Martin. He was the only one in the group in full dress uniform. It was noted, as places were taken, that Marquis de Montero, a member of the Spanish Evacuation Commission, was absent. Promptly as the big clock in the palace struck the first note of the twelfth hour came the thunder of cannon from Cabanas across the harbor. Three distinct echoes followed, so that the second gun sounded before the first had ceased to reverberate. A Spanish bugle sounded a note in the courtway below, and Captain-General Castellanos, pale to sallowness, advanced, meeting General Wade in the centre of the room. There was a moment of hushed expectancy and all listened for the strangest words ever pronounced within those grim walls that had known Spanish power and glory and were now to know Spanish humiliation. While his conduct had been petty for a man in his position, there is no doubt that General Castellanos felt deeply. For a moment he was absolutely unable to proceed. Tears rolled down his stern old face, and when he spoke his voice was broken with emotion. He spoke in Spanish and beautifully, as follows: Gentlemen :—In compliance with the Treaty of Paris, the agreement of the military commissioners of the island and the orders of my king, at this moment of noon, January 1, 1899, there ceases in Cuba Spanish sovereignty and begins that of the United States. In conclusion, I declare you in command of the island, with the object that you may exercise it, declaring to you that I will be the first in respecting it. Peace having been established between our respective governments, I promise you to give all due respect to the United States Government, and I hope that the good relations already existing between our armies will continue until the termination of the evacuation of those under my orders in this territory. At the conclusion of his speech Captain Hart, attached to the American Commission, advanced, and, taking from General Castellanos a roll of manuscript, translated that which the Spanish captain-general had just said. Captain Hart is almost as large a man as General Brooke, and he presented a heroic figure acting as the instrument through which the transfer of sovereignty was made. He was pale, too, but his voice was unbroken, and as he read every one within the room heard his voice. At the conclusion of Captain Hart's reading, General Wade turned to General Brooke and in a dignified manner announced as beautifully as possible that the command of the American forces in Cuba henceforward rested with him. General Brooke spoke feelingly, Captain Hart translating, accepting the responsibility and expressing the good will of the American government and the people for Spain. In the meantime a signal had been given and Major Butler raised the Stars and Stripes over the palace, which ceased at that moment to represent Spanish power and oppression. As the flag floated in the breeze two bands stationed in the plaza played the "Star Spangled Banner," while the troops presented arms in salute. From thousands of throats a song of welcome came and whether it was heartfelt or not, which the future only can tell, it was certainly long and loud. Thunders of salutes from the harbor still continued to roll over the city, and from every available staff the American flag was unfolded to receive the plaudits of the people, who, during the morning had remained within doors, but who were now pouring into the streets literally in thousands. General Castellanos General Castellanos had informed the Americans that he would be happy to receive anyone who might come to pay his respects, but at the last moment his heart failed him. As the simple ceremonies closed the officers fell to the right and left, opening a passage to the throne room, ong which Castellanos and his aides passed. Immediately strapping on their side arms they filed solemnly down to the plaza, which they crossed, accompanied by General Clous and Captain Hart, to the harbor front, where they took launches for the steamship "Ribat," which latter took General Castellanos to Matanzas. As they departed the American troops all stood at attention. No voice was raised in exultation, the grief of the conquered being respected. As the party approached the water front a woman appeared upon the balcony of a building, shook out the Spanish flag, and in shrill tones cried "Viva Espana.” General Castellanos and his aides halted, saluted their flag, and with tear-broken voices gave three feeble "Vivas." As they entered their launch they were sobbing as though broken-hearted. General Castellanos' last words after bidding good-bye to General Clous were that he should never again set foot on Cuban soil, but should live while at Matanzas and Cienfuegos on board the "Ribat." After the withdrawal of the Spanish officials General Lacret made a brief speech in which he pledged the loyalty of the Cuban troops and people in giving every assistance to the American forces in establishing in Cuba a free and independent government. General Brooke responded, evading the delicate reference to Cuban independence. "I have been sent by my government," he said, "to establish in Cuba that order which has been unknown in the island for years. To do this it General Brooke's is necessary that I shall have your support. In you I place the greatest trust. From you I expect extraordinary assistance. From the people I expect co-operation." As the Cuban generals withdrew, representatives of the Ayuntamiento were presented to General Brooke, who signified his desire that they should act in full accord with the American plans as made public by him. The faculty of the university appeared in full gowns and pledged their heartiest support to the new order of affairs. General Brooke thanked them and expressed a desire that their work should proceed without interruption. The most spectacular incident within the palace was when the bombaras, Havana's firemen, dressed in full uniform, crowded in the reception room unexpectedly and gave three rousing cheers for "Los Americanos! " They captured General Brooke's heart and the genial old general shook hands all round with them. A hurried inspection of the palace was made, showing that the Spaniards before their departure had stripped the rooms of everything save the broken lot of furniture. The pictures had been taken from the walls with the exception of a portrait of Spain's boy king, which still graces the walls of the throne