The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-02

/
| aid and The Houston Post. Copyrighted.
1885, by James Gordon Bennett.)
| Havana, Cuba, January latter the
general programme Of surrender had been
agreed t6 the Spaniards in effect at least
] Spanish officer lowered the crimson and
gold flag that floated over the place and
disappeared with 1t. As noon approached
the correspondent learned that no other
flag had been provided. and when Major
Butler protested he was met with a shrug
that meant nothing.
Then, as the Spanish and American off
GERS gathered in the reception room of the
palace for the final ceremonies. ii was seen
that while the Americans were in full dress
uniforms the Spanish wore fatigue uni
forms without side arms.
After the ceremony General Castelanos
led an immediate and fearful procession
TO the walter front. where he took launch
for the steamer Ribol, vowing he would
never again set foot on Cuban soil
In spite OF all these incidents the cere-
mony was impressive and one never to be
forgotten by those who saw it.
Havana, January 1.-The sovereignty OF
Cuba passed from Spain 10 the United
States at noon today. 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 the flag
Of the United States on the flag staff on
the palace roof. salutes were fired from
the heavy gums of the forts and the war
slips before and after the change OF flags.
The raising of the Stars and Stripes was
greeted with cheers by the people who
covered tie roofs of the buildings around
the palace and plaza.
No crowds were permitted to gather in
the streets in the vicinity of the palace to
witness tine epo5h making function.
At o'clock guard composed of the
Second battalion of the Tanth infantry
marched into the Plaza de Armus in COM
mand of General Van Vliet and formed
around the square Captain General Cas-
tellanos watched them with interest from
the balcony of his apartments as they en-
tered the square and were stat.onai at all
of the streets approaching t,hre plaza. No
one was allowed 10 enter without pass,
and all the doors of the palace facing the
square were ordered to be CLOSED. On
those who could get On the roof and ba.co-
mics of houses in the nelghborhood saw
what was going on before the palace. Nita
the guard was the band of the Second II L.
nois regiment, which had been selected for
the occasion as the bsst band In the
Seventh anny corps. with the band were
the buglers Of the Eighth and Tenth in
fantry. The weather was warm. the sun
bursting at intervals through the light
clouds, and the soldiers who were forced
TO stand in the sun found the hsAt OPP
pressive. The troops were formed in ex-
tended order around the square three PAGES
apart and the band was massei in from of
the pa.ace entrance across the street at
the edge of the park.
Eghga-ier General ClolIs. the master OF
ceremonies of the day. al 1880 o'clock is
sued instructions 10 the officers who were
to take charge OF the various departments
OF the government at IL O'Clock. Colonel
Dudley was assigned to the department Of
justice, office OF she secretary OF he cap
tain general: Major L.. w. " Kennon. aa-
1utant generil of the department, to the
department OF commerce and agriculture:
Colonel It. U. Bliss OF uhe cSmmissary de-
partment. to the treasury; Captain Frank
b. Hanna, assistant edtutant general. to
the department of public obstruction, AMI
Colonel Dunwcody Of he signal oo,is 10
the public works department.
Each OF these onicers was instructed
thus:
'on the firing Of the last gun OF tho first /