Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-21
Havana Arrayed Like Queen to Await the
Coming Of Her Lord.
'oMP AND SPLENDoR ON ALL SIDES
First President, Senior Palma, Sends Greet
ing to Mother Country.
ACKNOWLEDGES DEBT OF GRATITUDE
with His own Hands Governor Gem
sraI Wood Lowers the American
Flag and Hoists the Ensign
of Free Cuba.

HAVANA, May 2O.-The natal day of the
Republic Of Cuba found Havana arrayed like
queen to await the coming of her lord.
she seemed reinvested for the occasion
With the dignity of the prosperous days OF
her power and wealth.
The decorations were universal. In some
sases men had worked all night by the
light OF torches to complete elaborate de-
signs. There was not a residence, pre-
tentious or humble, that did not bear upon
Its quaint facade some emblem In honor
Of the event. The many arches erected at
the entrances OF plaEas had an air Of real
grandeur.
The scaffolding was covered with canvas
painted in imitation OF marble, and from a
distance the Illusion was complete. Bunt
ing spread on VenetiaS masks canopied the
aeep, nsrrow streets from the rays OF the
sun. Beneath the canopies the Cuban
Aolors and palms graced the open door
Eays. through which glimpses could be
taught OF luxuriaht gardens in cool inner
courts. Many Of the balconies jutting from
he white walled buildings were adorned
gith roses. Nature seemed in harmony
with the spirit OF the festivities. The
parks were literally afame with tropical
towers and the vaulted sky above might
save been chiselled out of turquoise. Above
svery red tiled roof rose a Cuban flag.
The whole city seemed suddenly buried be-
heath forest Of waving banners.
Shipping I'm Gala Attire.
The decorations along the water front
we're exceedingly lavish and all the ship
ping in the harbor was dressed 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 Rrmored cruiser, Brook
.yn. which was to take General Wood away.
and the steamer Morro Castle Of the Ward
line. on which the troops were to embark.
as well as the foreign war ships which had
been sent by their governments 70 be pres
ent at the birth Of the new republic. were
dressed with streamers Of signal flags. fore
and aft, made In war fashion. American
solors. which were to be hauled down in,
few hours, stiii floated above the grim
walls Of the fortress which guarded the
entrance of the harbor. Not another bit of
color showed up on them
The early morning was cool and delight
full, and the entire population, reinforced
by thousands of visitors. was abroad
soon after daylight All was animation
and expectancy. The streets were swarm
Ing with people and wcro filled with a
ceaseless din. The babble of voices were
drowned by the sharp cries of drivers and
the clamor OF warning bells. As the
coach men drove their carriages madly
over the stony pavements, pedestrians had
busy time keeping out Of the way OF
the wheels. There are 1000 public car
riages in Havana. and this morning each
Of them seemed going somewhere on a
life or death mission.
Statue of Freedom in Park.
Much curiosity was aroused by a statue
of freedom which had been raised during
the night in Central park. upon the pc
destal where. for centuries. a statue OF
Queen Isabella had stood. During the
morning a bountiful breakfast was given
to several thousand poor children by Mr..
Payne of Boston, who had passed the win
=. ter in Havana for many years.
As the day advanced the heat Of the sun
became intense and the weather grew hot
,ssr every minute.
The actual transfer of the control OF the
island was scheduled to occur exactly at
noon (Havana time) which is 1880 p. m.
(Washington time) but those invited to
witness the ceremony we're requested to
be at the palace at 1880 a. m. They in
cluded. besides the American officers and
members OF President-elect Palma's cab
met. the members OF congress. the su-
preme court judges. the governors Of
provinces, the officers of the visiting
warships. the foreign consuls. William Jen.
nings. Bryan. the other visiting American
statesmen. several OF Senior Palma's Cen
trail Valley IN. " neighbors; Horatic
Rubeas. counsel for the former Cuban
junta. and few other especially invited
guests.
Realise Long Cherished Ambition.
Owing to the limited space the people
were to have no sight OF the ceremony t
be enacted here which was to constitute
them a nation before the world but out
side they were to witness a spectacle which
would stir their pulses. for they were 4
see the beloved fye-barred and single
starred nag which cespedes FIRST threw
TO the breeze in 1868, at the opening Of th'
Ten Years war, raised by the act OF thi
United States above the palace.
This thing which was 20 happen had beer
the hope OF their lives and their ancestor
for generations Their parents, brother
and friends had gone 10 their deaths 10 &C
eomplsh il. No strange wonder then tha
hours before the time set they began nock
Ing here from all quarters OF the city
Many was there before the palace. with tn
rising sun, and some even slept In tn
park to be certain not to miss this sight.
A portion Of the plaza was kept clea
by the police very early. The remainde
was packed with people so thick that tn
ground seemed alive.
Soon all the side streets running into tn
plaza were ehoked into solid mass o
humanity and every door and window front
ting the square was walled with faces. whit
and black. old and young. male and female
Then crowds sought the roofs. overnowin
every building that commanded q view Z
the nAgstan on the palace. As far as th
eye could see the roof lines weer fringe
with human freight. Il was q sight TO hv
= Forever In memory.
Drawn up below. In the open space Of tn
plane. we're 500. mounted troops Of n
Seventh cavalry, with sabres at their heel
Their horses were already on board n
steamer. which was TO take them back /
the United States. shortly before 1850