room. Early in the afternoon Captain Mott placed a guard about the palace, closing it to the public. General Lacret, who acted as spokesman for the Cuban officers, assured the United States Military Governor that everything in the power of the Cuban military officials would be done to help the Americans to restore Cuba to a condition of peace and prosperity. This speech was translated by Captain Page, of Virginia. It was scarcely half-past twelve o'clock when General Brooke and his staff left the palace for the Hotel Inglaterra. Commodore Cromwell and Captains Sigsbee, Berry, Cowles and Foss, of the United States squadron, arrived a few minutes after, too late to pay their respects. The only woman who witnessed the scene in the salon was Mrs. John Adams Fair, of Boston, who was ushered into the palace by mistake. When she was about to retire Colonel Gelpi, the captain-general's chief of staff, begged her to remain. All the other ladies were assigned places in the balcony of the barracks overlooking the plaza. The Parade of American Troops. The parade of the United States troops showed the feeling of the Cuban element of the population. The march was from El Vedado, along the Achia Del Norte, the Prado and Central Park to Cerro and Quemados. About every fourth house displayed some decoration, a palm branch, a bit of red, white and blue bunting or a flag. There was no general expression of public rejoicing, though MajorGeneral Lee, who rode at the head of the column on a gray charger, received a personal ovation along nearly the entire route. Major-General Brooke, Major-General Ludlow and the other generals reviewed the corps, standing on a bench in front of the Hotel Inglaterra and surrounded by their staffs. Every man in the last company of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana infantry, as he entered Central Park, drew from under his uniform a small Cuban flag and waved it. The Cubans went nearly wild with cheers and excitement, and General Lee sent Lieutenant-Colonel Curtis Guild, Jr., to order the Indianians to put away the flags, which they did. It was reported that the entire company was under arrest. General Lee turned in after the column passed, the crowd pressing close around his horse, shaking his hand and making other demonstrations of affectionate interest. His orderly was heavily burdened with flowers for the general. When Lieutenant Lee, son of General Lee, with Lieutenant Jones and Lieutenant-Colonel Livermore, of the army; Ensign Webster, Boatswain Hill and Gunner Applegate, of the cruiser " Brooklyn," representing the No Flag on Cabanas to Salute. navy, entered Cabanas, they found no Spanish flag flying from the staff and the halyards were tangled. Two sailors from the "Brooklyn" rove off new halyards, and Lieutenant Lee requested the Spanish officer in charge, Lieutenant Cache, to hoist the Spanish flag, that the Americans might salute it. Lieutenant Cache was about to do this when the governor of the fortress said it would be unnecessary. Then, on a signal from the "Brooklyn, the sailors fired twenty-one guns at Cabanas, after which Lieutenant Lee, who was in full dress, hoisted the Stars and Stripes, the Spaniards firing twenty-one guns in salute, and Lieutenant-Colonel Cavestany handing the keys of the fortress and an inventory of its contents to the American officer. At Morro Castle, Lieutenant Wade, son of General Wade, raised the Stars and Stripes, and Quartermaster-Sergeant Mersoig hauled down the Spanish flag amid cheers. About noon a Cuban produced a spectacular effect by letting loose a big Cuban flag from a kite string high over Morro Castle, where it flew all the afternoon. The United States Military Commissioners cabled to President McKinley at 12.30, and in reply General Wade, president of the commission, received the following: President McKinley's Message. I congratulate the commission upon the successful termination of its mission, and the peaceful occupation of Cuba by the United States. WILLIAM MCKINLEY. General Castellanos, was escorted to the wharf by Generals Clous and Chaffee. As he stepped into his launch he wept. and women, all dressed in black, gathered upon Crowds of Spaniards, men the sea wall and silently watched the fleet pass out. There was not a shout, not a handkerchief waved. Men and women wept together. GALLANT CAPTAIN LEARY. How He Defended the Flag and Defended American Interests at Samoa, C APTAIN RICHARD P. LEARY has been appointed by President and departed for his far-off post of duty on the auxiliary cruiser Guam is the principal island of the Ladrones, which were formally under the general government of the Philippines. There is but one town in all the Ladrones, San Ignacio de Agaua, and that is situated on Guam. The population of the Ladrones only amounts. to about ten thousand souls. It consists of descendants from the original inhabitants, called by the Spaniards Chammorros; of Tagal settlers from the Philippines, and of a mixed race formed by the union of Spaniards and Chammorros. Captain Leary is well known in navy circles as a brave and efficient officer and a man of remarkable executive ability. He hails from Maryland, and entered the Naval Academy in 1860. During the civil war he was attached to the blockading squadron off Charleston. During the Spanish war it was again his fate to be engaged in blockading duties, and he was placed in command of the "San Francisco," Commodore Howell's flagship. Previous to his command of the "San Francisco" he was the commander of the ram "Katahdin." In 1888 Captain Leary was in command of the "Adams" at Samoa during those troublous times, and performed a deed there that deserves to live in song and story. History repeats itself even in Samoa, and the same cause was behind the troubles in 1887-88 as is behind them to-day-the desire of Germany to bring about German control. Samoa in 1888. Malietoa Laupepa, who had been recognized as King of all Samoa by an agreement between Germany, Great Britain and the United States in 1881, was deported from Samoa by a German warship in 1887, on a flimsy pretext of having insulted the German Government. Tamasese, a rebel, was set up in his stead. A civil war then broke out between Tamasese and Mataafa, the chief of the loyalist party and a relative of the exiled king. While this war was raging, in 1888, there were but two foreign warships in Samoan waters-the "Adler," a German vessel and the "Adams," |