The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-25
Buildings Gay with Bunting and
ThOrOughfares Noisy with Bands
and AccIaiminE ThrOngs.
MILITARY AND CIVIC PARADE
AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND 1000 Gu
BAN INSURGENTS IN LINE.
Many Interesting Floats in the Pro-
cessiOn-Visit to Gen. BrOOke-BaII
at the TacOn Theater.

at the TacOn Theater.
HAVANA, Feb. M.-Gen. Maxine Gomez,
the Cuban commander-in-chief, entered
Havana this afternoon escorted by General
Ludlow and his staff and Troop A, Of the
Seventh United States Cavalry. He marched
at the head of 1900 armd Cuban horsemen
and footmen. The population of the city was
wild with enthusiasm, throwing themselves
in front of the generals horse impeding its
progress and pelting him with flowers. The
general reviewed the troops at the palace
General Gomez arrived on the edge of
the town from Maranao at 1890 p. m. and
escorted by the Second Illinois band and
three battalions. These battalions then re-
turned to their camp and did not enter the
city The festivities to-day in honor Of the
fourth anniversary of the beginning Of the
Cuban struggle for independence were most
spontaneous and wildly enthusiastic. Hav
vana had never seen anything like it be-
fore. The whole town was decorated and
the streets were packed with a crowd twice
as large as that which turned out at the
Garcia funeral
At half past 12 o'clock this afternoon
General Gomez left Cerro, the suburb from
which the march was to be made, with
procession in the following order of forma-
ton: The band of the Seventh Regiment
mounted, playing the Cuban hymn and ma
tional airs: Company L, of the Seventh
United States Cavalry; General Gomez with
Major General Ludlow on his right; the
staffs of General Gomez and General Lud-
low, riding side by side; General Mayo Rod
riguez and staff then a great number of
Cuban generals and officers, some mounted
and some in carriages, and finally 1900 Gu
ban cavalry and infantry. AS General Gomez
passed the crowds went wild with vivas
hats were flung in the air and women
showered flowers on all sides. He bowed
and raised his hat necessarily as the crowds
struggled to get near his horse and clung
to the animals sides as long as possible.
AT THE PALACE.
The procession stopped frequently, eventu-
ally filing into the main streets of the city,
passing Central Park and arriving at the
palace at 2:S0 O'Clock The Prado and other
avenues were lined with patriotic clubs, TAX
ing up various positions of vantage, and then
joining the procession as it passed on from
the palace, from a balcony Of which Il was
reviewed by General Gomez Once at tine
palace, the Cuban commander -in-chef was
welcomed by Senor FREDERICK Mora, the
civil Governor, Mayor Perfecto Lacoste. the
members of the City Council, the Junto
Patriotica, the members of the Assembly,
the officials of all classes and numerous
patriotic clubs The place was beautifully
decorated, and all previous efforts In the
display of banners and bunting was sur
passed by the almost endless showing If silk
embroidered standards and flags, hundreds
of which were carried by Havana's daugh-
ters.
Following the procession were many pri-
vate carriages, filed with women repre-
senting the best society, some allegoricaly
dressed and others waving flags. The Gu
ban bands played the Cuban national hymn.
varying this with Dixie" 1.-THE Star-span-
gled Banner" THE Stars and Stripes For
ever" and popular American marches. There
were many alegorical floats expressing the
friendship between Cuba and the United
States Two attracted particular attention,
each drawn by three yoke of oxen. One rep
resented the Cuba of yesterday-a woman
standing with manacled hands, a broken
wheelbarrow and other signs of desolation
at her feet; the other the Cuba Of to-day-a
woman under palm, smiling and surround
ed by evidences of prosperity. The contrast
was very effective and everywhere ap-
plauded
A handsome carriage containing ladies
and decorated with large Spanish, American
and Cuban flags, draped together with white
ribbons and bearing the legend, Unity,
peace and concord" was VociferouSIy
cheered Still another float represented a
Cuban woman holding an American flag,
with the shattered crown of Spain at her
feet Many Dominican flags were shown,
and there was one representative hoat IN
honor of the country Of Gomez. Several
figures dressed as North American Indians
were conspicuous.
5000 PEOPLE IN LINE.
No fewer than $1,000 people were in line,
recurring three hours to pass a given point
The horses of the Cuban cavalry are
scrawny and ill-fed. and the cavalrymen are
clad in a vague Cuban uniform. All carried
Remington carbines with nondescript bun
dies of clothing and bedding. They marched
in lines of twos. The infantry occasionally
kept step, and as they passed the palace
presented arms Most Of them carried Gu
ban flags stuck in their rifles The en-
thusiasm of the crowd was directed TO Gen.
Gomez and certain well-knOwn commanders
rather than to the troops themselves As
compared with the way the American popu-
lace welcomes back soldiers-the men who
have done most and suffered most-the Gu
ban troops to-day seemed neglected.
After the review at the palace General
Gomez. accompanied by his STAFF proceeded
to FL Vedado 10 visit Governor General
Brooke This evening he attended the char
ity ball at the Iacon Theater, where the
best Havana society was present Boxes
for the function We're sold at a high
premium.
AS the darkness approached the streets
were still crowded, fireworks were explod-
ing and the returning bands played over and
over again the national hymn. The theaters
tonight gave patriotic performances, and
there were fireworks and music in Central
Psrk. After the ball General Gomez went
to Quinta de Molinas the former residence
of the Spanish captain general, where he
foreign consuls raised their respective flags
in honor Of the day The crowds through
out were orderly.