The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-01-05
EXIT THE SPAMARDE
Formal Transfer Of Cuba to the
American Authorities.
GENERAL OAsTELLAN0s wEPT
The Retiring Captain General Unable
to Control His Emotion a. He Bade
Farewell to Spanish Control on This
HemiSDhore,

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 nag 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 plazs.
No crowd was permitted to gather
IN the streets in the vicinity Of the pal
ace to witness the epoch making func-
tion. Al . o'clock o guard composed Of
the Second battalion Of the Tenth In
fantry marched into the Plaza De Ar
mas. under command Of Captain Van
Vliet. and formed around the square.
Captain General Castellanos watched
them with interest from the balcony 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 a 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 neigh
borhood saw what was going on before
the palace.
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 Fftx-
hugh Lee and his staff. who Joined Gen
eral Brooke.
On entering the palace the American
generals went to the salon facing the
plaza, which IL on the second floor.
Here were gathered the members OF the
captain generals staff. Colonel Gelpi,
Lieutenant Colonels Belled. Girauta
and Bonitas. Major Priego, Captain
Ritenne and Captains AdolfO and Ra :.
mon Castellanos. sons of the captain
general
Suddenly Captain General Castelia nos
entered the salon without ceremony
from the left and greeted General
Brooke and others. After shaking
hands General Brooke sat upon 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
Castellanss said:
I'VE have been enemies, but re-
spect you Tor your correct attitudes
and opinions. 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 1t YVES sworn to defend. l also
have pleasure in shaking your hands"
At the last stroke Of II the boom OF
a gun brought all 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 10
the left, taking his position directly In
front Of his stan.
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 broathless 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 Rutler. 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 1.-The Star Spangied
Banner" while the gums Of the feet
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 Aoor. General Castei-
lanos said:
Gentlemen: In compliance with the
tKShty the dSIScIucht VI tHo
military commissioners Of the island
and the orders Of my king. at this mo-
ment OF noon. Jan. 1. 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 1t. declaring to you that will
be first In respecting 1t. Peace having
been established between our respective
governments. promise you to give all
due respect to the United States gov
ernment. and hope that the good re-
lations already existing between our
armies will continue until the termina-
tion of the evacuation of those unde-
my orders In this territory"
After Captain Hart had translated
the address General Wade said to Cen
eral Brooke:
II transfer this command to you"
Major General Brooke said:
II accept this great trust in behalf of
the government and president Of the
United States, and addressing Captain
General Castellanos) I wish you and
the gallant gentlemen with you a
,In NJ 70