New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28
SEVEN CUBANS TAKE PAY.
AMERICAN GIFT NOT APPRECIATED
IN HAVANA.
MOO EARLY TO PREDICT WHAT WILL HAP
PEN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE ISL
AND-sTRANGE SCENE IN THE

CURAN CAPITAL.


Havana. May 27-Seven Cubans were paid
s75 each as the result of the first days distribu
,,on Of the money allotted by the United States
Cor the payment of the Cuban soldiers The
ooha, Of the members Of the former Military
Assembly to prevent the soldiers from accept
ing the gift Of the United States and giving up
their arms is successful therefore, so far as
Havana is concerned. 1t is too early to predict
what will be done in other cities and In the in
terror but the indications are that the money
will not be asked for to any great extent. Some
arms may possibly be turned in voluntarily.
The anti-Gomez and anti-American elements
are cheerful tonight. thinking that the Ameri-
cans are bafled and angry Governor General
Brooke does not regard to-day as settling the
question or as especially significant. A few pri-
Yates in this city and number OF officers have
had sufficient influence to intimdate some who
were otherwise willing to accept the American
terms. but different results are expected in the
country districts.
WAITING FOR APPLICANTS
AT 10 O'Clock this morning the hour set to begin
the payment of the troops Major Francis S.
hodge Of the Paymaster's Department, drove
up in four-mule team with $4,000 in gold and
$4,000 in silver. Six guards accompanied him.
under arms to preserve order among the mobs
which IL was supposed. would gather. Colonel
George NJ. Randall of the Sth Infantry was
present as Commissioner Of the United States.
General Ruis Rivera, who was to-day inducted
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 fifteen reporters. Half a dozen American
clerks. with the rolls Of the Cuban Army, sat
at a long table at the headquarters Of the Sth
Regiment A bag of gold was displayed, but
there were no applicants for a share of 1t. The
spectators spent the time in discussing why no
Cubans appeared General Rivera said that
though there were 4319 enrolled privates and
non commissioned officers in the Fourth Corps
few Of them lived in Havana He explained
that they 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 gloomy view
of the affair He said the Americans had made
q mistake in stpulating that the Cubans must
give UP their arms. as this had caused a bad
impression among the Cubans.
CUBAN OFFICERS PLEASED.
group of Cuban officers who proved to be
some Of General Mayia Rodriguez's staff. had in
the meanwhile assembled They smiled at each
other twisted their mustaches and grew con-
fldent as the quarter-hours passed and no SOL
diers appeared. Finally they jNred in a quiet
way at the whole proceeding.
Toward II o'clock unarmed colored man
,n Cuban uniform came across the dusty
square, attended by all the American specta
tors He was shown to the paymaster, but
turned out to be an assistant" or camp fol-
lower The American military men consulted
together and as II was thought he was not en-
titled to a. share of the S3,OOO.000. his name not
teng on the rolls, he was dismissed.
Major Scott General Ludlow's adjutant sent
word that a named Harris. a Cuban
American serving a sentence In the Peniten-
tary would be sent under guard to get his
S75. so at least one man was sure to take the
gratuity About four hundred men had been
expected.
At noon General Rivera went away, remark
ing that 1t was wasting his time to stay there,
and Major Dodge went to the Trocha to inform
Governor General Brooke Of the state Of af-
fairs
Four professed privates appeared at about
1130 without arms. but as their names were
not on the rolls. they were not paid
Two hours elapsed after the application of the
four professed privates. whose demands were
refused. owing to their lack of proof Of service,
before any applicant appeared who furnished
satisfactory evidence that he had served in the
Cuban Army. Several persons applied, but were
refused because they could not furnish the nee
essary proof Some were musicians and others
hospital attendants. but all were without the
necessary voucher.
FIRST MAN TO BE PAID OFF.
II seemed for a long time though none
would qualify but early In the afternoon one
man. about twenty-six years old arrived. and
gave his name as Hiario Esquvel Perez. He
said that he had been an orderly at General
Gomez's headquarters. He had no arms. but
said that his duty consisted in gathering forage
for the horses and hunting for food. etc. After
some delay the necessary papers were signed
and the money was handed over
Colonel Randall found one man threatening
persons who wished 10 apply. and ordered him
off the premises.
Within the next two hours six more men were
paid though not one of them had receipt for
arms surrendered but each proved that he had
been connected with the army in the capacity
OF servant Throughout the afternoon Colo
mel Randall and the others connected with the
disbursement of the fund waited patiently until,
early In the evening, the Assembly spies de-
parted out Of patience. Colonel Randall believes
that when the paymasters leave the city they
VIII find that the soldiers In the province VIII
receive the American bounty, which, tnrousn
false stories and possibly through the intimi-
dalton OF certain Cuban officers has been prac-
tcaly refused here.
The English edition Of La Lucha" publishes
an editorial which has caused comment among
the Army officers, melting the men not to re-
ceive the money: though, strangely, the Span
ish edition of the paper a few days ago ad-
vised loyal Cubans to accept the American
terms. The payment will continue tomorrow
and ii is considered likely that more Cubans