The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-03

piazza which IS on the second oor.
is a lofty chamber, decorated with mar
rors of deep gilt frames with satin drap
cries and the scarlet arms of Spain owe
each door and window. Here were gath
cred the members of the captain general
staff, Colonel Gelpi. Lieutenant Colonel
-Belled, Girauta and Bonitas, Major Priego
Captain Ritene and Captains Adolfo ant
Ramon astellanos. sons of the captain gen
eral.
Captain General Castellanos was at thii
time in a private room off the throne room
He had given a farewell breakfast at i
o'clock to the members of~his staff, anC
had spent the rest of the morning virtual
" a:one, looking at the Americans from
the balcony The Americans now grouped
themselves near large mirror between
the two windows, the Spanish staff being
on the right, while on the left were the
American stats, the Cuban generals and
the correspondents.
Suddenly Captain General Castellanos
entered the saloon without ceremony from
| the left and greeted General Brooke and
others. After shaking hands, General
| Brooke sat upon sofa while General Cas-
tellanos moved toward the group of Gu
ban generals. British Vice Consul Jerome
introduced him to General Mayia Rodri-
guez. Shaking both the hands of the Gu
ban officer, in the usual Spanish fashion,
General Castellanos said:
1--WE have been enemies, but I respect
you for your correct attitudes and opin-
| ions. L have pleasure in shaking your
| hand"
General Rodriguez replied: az thank you,
general, and feel sorry for the Spanish
army, which has defended the banner it
was sworn to defend. l also have pleas
ure in shaking your hands"
Captain General Castellanos took his po-
sition near Major General Brooke. The
buzz of conversation on the American side
of the chamber contrasted with the silence
on the Spanish side.
There was marked difference between
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 de-
pressed, the Americans correspondingly
buoyant
At the last stroke Of u, the boom of a
gun brought all eyes to the point in the
room where stood the captain general who
was talking with an American officer. I'M
mediately all was silence. The captain gen.
eral 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 commission. Next
to Captain Hart, in the order named were
Generals Chaffee, Brooke, Ludlow, Lee,
Wade, Butler and CIous. Immediately be-
hind General Chaffee was Senator John
w. Daniel Of Virginia.
At this moment the band ON the plaza
was playing the Spanish national hymn.
AS the guns at Cabanas fortress ceased
firing there was a breathless pause in the
saloon. Everybody knew that the Ameri-
can flag was being raised on the palace
by Major Butler, son of General Butler,
and that the stars and stripes was going
up on all the other official STATS in Ha-
vana. After this second silence the band
on the plaza played 1.-The Star Spangled
Banner" while the guns of the fleet and
fortresses began to roar out the national
salute OF twenty-one-guns.
Immediately Captain General Castellanos
handed the manuscript of his speech to
Captain Hart and began to speak. Amid
the strains Of the band and the noise of
"Close the windows" said some one, and !
the easements were closed; but the sound |
of the cheering still visibly disturbed the |
captain general
Addressing himself to Major General |
Wade, president of the United States mill !
tary commission, though he seemed to look |
at the floor, General Castellanos said:
"Gentlemen-In compliance with the |
treaty of Paris, the agreement of the mill |
tary commissioners of the island. and the |
orders of my king. at this moment of noon, |
January l, 1898, there ceases in Cuba, |
Spanish sovereignty and begins that of the |
United States. In consequence, I declare
you in command of the island, with the |
object that you may exercise it, declaring |
to you that I will be first in respecting |
it Peace having been established between
our respective governments, 1 promise you
to give all due respect to the United States
and hope that the good rela-
tons already existing between our coun-
tries will continue until the termination Of
the evacuation of those under my orders in
this territory"
After Captain Hart had translated the
address, General Wade said 10 General
Brooke: 81 transfer this command TO you"
Major General Brooke said: 'I accept
this great trust in behalf of the govern
ment. and president of the United States,
and addressing Captain General Castel-
anos). ! wish you and the gallant gentle
men with you a pleasant return 10 your
native land. May prosperity attend you
and all who are with YOU"
General Brooke and Cas,ellanos then
shook hands, after which General Castel-
amos and staff retired from the throne
room. shaking hands with Mr.. Jerome,
who stood near the door of exit. As they
retired there was a movement toward
jeneral Brooke. Brigadier General Clou>
shaking him by the hand and saying:
Success to YOU" Generals Brooke and
Thaffee. with others then stepped upon the
balcony and looked down upon the plaza
4 Dig American flag flying over the arse
laI was in full view and farther away /
he stars and stripes could be seen over
,absnss fortress. Meanwhile the officials
Il Spain were saying farewell 70 their
seat of power in the new world
Turning 10 his officers. General Castel-
amos said. with tears in his eyes:
Gentlemen. Ihave been in mora battles
han have hairs on my head and nv self s
possession has never failed me until today. J
Adeu gentlemen. adieu"
Then, with arms appraised. he moved I
Witty toward the stairway. escorted By !
General Chafee and followed by his ScaT.
Is he crossed the plaza the American
aides who were standing in the balcony