" says: 1.-THE respect
which is generally given to the dead
does not suffice to impose silence upon
US regarding the misdeeds of the now
defunct advisory Cabinet of General
Brooke, who, in the abuse which they
made OF power, did not scruple to take
advantage of General Brooke's igno-
rance in legal matters to commit in
Juries of personal nature, thus plac-
ing the intervening Government in an
atmosphere of .disrepute."
An immense sensation was caused in
Havana this afternoon by the arrest
OF ten appraisers of the custom house
star, on charge of being in collision
with many Havana merchants "a
swindle the Government out of LARGO
sums. 1t is asserted that the fraud
has been practiced for two weeks at
least, and probably for a longer period
and it is believed that thousands of