The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-27
NOT A MAN CAME
Office Opened For Payment of
$3,OOO,OOO to Cubans
At Havana Today, With EIabO-
rate Preparations.
THE HOUR ARRIVED.
But Not a Soldier Asked For
His $500.
Rolls Show There Are 4,3I9 in
the Province.
ALL ARE SURPRISED,
Except the Anti-GOmez Ele-
ment, Which Smiles
And Finally Jeers at the Whole
Proceeding.

Havana, May 27-11 a. m.-Not a SOL
dier has thus far appeared at La
Punta to receive the honorarium of $75
allotted by the United States for the
surrender of arms and disbandment
of the men composing the Cuban army.
At three minutes of 10 o'clock this
morning, the hour set to begin the pay
ment of the troops, Major Francis 5.
Dodge of the paymaster's department,
drove up in a four mule team with $30,
900 in gold and $4,000 in silver. Six
guards accompanied him and details OF
men from the Eighth infantry were un-
der arms to preserve order among the
mobs which it was supposed would
gather.
Col George NJ. Randall of the Eighth
infantry was present as commissioner
of the United States.
Gen. Ruiz Rivera, who was today in
Quoted into the office of civil governor
of Havana, was there to receive the
arms with representative of General
Gomez four or five Cuban officers and
Is reporters. Half a dozen American
clerks with the rolls of the army sat at
a long table at the headquarters of the
Eighth regiment. A bag of gold was
displayed, but there were appli-
cants for a share of it.
cussing why no Cubans appeared. Gen.
Rivera said that though there were A.
319 enrolled as privates and non-com-
missioned officers in the Fourth corps.
few of them lived in Havana. He eX-
planned that 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 General
Brooke, took a gloomy view of the af-
fair. He said the Americans had made
a mistake in stipulating that the Gu
bans must give up their arms, as this
had caused q bad impression among
the CubanS.
A group of Cuban officers, who proved
to be some of Gen. Mayi Rodriguez's
staff had in the meanwhile assembled.
They smiled at each other. twisted their
moustaches, and grew confident as the
quarter hours passed and no soldiers
appeared. Finally they jeered in a
quiet way, at the whole proceeding
Towards IL o'clock an unarmed col
ored man in a Cuban uniform came
across the dusty square, attended by
all the American spectators. He was
shown to the paymaster, but turned
out to be an assistant" or camp fol-
The American military men consult
was not entitled to a share of the So
600 900 and his name not being on the
rolls, he was dismissed.
Major Scott, Gen. Ludlow's adjutant
sent word that a man named Harris, a
Cuban American serving a sentence in
the penitentiary would be sent under
guard to get his SIS, 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 fail
ure Quite different results are expect
ed in the country districts where the
Cuban military assembly and anti
Gomez influence is not so strong.
At noon Gen. Rivera left, reTnarking
that it was wasting his time to stay
there and Major Dodge went to the
Hotel Trocha to inform Governor Cen
eraI Brooke of the state of affairs
Four professed privates appeared at
about 11:30. without arms, but as their
names were not on the rolls, they were
not paid.