The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1902-05-24
CUBA AT LAST FREE
NOW AN INDEPENDENT NATION
President Palma Takes the Rsins Of
Government-Genera Wood Hauis
Down the Stars and Stripes and
With the Assistance Of General
Gomez Raises the Flag of Cuba.

monies which occupied a brief ten
minutes Cuba came yesterday into
peaceful and undlsputed possession OF
the independence for which her people
have fought and toiled through fifty
years. and entered the ranks Of SOW
ereign states.
In the historic room in the palace OF
Spain's governor generals, in which
the departing Spaniards relinquished
control of the island January l, 1889,
representatives of the United States
government surrendered the trust then
assumed and Tomas Estrada Palma,
first president of the Cuban republic,
took up his task of government.
Tn, transfer was the occasion Of an
outburst of popular enthusiasm with
out precedent in til. history of the
island. rhe downfall of Spain and the
coming of the Americans We're cause
TO- public rejoicings. but these We're
moderated by fear that the change,
while 1t might work for Cuba's good,
was only a change Of masters.
With the arrival of President Palma
and the preparations for departure
made by American officials. Cubans
and Spaninrds for the first time since
American occupation began, were con-
WINGED that the Americans really in
tended to go away and take their flag
with them. Then apprehension van-
ished, high regard and gratitude took
its place and feelings of patriotism and
national pride found full expression.
The elimination came to-day when,
at II o'clock noon. signal guns from
the forts in the bay announced the
birth of n new republic. General Wood
read the documents of transfer pre-
pi red by fhe War Department. Dur
ing this reading the outside tumult
had reached sucn climax that the
proceedings We're scarcely audible.
The thrudcr> of saluting guns from
the forts in the hnrbor drowned the
voices of those in the palace, while
the crowds on surrounding housetops
and BALCONIES and In the streets below
increased the din with shouts of viva
Cuba Libre" and viva la Indepen-
dencer'
The natal day OF the republic OF
Cubn found havana arrayed like a
queen, to await the coming of her
lord She seemed reinvested for the
occasion with the dignity of the pros
porous days of her power and wealth.
The decorations were universal.
Nature seemed in harmony with the
spirit of the festivities. The parks
flowers and thevaulted sky above might
have been chisellcd out of turquoise.
Above every red-tilcd roof rose a Gu
ban flag. The whole city seemed sud
denly buried beneath n forest of wav-
ing banners.
The ceremony ended when President
Palma affixed his signature on behalf
of the Cuban government. plet1ging 1t
to assume the obligations undertaken
by the United States. There were
compliments and congratulations and
then Cubas assumption of statehood
was. complete. The tumult in the
staid old Spanish city, which for GEN.
turics was the center of Spanish do
minion in the western hemisphere,
continued until long after the Ameri-
can forces boarded the Moro Castle
and Governor Wood had left the
island.
The actual transfer of the control of
the island was scheduled to occur ex-
actly ut noon CHnvann time. which is
12:3O p. nj. Washington, but those in
vitcd to witness the ceremony We're re-
quested to be at the palace mt IL 80
H. IN. They included, besides the
American officers and the members of
Prcsident-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. William
Jennings Bryan, other visiting Ameri-
can statesmen, several of Senior Pal
mas General Valley On. W neighbOrs,
IIoraiio Rubens, counsel for the for
mer Cuban iunta. Col. William Aston
Chanler and II few other specially ill.,
vited guests.
Senior Palma attached his signature
to the document, as president of the
republic, after an exchange of con-
CALCULATIONS and the old veteran, Gen
cral Gomez, assembled to the roof of
the palace. lie WAS instantly recog-
nizcd and met with great demonstra-
ton of welcome. General Wood him
self undid the halyards from the flag
staff and lowered the American colors.
AS they futtored down, the cavalry be-
low saluted their flag, and, like an
echo of the cheers that arose. came the
distant boom of one of the great guns
of Cabanas fortress across the bay.
II was followed by another and an
other in rhythmic succession. until for
ty-tivc shots had been fired, one for
each state in the Union. As the first
gun spoke. the flags on Moro castle
and those on the Santa Clara and
Punta fortresses were lowered. The
jurisdiction of the United States had
ended.
Meantime Cuban flag had been bent
on the halyards of the palace flagstaff
and by his own hands, General Wood
raised II as an act Of the United
States. General Gomez assisting him.
AS the flag flew free, the streets be-
low fairly waved with the cheer that
arose.
1t was caught up by the people on
the roofs and rolled over the city.
Again the cavalry below saluted. and
again the guns of Cabanas spoke, this
time with national salute of twenty
one guns. The bands stationed on the