No. 1122.
Mr. Scott
to Mr. Bayard.
Carácas, April 28, 1888. (Received May 11.)
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the U. S. S Pensacola, with the Venezuelan commissioners on board, conveying the remains of General Paez to his country, anchored in Laguayra at 2 p.m. April 7. General S. A. Pachano, accompanied by Lieutenant Baker, U. S. Navy, went on shore to make the necessary arrangements for the landing of the remains. Delegations were received from Caracas offering the hospitalities and freedom of the city on the part of the Government, and also a committee from the Union Club tendering a ball to the captain and officers of the Pensacola. Messages of welcome were also received from the President of the Republic.
At 9 a.m, April 9, 1888, the Venezuelan commission to New York came alongside the Pensacola, and the body was embarked with full military honors from that ship. The funeral procession to the wharf consisted of the Venezuelan boats containing the casket, the commission, delegations from Carácas and Laguayra, officers from the Pensacola, and a company of marines and blue jackets. Minute guns were fired during the landing. All the vessels in the roadstead and all the flags on shore were at half-mast. This cortege was met by General Arismendi and the national troops, the band playing “Hail Columbia;” and the casket containing the remains of General Paez was deposited with all military honors in the funeral car at the railway station to be transported to Carácas.
At 12 m. on the same day a banquet was offered the officers of the Pensacola by the Government at the customs house, General Arismendi presiding. Captain Yates, of the Pensacola, responded in behalf of the United States to a toast proposed by General Arismendi to the President of the United States, and Lieutenant Baker responded in Spanish to the toast of General Pachano to the New York committee.
At 3 o’clock on the same day the funeral train, draped, left for Carácas containing the various committees and eighteen of the Pensacola officers in special full dress uniform. At the station in Carácas, on the arrival of this train, the President, cabinet, governor of the federal district, [Page 1644] troops, and a large concourse of citizens met the train, the band playing “Hail Columbia,” and the citizens shouting Viva los Americanos.” A banquet was given at the “Hotel Americano,” the headquarters of the officers of the Pensaeola, that evening. Before dinner the officers of the Pensaeola made an official call on the United States minister at his residence. At 10 o’clock a.m., on the 10th instant the officers of the Pensaeola called at the “Casa Amarilla,” the residence of the President of Venezuela, and were duly presented by the United States minister resident, to His Excellency, President Lopez.
On the 11th instant the President, his cabinet, the diplomatic corps, the officers of the Pensacola, all the public functionaries, and an immense concourse of citizens, proceeded to the statue of Washington, in Washington Square, and the President of the Republic of Venezuela decorated the statue of Washington with wreaths of immortelles.
In conclusion, 1 beg leave to state that every courtesy and hospitality was shown and extended to the officers of the Pensacola during their sojourn in Caracas by the Government and people of Venezuela.
Balls, banquets, and demonstrations of all kinds were gotten up in their honor, and they were emphatically the guests of this nation during their visit here; and in this connection I desire to say that the officers of the Pensacola conducted themselves in a manner to win golden opinions from all, and not an incident occurred to mar the pleasure of this memorable event. Too much praise can not be awarded to Captain Yates, of the Pensacola, for the manner in which he discharged his official duties, and he deserves the thanks of his Government for the credit he reflected upon it in representing it so well and faithfully, truly sustaining its honor and dignity.
I have the honor, etc.,