Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-20

ients of various civil divisions of the city, and business organizations had an air of real grandeur. The scaf- folding was covered with canvas painted in imitation of marble. and from distance the illusion was com plete. Bunting spread on Venetian masts canopied the deep, narrow streets from the rays of the sun. Be- meath these canopies the Cuban col ors and palms graced the open door ways, through which glimpses could be caught of luxuriant gardens in cool, inner courts. Many of the balconies jutting from the white-walled build ings were adorned with roses Nature seemed in harmony with the spirit of the festivities. The parks were lit orally afiame with tropical flowers and the Taulted sky above might have been chiselled out of turquoise. Above every red-tiled roof rose a Cuban flag.
 The whole city seemed suddenly
 buried beneath a forest of waving banners
 The decorations along the water front were exceedingly lavish and all the shipping in the harbor was decked in gala attire. The majority of the ships flew the American ensign at the main, and the Cuban colors at the fore or mizzen. The United States ar mored cruiser Brooklyn, which was to take General Wood away, and the steamer A1orro Castle of the Ward line, on which the troops were to embark. as well as the foreign warships which had been sent by their governments to be present at the birth of the new republic. were dressed with streams of signal flags, fore and aft, man of war fashion. Outside. the sapphire waters of the Gulf. sparkling beneath the tropical sun. washed tue rocky feet of the sentinel fortresses which guarded the entrance of the harbor. The American colors, which were to be hauled down in q few hours, still hoated above the grim walls. Not another bit of color showed upon them.
 The early morning was cool and de lightful and the entire population, re fnforced by thousands of visitors, was abroad soon after daylight All was animation and expectancy.
 The streets were swarming with people and were filled with a cease less din- The babble of voices was drowned by the sharp cries of drivers and the clamor of warning bells. As the coachmen drove their carriages madly over the stony pavements pe- destrians had busy time keeping out of the way of the wheels There are four thousand public carriages in Ha- yana, and this morning each one of them seemed racing somewhere on a life or death mission.
 Much curiosity was aroused by q Statue of Freedom, which had been raised during the night in Central park, upon the pedestal where, for centuries, statue of Queen Isabella had stood.
 During the morning a bountiful breakfast was given to several thou sand poor children by Mir Paine of Boston, who has passed the winter in for many years.
 As the day advanced the heat of the sun became intense and the weather l grew hotter every minute. Hot air from the hot streets quivered in the hot sky until the whole landscape wavered
 The actual transfer of the control of | the island was scheduled to occur ex- actly at noon, Havana time, which is | 12:30 p. m. Washington time, but | those invited to witness the ceremony were requested to De at the palace at 11:30 a. m. They included besides Inc American officers and the members of President-elect Palma's cabinet, lAe members of congress- the supreme ert[k 3pd4ea, the governors of the