The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-21
CUBA'S NATAL DAY
,w REPUBLIC JOINS THE SISTER
HOOD OF NATIONS.
OUR AUTHORITY AT AN END.
THE FIVE BARS REPLACE THE
STARS AND STRIPES.

ed and the CUBAN r ing r lew FROM
rrerv House TOp-DistinGuishcd
AssembIage Witnessed the Formal
transfer and Saw Gen. Wood Haul
no,vu the American Flag and With
the Aid of Gen. GOnez Raise the
Five-Itarred Flag of Cuba-WhiIe
che Gums of Warsbips Doomed the
paopIe Went wild With Delight.
q Cen. wood and His Troops Imme-
brooklyn and Sailed Out of the
Harbor.
Havana, May 2O.-The natal day of
tho republic of Cuba found Havana
arrayed like a queen to await the
coming of her lord. She seemed rein
vested for the occasion with the digni-
4 ~ of the prosperous days of her pow
or and wealth. The decorations were
universal In some cases men had
worked all night by the light of
torches to complete elaborate designs.
There was not a residence, pretentious
or humble, that did not bear upon its
ouaint facade some emblem in honor
of the event. The many arches erect
! ed at the entrances of plazas by politi
4 cal societies, fraternal clubs, residences
of various civil divisions of the city
i and business organizations had an air
of real grandeur. The scaffold
i ing was covered with canvas
nanted in imitation of marble
and from a distance the illusion was
\ complete. Bunting spread on Venetian
masts canopied the deep narrow streets
n seemed in harmony with the spirit of
\ the festivities. The parks were liter
ally alame with tropical flowers, and
n the vaulted sky above might have
been chiselled out of turquoise. Above
Il every red tiled roof rose a Cuban
flag. The whole city seemed suddenly
q buried beneath a forest of waving
n banners.
The City in Gala Attire.
The decorations along the
s water front were exceedingly
lavish and all the shipping in the har-
n Dor was dressed in gala attire. The
majority of the ships flew the Amer
+ lean ensign at the main and the Gu
ban colors at the fore or mizzen. The
United States armored cruiser Brook
4 lyn, which was to take Gen. Wood
away and the steamer Moro Castle,
of the Ward Line on which the troops
were to embark, as well as the foreign
lwarships which had been sent by their
governments to be present at the birth
OF the new republic, We're dressed with
streams of signal flags, fore and aft,
man-of-war fashion. The American
coors, which We're to be hauled down
in few hours, still fioated above the
grim walls of the fortresses which
guard the entrance of the harbor. Not
another bit of color showed upon them.
The early morning was cool and de-
lghtful and the entire population, re-
ntorced by thousands of visitors, was
abroad soon after daylight. All was
animation and expectancy. The streets
We're swarming with people filled with
a ceaseIess din.
statue Of Freedom, which had been
raised during the night in Central
Park, upon the PEDESTAL where for CEN
turtles statue of Queen Isabella had
stood. During the morning a bountifuI
breakfast was given to several thous-
ana poor children by Mr.. Payne of
Boston, who has passed the winter in
havana for many years.
The Transfer of Authority.
The actual transfer of the control of
Tue island occurred exactly at noon,
havana time, which is 1890 D. M,
washington time. Those invited to the
ceremony included, besides the Ameri-
oan officers and the members of Presi-
oent falmas cabinet, the members of
congress, the Supreme Court judges,
Nle governors of the provinces, the
-"0els OF the visiting warships, the
-oeign consuls, William Jennings
Bryan and a few other specially in
Nted guests.
O"lng to the limited space the people
we're 10 have no sight of the ceremony
8 "'ti0" was to constitute them a nation
s sctoIe The world, but outside the pal
MI; tlley were to witness a spectacle
VI w would stir their pulses, for they
g. 10 see the beloved five barred and
tb-sie starred flag which Cespedes first
o orleW to the breeze in 1858. at the
h., 9. .ts OF the ten years war, raised
f5 Tue act of the United States above
tb Hiahy arrived before the palace with
III ilsIhs sun, and some even slept in
sight. 'alii NOT 10 miss THIS
h., a portion of the plaza was kent clear
d. ne ponce very early. The remain
tba. vas packed with people. so thick
so me ground seemed alive.
tbe ~ al the side streets running into
mas plaza We're choked into a solid
windoeoi humanity, and every door and
IN - fronting the square was walled
sn5 ~. IN laces, white and black. old
croy.SS Jung male and female. Then
eve. sought the roofs, overhowing
Of ~ building that commanded a view
sieL 4asstdH on the palace. 1t was
M H. 10 live forever in memory.
The W. up below in the open space of
troore '@1a, We're eight dismounted
sab,'oo OF the Seventh Cavalry with
aoies at their heels Their borses
VA. already on board the steamer
nited States '''Ae them oaeh 10 the
e.ere NY before ll:s0 a. m. those who
srr.ve witness the ceremony began 10
kert H carriages through a street
val car by the police. All the ma
form We're arrayed in full uni
hlaok s.ne Cubans generally wore
sIk 40 SUITS, white waiscoats and