The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-02
BIG TINE In HAVANA.
New Year Ushered In with Torch
Light Procession.

Havans, January 1.-The new year
was ushersd In with torch light process
sion which forneI just before midnight
and preceded BY band. left the lower
prado and made the circuit OF the prin-
cipal streets Almost the only tuns
played was the Cuban national hymn
Every body seemed TO be awake and
awaiting the advent Of 1900. The strains
of the popular hymn drew the people
everywhere to windows and doors and
the procession was greeted with the Wild
est enth husiasm. Iunumerabls small boys
kept up q fire-oraoker fusillade along the
entire line Of march. All the prominent
Cuban sensrals were cheered. President
Mckinley and Governor General Wood
came In for liberal share Of popular
applause. The procession having re.
turned to the prado and the band having
onos again played the Cuban national
by mn some Americans who were present
called for the Star Spanglsd Banner.
The band Immediately complied and the
crowd chesred Justify.
The Jockey club races today witnessed
another triumph for this popular Ameri-
can sport. Cuban society was out In force
all the best element usually to be seen at
the balls and other society events. A
large number were In carriages. Ha-
vnns virtually deserted the prado for the
raoes.E. =
It Is safe to say that so per oent Of the
American colony was present including
Gen. Wood. Hen. Lee. Gen. Cbaffee and
Gen. Ludlow with their families. The
races began on time and ended before
dark. The principal event was the OHIO
srs and club mem bers' cup handicap
three quarters OF o mile i've starte rs
which was won after a splendid race by
MIR. Guyol the one-armed English editor
OF the Luoha beating Lieut.. Healy on
Hoomlah by a length, and beating Gen.
Ludlow's horss Adios by two lengths.
The hurdle race. with ten entriss. was
. capital contest.
One of the secretaries who display ed
the customary retioence OF the best class
Of Cubans in respect Of giving their
inter views, made the following statement
to the correspondent Of the Associated
Press:
"a wonderful change seems to have
come over the Cuban people during the
last few weeks. 1t would have BEEN i'm.
possible. on December 1. to have aroused
the snth husissm which was displayed last
night during the playing of 'lhe Star
Spangled Banner Such cheers as were
given fer President Mckinley while the
procession was passing through the
streets could not have been raised for him
or for any other American a month or 50
ago. The change in my opinion. IL due
to disappearanoe of that dietrustful
feeling, which, during the greater part
of last year, had been gradually growing
among the Cuban people.
president McKinley's message to Con-
gress was the first light the Cubans had
seen for long time. Then followed the
appointment Of Gen. Wool whom the
Cubans have always admired In view of
what he did In Santiago, the most diff
cult province to rule In the island"
While Generals Maso, Rabi and Lara,
who are here to attend Gen. Woods ooun-
oil Of representative Cubans were passing
through Cienfuegos. they were escorted
from the vessel to the hotel whore ban
quet was rendered them. Meanwhile
u large crowd Of colored people had gath
cred to demand from the authorities that
the remains of Dionisio GIL, the colored
brigadisr general In the Cuban army
who had been shot and killed the previous
day by the polioe, after he had shot and
wounded two policemen who were in the
act Of arresting him, should be sxhumed
and buried with proper honors. The
demonstrators marched through the town
unfurled Q black flag and raised riotous
cries against the authorities. The chief
Of police was fired at i've times. Gen.
Maso and Mayor Aleman addressed the
crowd, which at first would not disperss.
Eventually. however. the police succeed
ed In restoring order and calming the
people.
The newly appointed cabinet will hold
Its first meeting tomorrow. when the fol-
lowing secretaries will meet Gen. Wood:
Secretary of State and Government.
senior Diego Tamayo. Secretary Of FL
nance Senior Jose Enrique varons; See-
Rotary OF Justice, Senior Luis Estevsz
Secretary Of Public Works, Senior Jose
Ramon virailoni Secretary Of Educa.
tion. Ssnor Juan Hernandez BaFrisro;
Secretary Of Agriculture, Industry and
Commerce, 6sncf Rtus Rivera.