Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1899-01-07

followed by the other American gen.
erals and Cuban officers. The Cubans
wore the blue uniforms, brown felt
ats and gray gloves, and they carried
/ machetes.
A flourish of trumpets greeted the
procession, and the Spanish troops
presented arms as the Americans en-
tered the palace. The Cubans re-
NAMED outside until escorted in by
members of General Brooke's staff, the
| Spanish soldiers remaining all the
while = ''pTcec1t arms As soon as
all were within the Spanish troop
formed in column of tours and marched
around the right side of the plaza to
the docks, while the band of the Sec
ond Illinois volunteers played the
Spanish royal march.
| Spanish omcers Present
| On entering the palace, the Ameri-
| can generals went to the saloon facing
the plaza, which is on the second floor.
It is a lofty chamber, decorated with
mirrors of deep gilt frames with satin
draperies and the scarlet arms of Spain
over each door and window. Here
were gathered the members of the
captain generals staff, Colonel Ge1pi,
Lieutenant Colonies Belled, Girauta
and Bonitas, Major Priego, Captain
Ritene and Captains Adolfo and Ramon
Castellanos, sons of the captain gen
eral.
Captain General Castellanos was at
this time in private room off the
throne room. He had given a farewell
breakfast at 10 o'clock to the members
of his staff, and had spent the rest of
the morning virtually alone, looking
at the Americans from the balcony.
The Americans now grouped them
selves near large mirror between the
two windows, the Spanish staff being
on the right, while on the left were
| the American stats. the Cuban gen
erals and the correspondents.
Suddenly Captain General Castella-
nos entered the saloon without cere-
mony from the left and greeted Gen
| eral Brooke and others. After shak-
ing hands General Brooke sat upon a
SOTO, while General Castellanos moved
toward the group of Cuban generals.
British Vice. Consul jerome introduced
him to General Mayia Rodriguez
Shaking both the hands of the Cuban
officer, in the usual Spanish fashion,
General Castellauos said:
1--WE have been enemies, but I re-
spect you for your correct attitudes
and opinions. 1 have pleasure in
shaking your hand"
General Rodriguez replied: 81 thank
you, general, and feel sorry for the
Spanish army, which has defended
\ : L. 4
l also have pleasure in shaking your
| hands,
Captain General Castellanos took his
position near Major General Brooks.
The buzz of conversation on the Ameri-
can side of the chamber contrasted
with the silence on the Spanish side.
There was a marked difference be-
tween Americans and Spaniards, the
former tall, heavy, and wearing much
gold cord; the latter small and slight,
in blue striped cambria uniforms. The
Spaniards were depressed, the Ameri-
cans correspondingly buoyant.
Hour of IL Arrives.
At the last stroke of II the boom OF
la gun brought all eyes to the point in
the room where stood the captain gen
eral, who was talking with an Amer
lean officer. Immediately all was ST
lence. The captain general stepped
to the left, taking his position directly
in front of his staff. On his right
stood Captain J. S. Hart, interpreter
to the United States military commits
sion. Next to Captain Hart, in the
order named, were Generals Chaffee
Brooke, Ludlow, Lee, Wade, Butler
and Clous. Immediately behind Gen
eral Chaffee was Senator John w
Daniel of Virginia.
i At this moment the band on the
plaza was playing the Spanish nationa
hymn. As the guns at Cabanas fort
ress ceased firing there was a breath
less pause in the saloon. Everybody
knew that the American flag wa:
being raised on the palace by Major
Butler, son of General Butler, ant
that the stars and stripes was going
up on all the other official stats il
Havana. After this second of silence
the band on the plaza played 1.-The
Star Spangled Banner" while the gun.
of the fleet and fortresses began tt
roar out the national salute of twenty
one guns.
Immediately Captain General Cas-
tellanos handed the manuscript of hi
speech to Captain Hart and began tt
speak. Amid the strains of the ban6
and the noise of the guns it was i'm
possible to hear him. ''Close the win
dows," said some one, and the case
, ments were closed; but the sound O.
the cheering still visibly disturbed the
captain general
, Addressing himself to Major Genera
Wade, president of the United State
!, military commission, though he seemed
to look at the floor, General Castella
} nos said:
''Gentlemen-In compliance with tn
, treaty of Paris, the agreement of TIL
/ military commissioners of the islanc
and the orders of my king, at this mo
ment, of noon, January 1, 1899, Their
ceases in Cuba Spanish sovereignty AM
begins that of the United States. Il
1 consequence declare you in command
7 of the island, with the object tina
you may exercise it, declaring to yo1
5 that 1 will be first in respecting it
/ Peace having been established between
our respective governments. promis