The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-25
GEN. GOMEZ ENTERS HAVANA
PRINCIPAL FEATURE OF THE INDIE
PEYDENCE CELEBRATION.

Crowds Wildly Enthusiastic-Hat.
Thrown ia the Air and Women
Shower Flowers ON All Sides s-Cuban
Bands Play Cuban Hymns and Ameri.
can Airs-AIlegorical Floats.
Havana, Feb. 24.-The festivities to-
day in honor of the fourth anniversary
of the beginning of the Cuban struggle
for independence were most spontane-
GUS and wildly enthusiastic. Havana
had never seen anything like it before.
The entrance of General Gomez into the
city was, of course, the principal feat
ure. The whole town was decorated and
the streets were packed with crowd
twice as large as that which turned out
at the Garcia funeral. At 1890 p. m. he
left Correa, the suburb from which the
march was to be made. The procession
IN the following order: The band of the
Seventh regiment, mounted; the staff
OF General Gomez with escort; General
Mayi Rodriguez and staff; General
Maxine, upon whose right was Major
General Ludlow the members of Major
General Ludlow's staff; then a great
number of Cuban generals and line Off
GERS, some mounted and some in car
riages, and finally 1000 Cuban infantry
and cavalry The crowd went wild.
Hats were flung in the air and women
showered flowers on all sides. General
Gomez bowed and raised his hat con-
stantly as the crowds struggled to get
near his horse and clung to the animals
sides as long as possible.
The procession stopped frequently,
eventually filing into the main streets of
the city, passing Central park and ar
riving at the palace at half-past two.
The Prado and other avenues were lined
with patriotic clubs, taking up various
positions of vantage and then joining
the procession as it passed on from the
palace from balcony, of which it
was reviewed by General Gomez. Once
at the palace the Cuban commander-in-
chief was welcomed by Senor FREDERICK
Mora, the civil governor; Mayor Per-
fecto Lacoste, the members of the city
council, the junta patriotica the mem
bers of the assembly, the secretaries, Of
ficials Of all classes and numerous pa
triotic clubs. The palace was beauti-
fully decorated; and all previous efforts
in the display of bnnners and bunting
were surpassed by the almost endless
showing of silk embroidered standard
and flags, hundreds of which were car
ried by Havana's daughters Following
the procession We're many private car
riages, filled with women representing
the best society, some allegorically
dressed and others waving flags. The
Cuban bands played the Cuban national
hymn, varying this with "Dixie," ''The
Star Spangled Banner" 1.-THE Stars and
Stripes Forever" and popular American
marches.
There We're many allegorical floats ex-
pressing the friendship between Cuba
and the United States. Two attracted
particular attention, each drawn by
three yoke Of oxen. One represented the
Cuba of yesterday-a woman standing
with manacled hands, a broken wheel
barrow and other signs of desolation at
her feet; the other, the Cuba of to-day
"a woman under a palm, smiling and
surrounded by many evidences of pros
perity. The contrast was very effective
and everywhere applauded. A hand
some carriage containing ladies, and
decorated with large Spanish, American
and Cuban flags draped together with
white ribbons and bearing the legend
"United, peace and concord was vocif-
erously cheered. Still another float rep
resented 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 rep
resentative float in honor OF the coun-
try of Gomez Several figures dressed
as Americans We're conspicuous.
No fewer than $4,000 persons were in
line requiring three hours to pass CIV
en- point. All carried Remington rifles
with nondescript bundles of clothing
and bedding. They marched in lines of
twos The infantry occasionally kept |
step as they passed the palace and pre-
eented arms. Most of them carried Gu
ban flags stuck in their rifles
The enthusiasm Of the crowd was d.
rected to General Gomez and certain |
well known commanders ra ather than to
the troops themselves. AS compared
with the American populace welcomed
back soldiers the men who have done
most and suffered most, the Cuban
troops to-day seemed neglected.
After the review at the palace Cen
eral Gomez, accompanied by his staff,
proceeded to FL Veadado to visit Gov
ernor General Brooke. This evening he
attends the charity ball at the Tacon
theater, where the best Havana society
will be present. Boxes for the function
have been sold at a high premium.
AS the darkness appeared the streets
are still crowded, fireworks are explod-
ing and the returning bands play over
and over again the national hymn. The
theaters tonight gave patriotic per-
formances, and there will be fireworks
and music in Central park. After the
ball General Gomez will go to Quinta
de Molinaus, the former residence of
the Spanish captain general, where he
will reside with his staff and escort.
The foreign consuls raised their re-
spective flags In honor of the day The
crowds throughout were orderly. AL
together the entrance of General Gomez
was well timed, his appearance making
the anniversary doubly important and
giving the enthusiastic people two ,
fold cause to express their emotions.
| !
A Custom Ruling Reversed. !
Boston, Feb. PA telegram was re-