The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-02
ONE WILD BURST OF CHEERS
WHEN A COMPANY OF INDIANIANs
WAVED SMALL CUBAN FLAGS.
The TOO-Ardent HOOsiers Reported to
Have Been Put Under Arrest-De-
parture of the Spanish Fleet.

HAVANA, Jan. 1.-The sovereignty Of
Cuba passed from Spain to the United
States to-day. The change of flags and
authority was effected according to pro-
gramme There were no serious disturb
ances. The parade of United States troops
was witnessed by many people. but it evoked
no great enthusiasm, except once, when
Company G, of the e-hundred-and-sixty
first Indiana Volunteers waved some small
Cuban flags. Then bedlam broke loose. The
Cuban spectators cheered so wildly and the
excitement became so great that General
Lee sent an officer to tell the men to put
away the flags. The excitement then rapid
ly subsidized Members of Company G. say
the flags were given them by Cuban women,
and that they had no intention of creating
sxcitment. Whether the men will be pun
ished beyond a reprimand is not known.
Tonight. however, it was said their arrest
had been ordered.
The form Of the transfer of sovereign
ties to-day was very simple, consist
ing 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 war ships before 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. No crowd was per-
mitted to gather in the streets in the vi
cinity of the palace to witness the epoch
making function
WATCHED BY CAsTEILANOS.
At O'Clock a guard composed of the
second battalion of the Tenth Infantry
marched into the Plaza de Armas, under
command of Captain Van vliet, and formed
around the square. Captain General Cas-
teIlanos watched them with interest from
tie balcony of his apartments as they en-
tered the square and were stationed at all
the streets approaching the plaza. No one
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 neighborhod saw what was
going on before the palace. With the guard
was the band Of the Second Illinois Regi-
ment, which had been selected for the oc-
casion as the best band in the Seventh Army
Corps. With the band were the bugers 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
entrance across the street at the edge of
the park
INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFICERS.
Brigadier General Clous. master of cere-
monies Of the day, at 1880 o'clock issued
instructions to the officers who were to take
eharge Of the various departments of the
government at u O'Clock Colonel Dudley
was assigned to the department of Justice
ONCE Of the, secretary OF the captain gem
efal; Major /. w V. Kennon, adjutant
general of the department, to the DEPART
Ment Of commerce and Agriculture;
Colonel J. u. Bliss Of the comrfis-
eary department. to the treasury; Captain
rank p Hanna, assistant adjutant gem
~ % 'ne department Of public Instruction,