The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-01-04
RAISING THE FLAG.
Spain's Banner Comes Down in
Havana, and Old Glory Goes Up
to the Sound Of Martial Music.

Spain's Banner Comes Down in
Havana, and Old Glory Goes Up
to the Sound of Martial Music.
Havana, January 2.-The sovereignty OF
Cuba passed from Spain TO the United States
at noon to-day. The form of the transfer was
simple, consisting only of an exchange OF
ing down of the Spanish flag and the raising
in its stead, The flag OF the United States on
the palace roof. Salutes were fired from the
heavy guns OF the forts and the war ships be-
ing of the Stars and Stripes were greeted with
cheers by the people, who covered the roofs OF
the buildings around the palace and the plaza.
No crowd was permitted to gather In the
the epoch making function: At 0 o'clock a
guard composed Of the I'd battalion of the 10Th
Infantry, marched into the Plaza De Armas.
under command of Capt Wet. and formed
around the square. Captain General Gastella-
nos watched them with interest from the bal
cony of his apartments as they entered the
square and we're stationed at all the streets
approaching the plaza. No one was allowed
to enter without pass, and all the doors OF
the palace facing the square were ordered to
be closed. Only those who could get on the
roofs and balconies of houses In the neighbor.
hood saw what was going on before the
palace.
With the guard was the band Of the I'd Hi.
nois regiment, which had been selected for
the occasion as the best band of the 7th army
corps. With the band were the buglers OF the
Sth and 18th infantry.
The weather was warm, the sun bursting at
intervals through the light clouds, and the
soldiers In blue who were forced to stand In
the sun found the heat oppressive. The
troops were formed in extended order around
the square, three PAGES apart, and the band
was massed in front of the palace entrance
across the street, at the edge Of the park.
Brig Gen Clous, the master ef ceremonies OF
~ of nrlOnR Instructions
the officers who were 10 take charge of the
various departments OF the Government at II
O'Clock. Col Dudley was assigned TO tn de.
partment Of Justice 0tfise OF the seere!a1y Sc O OF
the treasury Capt Frank B. Hanna. assistan t
signal corps, 10 the public works department.
Each Of these officers were instructed linus !:
ION the firing OF the last gun OF the first TWEEN
ty-one at noon, you are to go to the place
ace Ace In the ma name of the United States"
These orders were given under the arcade OF
the palace. Each officer had with him a
Cuban Interpreter, group OF whom stood oy
In a carriage nearby were the American flags
which were to be raised at various points.
At lilo Major Gen Wade and:Major Gen
Butler. of the American evacuation comm1s,
by their stats. They were met by Brig Gen
Clous and Major T. Bentley Mott, of Gen Lud-
lows staff. About the same moment Lucien
J. Jerome, British vice consul. arrived. he
Major Gen John R. Brooke, Governor Of
Cuba, and Major Gen Ludlow, Governor OF
the city of Havana, accompanied by their
STATS, arrived at halfpast II In carriages, Gen
Brooke's chief OF staff. in the first carriage.
In each OF the other carriages rode Cuban
general with American officers. The Cnoans
were Gems Lacret, Mario Menocal, Mayia
zl-I- a~
Gomez. Nodarte, Rafael De Cardenas, Agea-
mente and Vidal, and Col Valiente. AS the
carriages drove up the I'd company OF me Sstn
Spanish infantry, under com mand OF Col Don
Rafael Salamanca, presented arms. and the
American band started up with "The stars
and Stripes Forever" the Spanish colonel
saluting.
Joined Gen Brooke. The latter then 'rossed
the street to the palace, Gen Lee on one slde
OF him and Gen Chafee on the other, followed
by the other American generals and the
uniforms, brown felt hats and gray gloves
and they carried machetes.
A flourish Of trumphets greeted the proces.
sion and the Spanish troops presented arms rms
Cubans remained outside until escorted In by
members OF Gen Brooke's staff, the Spanish
soldiery remaining all the while at "preseot
arms" AS soon as all we're within the span,
marched around the right side OF the plaza 10
the docks, while the band of the I'd Illinois
volunteers played the, Spanish Royal
March,"
THE SCENE IN THE PALACE.
On entering the palace the American Gen.
erals went TO the saloon facing the plaza
gathered the members Of the Captain Cen
erals staff, Col. Gelpi, Lieut. Coils Belled,
Girauta and Bonitas, Major Priego. Capt.
Ritene and Capts Adolfo aud Ramon Castel.
lanos, sons Of the Captain Camera J.
The Americans grouped themselves near
large mirror, between the two central win
dows, the staff being on the right, while on
the left were the American stats, the CUBAN
Suddenly Captain General Castellancs en-
tered the salon without ceremony from the
left and greeted Gen. Brooke and others.
After shaking hands, Gen. Brooke SAT upon o
the group of Cuban generals. British Vice
Consul Jerome introduced him to Gen. Mayir
Rodriguez. Shaking both the hands OF the
Cuban oeeT in the usual SGaniss sava sShon hsan
enemies, but respect you. for your correct
attitudes and opinions. l have pleasure IN
shaking your hand"
Gen. Rodriguez replied: II thank you,
General, feel sorry for the Spanish army,
to defend. also have pleasure In shaking
your hands,"
> Captain General Castellanos then took his
81 c6nvefsation on the American side Of the
nhamber contrasted WIN iths silence on the
Spanish side. 3. 8, ~ - Sts . =
There was q marked difference, too. between
heavy and wearing much gold cord the lat
ter small and slight, In biuestriped cambric
uniforms. The Spaniards were depressed,
the Americans were correspondingly 6uoyant.
brought all eyes TO the point In the room
where stood the Captain General, who was
talking with an American officer. Inn
mediately all was silence. The Captain Gen.
eral stepped to the left. taking bis position
stood Capt. j. 8. Hart, Interpreter to the
United States military commission. Next to
Capt: Hart. In the order named, were Gems.
and Cous Immediately behind Gen. Chaffee
Was SenatortJo ohm 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 breathless pause in the <alon. Every
body knew that the American flag was being
raisep on the staff on the roof OF the palace
by Major Butler, son of Gen. Butler, and that
other official stats In Havana. After this
second ofsilence the band on the plaza played
The Star Spangled Banner" while the guns
Of the feet and fortress began to roar out
national salute OF twenty one guns.
Immediately Captain General Castellanos
handed the manuscript OF his speech to Capt.
Hart and began to speak.
Addressing himself to Major Gen. Wade,
president of the United States military COM
mission, Gen. Castellanos said:
Gentlemen: In compliance with the treaty
Of Paris, the agreement Of the military COM
missioners of the island and the orders Of
my King. at this moment of noon, January l.,
1899, there ceases In CubaSpanlsh sovereignty
and begins that of the United States. Ic con-