The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-05-28
eUBa FREE IS FREE.
Grand Demonstration in Honor of
Transfer of Government---cere-
monies Simple and Brief.
THE AMERICAN OFFICIALS WITHDRAW.

habana, May 20.-The natal day of
the Republic of Cuba found Hsbana
arrayed like queen to await the COM
ing Of her lord. She seemed reinvest-
ed for the occasion with the dignity OF
the prosperous days of her power and
wealth. The decorations we're uni
Yersal In some cases men had work
ed all night by the light of torches to
complete elaborate designs. There
was not residence SO pretentious Or
humble that did not bear upon its
quaint facade some emblem In honor
OF the event. The parks were literal
II ahame with tropical flowers, and
the vaulted sky above might have
been chiselled out of turquoise. Above
every red tiled roof rose Cuban flag.
The whole city semed suddenly buried
beneath forest of waving banners.
SHIPS GAILY DRESSED.
The decorations along the water
front were exceedingly lavish and all
the shipping in the harbor was dress
ed in gala attire. The majority of the
ships few the American ensign at the
main and the Cuban colors at the fore
or mizzen. The United States armor-
ed cruiser Brooklyn, which was to take
Gen. Wood away, and the steamer
Moro Castle of the Ward line, on
which the troops were to embark, as
we'll as the foreign warships which
had been sent by their governments to
be present at the birth of the new re-
public were dressed with streams of
signal flags fore and aft, man-of-war
fashion.
The American colors, which were to
be hauled down in few hours, still
doated above the grim walls Of the
fortresses which guard The entrance to
the harbor. Not another bit of color
showed upon them. The early morn
ing was cool and delightful and the
entire population, reinforced by. thou
sands Of visitors, was abroad soon af-
ter daylight. AL was animation and
expectancy. The streets were swarm
i,.g with people and were filed with a
eeaseless din.
Much curiosity was aroused by a
statue Of Freedom, which had been
raised during the night in Central
park, upon the pedestal where fer
decades the statue Of Queen Isabella
had stood.
During the morning bountifu>l
breakfast was given to several thou
sand poor children by Mr.. Payne OF
Boston, who has passed the winter in
Habana for many years.
The actual transfer of the control Of
the island occurred exactly at noor,
Habana time, which is 1870 p. m.
Washington time. Those invited to
the ceremony 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 pro-
yinces, the officers of the visiting war-
ships, the foreign consuls, William
Jennings Bryan and few other spe-
cially invited guests.
Owing to the limited space the pee
pie were to have no sight Of the cere,-
mony which was to constitute them a
nation before the world, but outside
the palace they were to witness spec
tacle which would stir their pulses, for
they were to see the beloved five
barred and single-starred flag which
Cespedes threw to the breeze in 1858,
at the opening of the Ten Years
war, raised by the act of the United
States above the palace.
with the rising sun, and some even
slept in the park, to be certain not
to miss this sight.
A portion Of the plaza was kept
clear by the police very early. The
remainder was packed with people, so
thick that the ground seemed alive.
SIGHT TO LIVE IN MEMORY.
Soon all the side streets running
into the plaza were choked into a
solid mass of humanity, and every
door and window fronting the square
was walled in with faces, white and
black, old and young, male and
female. Then crowds sought the roofs,
oYerAowing every building that COM
znanded a view Of the flagstaff on the
palace. It was sight to live forever in
memory.
Drawn up below in the open space
of the plaza were eight dismounted
troops OF the Seventh cavalry, with
sabres at their heels. Their horses
were already on board the steamer
which was to take them back to the
United States.
Shortly before 1870 a. M, those
who were to witness the ceremony be-
gan TO arrive, in carriages, through q
street kept clear by the police. All
the naval officers were arrayed in full
uniform. The Cubans generally wore
black frock suits, white waistcoats
and silk hats. They formed distin-
guished looking assemblsge as they
gathered in the audience chamber.
The ceremony itself was brief and
simple. After formal greetings Gen.
Wood read the documentary transfer
prepared by the war department pledg-
ing the new government to immediate
iy proclaim the constitution and the
Platt amendment contained in the
appendix, and to undertake all OBJ
LEGATIONS assumed by the United States
with respect to Cuba by the treaty of
Paris.
Gen. Wood delivered letter of
greeting from President Roosevelt.
STARS AND STRIPES LOWERED.
Senor Palma attached his signature
to the document to transfer as presi-