The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-02
Spain Formally Relinquishes
Control of the Island.
Stars and Stripes Raised Over
MORO Castle,
CABANAs FORTRESS
And the Governors Pala q
Amid Roar of Cannon.
Music of the Bands and Cheering
of the POpulace.

OF the R0puIaces
Havana, Jan. 2.-The sovereignty of
Cuba passed from Spain to the Unlteo
States at noon yesterday
The form of the transfer was simple
consisting of only an exchange OF
speeches in the saloon of the palace, the
hauling down the Spanishfiag and the
raising in it's stead of the nag OF the the
United States on the Flagstaff on the
palace roof. SaluteS were hred from
the heavy guns of the forts and the
warships before and after the change
of flags. The raising of the stars anu
stripes was greeted with cheers by tHe
people who covered the roofs of the
buildings around the palace and plaza
No crowd was permitted to gather IN
the streets in the vicinity OF the palace
to witness the epOch-mak1ng 1unctloh.
At O'Clock a guard composed OF the
second battalion of the Tenth infantry
marched into the Plaza de Armas, un-
der command of Captain Van Vleet,
and formed around the square. Captain
General CastellanoS watched them with
interest from the balcony or his apart,
gnents as they entered the square ana
were stationed at all the streets ap-
preaching the plaza. No one was al
lowed 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 neighborhood
saw what was going on before the
palace.
With the guard was the band Of the
Second Illinois regiment, which had
been selected for the occasion as the
best band in the Seventh army corps.
With the band were the buglerS OF the
Eighth and Tenth 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 en-
trance across the street, at the edge of
the park.
Brigadier General Clous, the master
of ceremonies of the day, at 1890
O'Clock issued instructions to the Off
GERS who were to take charge of the
various departments of the government
at IL o'clock. Colonel Dudley was as
signed to the department of justicGA
office of the secretary of the captain
general, Mayor L. w. v Kennon, ad-
jutant general of the department, to the.
department of commerce and agricul-
ture; Colonel T. u. Bliss, of the com
missary department, to the treasury;
Captain Frank b. Hanna, assistant ad-
jutent general, to the department of
public instruction, and Colonel Dun
woody, of the signal corps, to the public
works department. Each of these Off
GERS was instructed thus:
"On the firing of the last gun Of the
first twenty-one at noon, you are to go
to the place assigned you and demand
possession of office in the name of the
United StateS''
These orders were given under the ar
cade of the palace. Each officer had
with him a Cuban interpreter, a group
of whom stood clad in dark clothes and
wearing silk hats. In a carriage near
by were the American flags.
At H. Major General Lee, military
6 vernon Of the province of Havana,
with his staff, Joined General Brooke.
The latter then crossed the street to the
palace, General Lee on one side of him
and General Chaffee on the other, fol-
lowed by the other American generals
and the Cuban officers. The Cubans
wore dark blue uniforms, brown felt
hats and gray gloves and they carried
machetes.
A flourish of trumpets greeted the
procession and the Spanish troops pre-
Sented arms as the Americans entered
the palace. The Cubans remained out
side until escoEted in by members of
General Brooke's staff the Spanish mil
itary remaining all the while at ssnre
sent arms AS soon as all were within
the Spanish troops formed in column of
fours ana marched around the right
side of the plaza to the docks, while
the band of the Second Illinois volun-
teers played the Spanish royal march
On entering the palace, the American
generals went to the saloon facing the
plaza, which is on the second floor It
Is lofty chamber, decorated with mir
rors OF deep gilt frames, with satin
draperieS and the scarlet arms of Spain
over each door and window. Here were
gathered the members of the captain
generals STAFF, Colonel Gelpi, Lieuten-
ant Colonels Belled, Girauta and Roni-
[as, Major Priego, Captain Ritene and
captains Adolfo and Ramon Castella-
nos, sons of the captain general.
captain General Castellanos was at
inns t1'ne IN a private room off the
xhfone room. He had given a farewell
pFSak1ast at 10 o'clock to the members
OF ms STAFF and had spent the rest of the
morning virtually alone, looking at the
Americans from the balcony. The
americans now grouped thensel1Tes
near a large mirror between the 49,
central windows, the Spanish stair he
ING on the right, while on the left were
the American staffs the Cuban erenera1S
ana the correspondents
suddenly Captain General CastelIanos
entered the saloon without ceremonx1
from the left, and greeted General
brooke and others. After shaking hands
General Brooke sat upon q sofs ITbi1
General Castellanos moved towards the
group of Cuban generals British Vice
consul Jerome introduced him to Cen
eral Mayia Rodriguez. Shaking ho+h
the hands of the Cuban officer in tha
usual Spanish fashion, General CastaI-
aa1oS said:
we have been enemies, but 7 resnac+
YOU Tor your correct attitudes and opin-
hand Sour
General Rodriguez replied:
,.be snanssS sIank you; general. I feel sorry for
ne banner it was sworn to defend.
atiso nave pleasure In shaking vour
IN a carriage nearby were the Ameri-
an -nass which were to be raised at
tyarlcus points a.
AT lilo Major General Wade and
aaJor General Butler of the American
xscHAuon commission, arrived from ri
1elaoo, on horseback, accompanied Nv
near STAINS. They were met by Briga-