Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-20

Havana, May 20-Thena day of the
republic of Cuba 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,
Decorations were universal. There was
not residence, pretentious or humble,
that did not bear upon its quaint ia
cade some emblem in honor OF the
event. Many arches We're erected at the
entrances of the plazas by political So
cieties and fraternal clubs, and the res
licences of various civil divisions of the
city and business organizations had an
air of real grandeur. The scaffoldins
was covered with canvas painted in
imitation of marble, and from dis
tance the Illusion was complete. Bunt-
ing spread on Venetian masts canopied
the deep, narrow streets from the rays
ban colors and palms graced the open
door ways, thru which glimpses could
be caught of luxuriant gardens in the
cool inner courts. Many of the balconies
jutting from white-walled buildings
were adorned with roses. Nature
seemed in harmony with the spirit OF
the festivities. The parks were literal
ly af1ame with tropical flowers, and
ha
Cuban flag. The whole city seemed sud-
denly buried beneath a forest of wav-
ing banners.
Decorations along the water front
were exceedingly lavish. and all ship
Ping in the harbor was dressed in gala
attire. A majority of the ships few
the American ensign at the main, and
the Cuban coSors at the fore or mizzen.
The United States cruiser Brooklyn,
which was to take General Wood away.
and the steamer Morro Castle, on which
the troops We're to embark, as well as
foreign warships which had been sent
by their governments to be present at
the birthday Of the new republic. We're
dressed with streamers of signal flags.
fore and aft, man-of-war fashion. The
American colors, which were to be
hauled down in few hours, still fioated
above the grim walls of the fortresses
which guard the entrance to the har-
bor. Not another bit Of color showed
upon them.
The early morning was cool and de-
lightful, and the entire population, re-
inforced by thousands of visitors, was
abroad soon after daylight. All was
animation and expectancy. The streets
We're swarming with people and We're
filled with a ceaseless din.
Much curiosity was aroused by the
statue of Freedom. which had been
raised during the night in Central Park,
upon the pedestal where, for centuries,
n statue of Queen Isabella had stood.
During the morning bountiful break
fast was given to several thousand poor
children by Mr.. Paine, of Boston, who
has passed the winters in Havana for
many years.
AS the day advanced the heat of the
sun became intense and the weather
grew hotter every minute. The hot air
from the hot streets quivered in the hot
sky, until the whole landscape wavered.
Actual transfer of the island was
scheduled to occur exactly at noon, 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 members OF
President elect Palma's cabinet, MEM
hers of congress, supreme court judges,
governors of the provinces and officers
CT warships, foreign consuls, William
Jennings Brayn and other visiting
American statesmen, several of Senor
Palna's Central Valley, N. Y, neigh
bors; Horatio Rubens, counsel for the
former Cuban junta; Colonel William
Astor Chanley, and few other special
Iy invited guests.
Owing to the limited space in the
transfer occurred, the general public
was debarred from witnessing the pro-
ceedings. The plaza and streets run
ning into 1T We're packed with people
and shortly before 1880 those who
were to witness the ceremony began to
arrive in carriages thru the street kept
clear by the police. The ceremony was
brief and simple. After the formal
greetings Gen. Wood read the docu-
mentary transfer prepared by the war
department, pledging the new govern
ment to Immediately proclaim the con-
stitution, the Platt amendment con-
tanned in the appendix, and to under
take all obligations assumed, by the
United States with respect to Cuba by
the treaty of Paris, and letter from
President Roosevelt expressing the sim
cere friendship and good wishes Of the
United States and hope for the sue
cess of the Cuban government.
At the conclusion of the reading Pal
ma attached his signature to the docu-