The record-union., 1899-02-25
Cubans Do Homer to the Disappear
ance Of Their Foe.
Celebrate the Day When Spanish Rule is
Not Known in the Island.
The Whole Town Decorated and
the Streets Packed With
Crowd Twice as Large as That
Which Turned Out at the
Garcia Funeral-GencraI Go
mez's Arrival.

HAVANA, February 24.-Four years
ago to-day the revolution in Cuba,
which has just ended in the disappear
ance of Spanish rule from this island,
broke out, and to-day was general
holiday, triumphal arches have been
erected in the different quarters of the
city, bearing patriotic inscriptions,
rockets are popping in the air, bands
are playing, and General Ludlow, Gov
ernor General of Havana, has given
permission to the Cubans to bring 500
of their troops into the city with Gen
eral Maxine Gomez, who has selected
this day for his triumphal entry into
the Cuban Capital.
The festivities to-day in honor Of the
anniversary were most spontaneous
and wildly enthusiastic. Havana has
never seen anything like it before. The
whole town was decorated and the
streets were packed with a crowd twice
as large as that which turred out at the
Garcia funeral.
General Gomez arrived on the edge
of the town from Marianao at 1890
p. m. escorted by the Second Illinois
Band and three battalions.
General Gomez and his escort came
into the city in the following order:
The band of the Seventh United States
Infantry, mounted; Company L of the
Seventh United States Cavalry; the
staff of General Gomez, with escort;
General Mayia Rodriguez and staff;
General Maxine Gomez, upon whose
right was Major General Ludlow; the
members of Major General Ludlow S
staff; then a great number of Cuban
Generals and officers, some mounted
and some in carriages, and finally
1900 Cuban cavalry and infantry.
AS General Gomez passed the crowd
went wild with vivas, hats were flung
in the air and women showered flowers
on all sides.
The procession stopped frequently,
eventually filing into the main streets
of the city, passing Central Park and
arriving at 2:30 o'clock at the Palace.
The Prados and other avenues were
lined with patriotic clubs, taking up
various positions of vantage and
joining the procession as it passed on
to the palace, from balcony of which
the procession was viewed by General
Gomez.
Once at the palace, the Cuban COM
mander in chief was welcomed by Senior
FREDERICK Mora, the Civil Governor;
Mayor laird, the members of the City
Council, the Junta Patriotica, the mem
bers of the assembly, officials of all
classes and numerous patriotic clubs.
Following the procession were many
private carriages filed with women
representing the best society, some al
legorically dressed and others waving
flags. The Cuban bands played the
Cuban national hymn, varying this
with Dixie" The Star-Spangled Ban
ner," The Stars and Stripes Fer
ever" and popular American marches.
There were many floats expressing
the friendship between the United
States and cuba. Two attracted par
ticular attention, each drawn by three
yoke of oxen. One depicted the Cuba
of yesterday woman standing with
manacled hands, a broken wheelbar-
row and other signs of desolation at
her feet; the other the Cuba of to-day
"a woman under a palm, smiling anu
surrounded by evidences of prosperity.
The contrast was very effective, and
everywhere applauded.
A handsome carriage, containing
ladies ard decorated with large Span
ish, American and Cuban flags, draped
together with white ribbons and bear
ing the legend, Unity, Peace and Con-
cord,' was vocferously cheered.
Still another float represented Gu
ban woman holding an American flag
with the shattered crown of Spain at
her feet.
No fewer than $4,000 people were in
line and required three hours to pass
a given point.
The enthusiasm of the crowd was
directed to General Gomez and certain
well-known commanders, rather than
to the troops themselves. AS compared
with the way the American populace
welcomes back the soldiers-the men
who have done most and suffered most
the Cubans to-day seemed neglected.
At the review at the palace General
Gomez, accompanied by his staff, pro-
ceeded to Elverado to visit Governor
General Brooke This evening he at
tended the charity ball at the Taccn
Theater, where the best Havana So
ciety was present. Boxes for the
function sold at high premium. AZ
darkness appeared the streets were still
crowded, fireworks were exploded and
the returning bands played over ana
over again the national hymn. The
theaters tonight gave patriotic per-
formances, and there were fireworks
and music III Central Park. After the
ball General Gomez went to Quinto de
Molinas, the former residence OF the
Spanish where he will reside with his
staff and escorts.
The foreign Consuls raised their re-
spective flags in honor of the day. The
crowds throughout were orderly.
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.