The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-05-23
THE NATIVE FLAG RAISED OVER
THE PALACE.
A new NATION IS BORN
And the Duties and Responsibilities
Of Government Assumed by
President Palma.

Havana, May 20.-The natal day OF
the republic of Cuba found Havana
arrayed like a queen to await the
coming of her lord. The decorations
were universal. Men had worked all
night by the light of torches to com
plete elaborate designs. There was
not a residence, ~pretentious or hum
BILE, that did not bear upon it's quaint
facade some emblem in honor of the
event. The many arches erected at
the entrances of plazas by political so
cleties. fraternal clubs, residents of
various civil divisions of the city and
business organizations had an air of
regal grandeur. The scaffolding was
covered with anvas painted in imi-
tation of marble and from a distance
the illusion vas complete. Bunting
spread on Venetian masts canopied
the deep, narrow streets from the
rays of the sun. Beneath the cano-
pies the Cuban colors and palms grac-
ed the open doorways, through which
glimpses could be caught of luxuriant
gardens, in cool inner courts. Many
of the balconies jutting from the
white walled buildings were adorned
with roses. Nature seemed in har-
mony with the spirit of the festivities.
The parks were literally aflame with
tropical. flowers and the vaulted sky
above might have been chiseled out
of turquoise.
Flag of the Free.
Above every red-tiled roof rose a
Cuban flag. The whole city seemed
suddenly buried beneath a forest of
waving banners. The decorations
along the water front were exceeding
ly lavish, and all the shipping in the
harbor was dressed in gala attire.
The majority of the ships flew the
American ensign at the main and the
Cuban colors at the fore or mizzen.
The American colors, which were to
be hauled down in a few hours, still
loated above the grim walls of the
fortress, which guards the entrance of
the harbor. Not another bit of color
showed up on them.
Much curiosity was aroused by a
statue of freedom which had been rails
ed during the night in Central park,
upon the pedestal where, for sentur-
les, a statue of Queen, Isabelle had
stood.
Transfer at Noon.
The actual transfer of the control
of the island was scheduled to occur
exactly at noon (Havana time), which
is 1890 p. m, Washington, but those
invited to witness the ceremony were
requested to be at the palace at 1880
a. m. They included, besides the
American officers and the members
of President-elect Palma's cabinet,
the members of congress, the supreme
court judges, the governors of the
provinces, the officers of the visiting
warships, the foreign %consuls, w. J..
Bryan and other visiting statesmen.
Horatio Rebuens, consel for the form
er Cuban junta; Col. William Aston
Chandler and a few other specially
invited guests.
Scene in the Palace.
The palace is an imposing yellow
stone structure, which for centuries
was the residence Of the captain-gen-
eral of Spain. Since the American
occupation it has been the official
headquarters of the military governor.
The actual transfer of the island oc-
Cured in the audience chamber, which
formed a fine setting for the historic
occasion.
Crowds Watched and Waited
Owing to the limited space the
people were to have no sight of the
ceremony to be enacted here, which
was to constitute them a nation be-
fore the world, but outside they were
to witness a spectacle which would
stir their pulses, for they were to see
the beloved five-barred and single
starred flag which Sespedes first
threw to the breeze in 1868, at the
opening of the ten years war, raised
by the act of the United States above
the palace, which had been the dream
Of their lives. Their parents, broth
ers and friends had gone to their
death to accomplish it. No strange
wonder then that hours before the
time set they began 1ocking here
from all quarters OF the city. Many
were already before the palace with
the rising sun and some even slept
in the park to be certain not to miss
this sight.
Solid Mace ~ A~nnnan;$v \