The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-01-06
Ceremonies Attending The Transfer Of Government We're
Of a Simple But SOlnGlly Impressive Nature.
General CaSteIlanOS, Who Made the Delivery Was
Moved to Tears Cuban Officers Were Present.


from Spain to the United States at
noon Sunday.
The form of the transfer which took
place ct Havana was simple, consisting
only of an exchange of speeches in the
salon of the palace, the hauling down
of the Spanish flag and the raising in
it's stead of the flag of the United
States on the flagstaff of the palace
roof. Statutes were fred from the
heavy guns of the forts and the war
ships before and after the change of
flags.
The raising of the stars and stripes
was greeted with cheers by the people
who covered the roofs around the pal
ace and plaza.
No crowd was permitted to gather
i'll the streets in the vicinity of the
palace to witness the epoch making
function. At o'clock guard COM
posed of the second battalion of the
Tenth infantry marched into the
Plaza de Arms, under command of
Captain Van VIiet, and formed around
the square.
Brigadier General Clous, the master
of the day, at 1890 o'clock issued in
structions to the officers who were to
take charge of the various departments
of the government at IL o'clock. Col
onel Dudley was assigned to the de-
partment of justice, Office of the secre-
tary OF the captain general; Major L.
W. V. Kennon, adiutant general of
the department, to the department of
commerce and agriculture; Colonel T..
U. Bliss, of the commissary depart
ment, to the treasury; Captain Frank
B, Hanna, assistant adjutant general
to the department of public instruc-
ton, and Colonel Dunwoody, of the
signal corps, to the public works de-
partment. Each of these officers was
instructed thus:
son the firing of the last gun of the
first twenty-one at noon you are to go
to the place assigned you and demand
possession of the Office in the name of
the United States"
These orders were given under the
arcade of the palace, Each officer had
with him Cuban interpreter.
At 11:45 Major General Lee, military
governor of the province of Havana.
with his staff, joined General Brooke.
Tue latter then crossed the street to
the palace, General Lee on one side OF
him and General Chaffee on the other,
followed by the other American gen.
erals and the Cuban officers. The Gu
bans wore dark blue uniforms, brown
felt hats and gray gloves and they car
ried machetes.
A flourish of trumpets greeted the
procession and the Spanish troops pre-
sented arms as the Americans entered
the palace. The Cubans remained
outside until escorted in by members
of General Brooke's staff, the Spanish
soldiery remaining all the while al
present arms.
At this point Captain General Cas-
tellanos entered the salon without
ceremony and greeted General Brooke
and others.
British Vice Consul Jerome intro
duced him to General Mayia Rodri-
guez. Shaking both the hands of the
Cuban officer, in the usual Spanish
fashion, General Castellanos said:
eve have been enemies, but I re-
spect you for your correct attitudes
and opinions. I have pleasure in
shaking your hands. +"
General Rodriguez replied:
81 thank you, general I feel sorry
for the Spanish army which has de
Tended the banner 1t has sworn to de-
fend. I also have pleasure in shaking
your hands"
Captain General Castellanos thel
took his position near Major Genera
Brooke.
At the last stroke of 70 the boom o
gun brought all eyes to the point il
tina room where stood the captain gen
eral, who was talking with an Ameri
can officer. Immediately all was ST
lence. The captain general steppet
to the left, taking his position directl.
in front Of his staff On his RICH
stood Captain J. S. Hart, interpretei
to the United States military commits
sion. Next to Captain Hart, in tn
order named, we're Generals Chaffee
Brooke, Ludlow, Lee, Wade, Butte
and Clons. Immediately benin,
Chaffee was Senator John w, Daniel
of Virginia.