Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-01-05
EXIT THE SPANIARDS.
Formal Transfer of Cuba to the
American Authorities.
GENERAL oAsTELLANos WEPT.


The Retiring Captain General Unable
to Control His Emotion as He Babe
Farewell to Spanish Control on This
Hemisphere.
Havana, Jan. 2.-The sovereignty of
Cuba passed from Spain to the Uni
ted States at noon yesterday. The form
of the transfer 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
its stead of the flag of the United
States on the flagstaff on the palace
roof. Salutes were fired from the heavy
guns of the forts and the warships be-
fore and after the change Of flags. The
raising of the Stars and Stripes was
greeted with cheers by the people who
covered the roofs of the buildings
around the palace and plaza.
Generals Wade and Butler. of the
American evacuation commission. were
the first TO arrive at the palace, where
they were met by General Clous and
Major Mott Then followed Generals
Brooke and Chaffee and a number of
Cuban generals. As they passed along
the Spanish troops presented arms and
The band played The Stars and Stripes
Forever" Then came General Fitz-
hugh Lee and his staff. who joined Cen
eral Brooke.
On entering the palace the American
generals went to the salon facing the
plaza, which is on the second floor.
Here. were gathered the members of the
captain generals staff.
Suddenly Captain General Castellanos
entered the salon without ceremony
from the left and greeted General
Brooke and others. After shaking
hands General Brooke sat upon a sofa,
while General Castellanos moved to-
wards the group of Cuban generals.
British Vice Consul Jerome introduced
him to General Maya Rodriguez. Shak-
ing both the hands of the Cuban officer.
in the usual Spanish fashion, General
Castellanos said:
I'VE have been enemies, but 1 re-
spect you for your correct attitudes
and opinions. 1 have pleasure in shak-
ing your hand.'
General Rodriguez replied: II thank
you, general. / feel sorry for the Span
ish army, which has defended the ban
ner it was sworn to defend. I also
have pleasure in shaking your hands,"
At the last stroke of II the boom OF
gun brought air eyes to the point in
the room where stood the captain gen
eral, who was talking with an Ameri-
can officer Immediately all was 81
lence. The captain general stepped to
the left, taking his position directly in
front of his staff.
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 salon. Everybody knew that the
American flag was being raised on the
staff on the roof of the palace by Major
Butler, son of General Butler and that
the Stars and Stripes was going up on
all the other official staffs in Havana.
After this second of silence the band On
the plaza played THE Star Spangled
Banner" while the guns of the fleet
and fortresses began to roar out the
national salute of q guns.
Immediately Captain General Castel-
lanos handed the manuscript of his
speech to Captain Hart and began to
speak
Addressing himself to Major General
Wade, president of the United States
military commission, though he seemed
to look at the floor, General CasteI-
lanos said:
I Gentlemen: In compliance with the
treaty of Paris, TIE agreement of the
military commissioners of the island
and the orders of my king, at this mo
ment of noon, Jan. l, 1899, there ceases
in Cuba Spanish sovereignty and begins
that Of the United States. In conclu-
sion, I declare you in command of the
island, with the object that you may
exercise it, declaring to you that I VIII
be first in respecting it. Peace having
been established between our respective
| governments, / promise you to give all
due respect to the United States gov
eminent, and I hope that the good re-
lations already existing between our
armies win continue until the termina-
| ton of the evacuation of those under
my orders in this territory"
After Captain Hart had translated
the address General Wade said to Cen
| eral Brooke:
Il transfer this command to you"
Major General Brooke said:
"I accept this great trust in behalf of
| the government and president of the
| United States, and addressing Captain
| General Castellanos) 1 wish you and
| the gallant gentlemen with you a
| pleasant return to your native land.
May prosperity attend you and all who
| are with YOU
Generals Brooke and CastelIanos
| then shook hands, after which General
| Castellanes and staff retired from the
throne room. AS he bid farewell to his
|
| tears in his eyes: Gentlemen, 1 have
| been in more battles than l have hairs
ON my head. and my self possession has
never failed men until today. Adieu,
| gentlemen adieu.'
Then he moved swiftly toward the
| stairway, escorted by General Chaffee,
| and followed by his staff. AS he cross
| ed the plaza the American ladies who
We're standing in the balcony of the
| barracks waved their handkerchiefs,
and General Castellanos responded by
bowling and kissing his hand toward
them. At the corner of the plaza. with
tears in his eyes. he turned to take a
final look at the palace. He could see
the American generals on the balcony
| Without a word he turned sharply in
| the direction of the wharf. At the dock
/ Generals Clous and Chaffee bade him
| farewell and the retiring captain gen
| eral put off for the Spanish transport
| Rabat, on which he viii proceed to
Matanzas
After the departure of the Spaniards
| General Brooke held a reception, during
which he told the Cuban officers that he
would expect their hearty cooperation
which was solemnly pledged.
/ The narade of the United States
troops gave Cubans an opportunity to
show theic regard for General Fitz-
hugh Lee who was given a continuous
ovation.
Archbishop ireland Denies a Report.
St. Paul. Mimi, Jan. Archbishop