The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-06-07
LANDING OF PRESIDENT
ELECT PALMA IN CUBA
BY HIRAM BINGHAM. JR.


A., them were alike out OF all the dozen or
less OF his followers. There seemed To
1 be no prevailing type. but each adj
venturer appeared to belong in a class
all by himself.
Senior Palma was easily first in
grace OF manner. pleasing appearance
and refinement of features. L found
him affable in conversation. speaking
English with slight accent and in a
manner which reminded me strongly of
Joseph Jefferson OF about the same
height and not very dissimilar. there
I We're numerous points in common be-
tween the grand old actor and the new
President of the Baby Elephant.
Both are very fond OF children. both
are kindly and sympa thetic. and neith-
or is peculiarly fitted by nature To hold
the whip hand over mob OF turbulent
Cubans. Senior Palma preached a sub
ject Of personal interest when he told
that he believed that all the South
American Republics. with the possible
exception Of Chile and Argentina.
federation for the advancement of
trade and the promotion of foreign re-
lations.
While we We're talking the little boy
who had sat next To me at table since
we left Boston passed US. Very quietly
and gently Senior Palma reached out
and drew the boy toward him, asking
his name and whether his father and
mother were on board. letting him go
with the admonition, We must be.
friends l want you To be my friend.
am very fond Of children. / have six
~ my own. the oldest 10 or 20. His
whole manner was delightful and he
seemed at that moment To be the en-
l..I - a
Fine weather. clear sky. hot sun and
good breeze made our first view of
Cuba en- Sunday morning one long tol
be remembered. We steamed along the !
northern coast for several hours before
reaching Gibarra about.9 o'clock. Thc
country struck me by its barrennesS.
Almost no houses were visible: in fact. /
| du not remember To have seen one |
before coming in sight of Gibarra The |
coast is forbidding and inhospitable. |
the mountains are for the most part /
bare. the middle country was gre-n |
with here and there patch of sugar
cane ar "A large grove OF beautiful rnya.
PAINS. on the whole the general as
pect was embarrassing until we. APP
"a cached the hill dotted with white
houses which slopes down to the hSi-
b. r or destination.
1t may easily be imagined that there
was considerable excitement on board.
The ship was gaily bedecked with
Hays The Cubans HAD on their hes.
clothes. and with true respect for Eng
ish customs had donned their silk ha
and frock coats. while the rest OF us
we're revealing in our thinnest summer
clothes and comfortable straw hats.
I'm the harbor of Gibarra were two
steamers resembling in size the larger
vessels OF the inter-island fleet. One
II them belonged To- the omnipresent,
Fruit Co. the other To a large local
concern. Both were in festive attire.
The scene on shore was exceedingly
interesting. With the glasses one could
make out crowds OF people. squadrons
y cavalry. hags flying from buildings.
streets bedecked with palm branches
ma streamers. while across the calm
water Of the harbor came the inces-
ant tanEle Of the cathedral bells. Be 7
ore long United States revenue cut q,
CT came off from the shore. bringing {
he persons OF Importance and the first !
'atch OF the committee of welcome. {
The second batch came on a large tug ]
The enthusiasm Of the first embrace :
vas very interesting. As Is the uni I
'ersal custom here. the men, instead {
u shaking hands. embraced slapping 5
dch other violently on the back Three {
Y Tour resounding thwacks were hard
enough 10 express their joy. II was s
'eculiarly curious and interesting TO
ee the white and black Cubans en- I
racing as affsctionately as though I
hey We're the same color. q
They were all shades and types. 7
rom the most swarthy black 10 a very, G
ickiy white. but they all with one ac- i
ORD shouted Viva el Presidente, Viva '
alma! Viva Cuba Libre, Viva Ell Pri- e
nero Presidente,' q
me peaeeable regular passengers t
M such OF the committee Of welcome 7
; We're not allowed to go on the rev. o
nue. cutter were sent ashore first in the O
arse tug. IT was evidently the inten
ION 10 have a very dramatic landing .
President Palma, but the fates we-s :