New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-02
CEREMONIES AT THE PALACE.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE CLOSING
SCENES OF SPANISH SOVEREIGNTY
IN THE NEW WORLD


,By The Associated Press)
Havana. Jan. 1.-THE sovereignty Of Cuba
passed from Spain to the United States at noon
to-day.
The form OF the transfer was simple, consist
ing only OF an exchange OF speeches in the
salon OF the Palace. and the raising of the
flag OF the United States on the flagstaff on the
Palace roof Statutes were fired from the heavy
guns of the forts and the warships before and
after the change OF flags, and 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 the Plaza
No crowd was permitted to gather In the
streets in the vicinity OF the Palace to witness
the epoch making function. AT O'Clock
guard composed OF the I'd Battalion of the
10th Infantry marched into the Plaza de Armas.
under command OF Captain Van Vliet. and
formed around the square Governor-General
Castellanos watched them with interest from
the balcony OF his apartments as they entered
the square and were stationed al all the streets
approaching the Plaza. No one was allowed to
enter without a pass. and all the doors or the
Palace facing the square were ordered to be
closed Only those who could get on the roofs
and balconies Of houses in the neighborhood
what going on before the Palace. With
The guard was the band OF the Cd Illinois Regi-
as the best band in the Seventh Army Corps.
With the band were the bugers of the Sth and
10th Infantry.
The weather vas warm. the 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
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.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TRANSFER
Brigadier- General Clous. the master OF cere
monies of the day. at 1870 o'clock issued in
structions to the officers who were to take
charge Of the various departments Of the Gov
eminent at II o'clock Colonel Dudley was
assigned to the Department Of Justice. office
of the secretary OF the Governor General; Major
L. ". V. Kenron. adjutant-general, to the De
partn,ent Of Commerce and Agriculture Colonel
T. L. Bliss Of the Commissary Department. to
the Treasury; Captain Frank B. Hanna. assist
ant aGjutant- general to the Department Of
Public instruction, and Colonel Dunwoody. OF
the signal Corps to the Public Works Depart
ment Each of these officers was instructed
thus: $50 .-.; No.
"on the firing of the last gun 81 the first
twenty-one at noon you are to so to the place
assigned YOU and demand possession OF the
once in the name Of the United States "
These orders were given under the arcade Of
the Palace Each officer had with him CUBAN
Interpreter a group OF whom stood near. clad
in dark clothes and wearing silk hats. In a
carriage near by were the American flags which
were to be raised ut various points .'
At l1:lO Major General Wade and Mator-Gen-
eral Butler Of the American Evacuation Com
mission. arrived from I'll Vedado on horseback,
ACCOMPANIED by their STATS. They were met by
Rr,padier-General Clous and Major T. Bentley
Mott Of General Ludow's staff. About the same
moment Lucien ]. Jerome. British Vice-Consul,
arrived In a uniform of dark blue. wearing a
monocle and carrying a sword with gold hilt
He was warmly greeted by the American OFF,
GERS Major General John X. Brooke. Governor
OF Cuba and Major-General Ludlow. Governor
of the city of Havana accompanied by their
STATS. arrived at 1870 in carriages General
Brooke and General Adna r. Chaffee. General
Brooke's chief Of staff in the first carriage. In
each OF the other carriages rode Cuban gen
eral. with American officers The Cubans were
Generals Lacret Mario Menocal Mayia Rod
r,guez, Serafn Sanchez. Jose Miguel Gomez,
Nodarte. Rafael de Cardenas, Agramonte and
Vidal and Colonel Valiente. AS the carriages
drove ND the I'd Company of the 3Sth Spanish
Infantry under command Of Colonel Don Rafael
Salamanca, presented arms. and the American
band started up with The Stars and Stripes
Forever" the Spanish colonel saluting. Major
General Lee. Military Governor OF the Province
of Havana, with his staff. Joined General
Brooke The latter then crossed the street 70
the Palace. General Lee on one side or him ana
General Chaffee on the other. followed by the
other American generals and the Cuban officers
The Cubans wore dark-blue uniforms brown
clio nd carried
machetes.
A flourish OF trumpets greeted the procession
and the Spanish troops presented arms as the
Americans entered the Palace. The Cubans re-
manned outside until escorted In by members
az General Brooke's stan the spanish soidiery
remaining all the while at present arms.
A. soon as all were within the Spanish troops
formed in a column OF fours and marched
around the right side of the Plaza TO the docks
while the band of the ID Illinois Volunteer:
played the Spanish Royal March"
SCENE IN The PALACE.
On entering the Palace the American generals
vent TO the salon facing the Plaza, which Is OF
the second floor. II is a lofty chamber. deco
rated with mirrors with deep gilt frames white
sstin draperies and the scarlet arms OF spair
over each door and window. Here gath
sred the members Of the Governor General
staff-Colonel Gep Lieutenant Colonies Bellod
0irauta and Benitas. Major Priego. Captain
Refine and Captains Adolfo and Ramon Castei
lanos sons OF the Governor-GeneraL Governor
General Castelanos was at this time in pri
vate room of the throneroom. He had giVei
a farewell breakfast at 10 o'clock &c the mem
hers OF his staff. and had spent the rest OF III
morning virtually alone, looking at the Ameri
cans from the balcony The Americans nov
grouped themselves near large mirror De
tween the two central windows the spanish