The Daily soliphone., 1902-04-22

steamer Admiral Farragut from Old
Point Comfort, Va, was greeted, says
a Gibara (Cuba) dispatch to the Trib-
une, with great enthusiasm. Gibara's
population of 5000 was augmented
by as many more who came from all
parts of the island, from Havana 10
Santiago, to pay homage to man
they love. During the voyage the
weather was magnificent, and Gen.
Palma's forebodings of sea sickness
were not realized.
When the steamer was anchored in
Gibara harbor a salute of 81 guns
greeted President Palma. His face
frightened at the scene before him.
How different was his return to Gu
ba! He left in chains and came back
with his path literally strewn with
roses. The harbor was a Kaleidoscope
of color and animation. From every
craft flew the flag of Cuba Libre and
the Stars and Stripes. Old friends
who had known Gen. Palma in the
ten wears war, and shared with him
the hardships and sufferings of many
campaigns, came on board and en-
braced him. Many were in tears. The
vessel was soon crowded with mem
Beers of committees, representing, diff
ferent cities, who came out in steam
ers and launches which were deco
rated from stem to stern, from the
mast to the water line. After a quar-
ter of an hour of informal talk Gen.
Palma and his party were taken
ashore in his launch. 1t was when
he put his foot on shore at the pier
that the pent-up enthusiasm of his
ccmpatriots broke forth in earnest.
There were rounds of cheers by the
natives as they crowded around their
president-elect, which could be heard
clear across the bay. Mayor Ges-
pedes spoke few words of welcome,
and then proposed three cheers for
the first president of the Cuban Re-
public" They were given with
will.
With the village band playing Gu
ban hymns, a procession was formed
to the principal street, whence the
president-elect and members of the
committee were drawn in carriages
by a score of stalwart Cubans to the
city hall. Every place of vantage
along the route was filed. Men, wom-
en- and children crowded and pushed
to embrace and shake the hands of
the Veteran.
Arches had been built across every
street which led to the city hall. Not
a house in all Gibara was without
decoration in some form.
From every one few the flag of Gu
ba, and from almost as many were
displayed the flag of the United
States, while the red and yellow col
ors of Spain were conspicuous on the
Spanish houses. The Spaniards joined
in the welcome. Galrands of roses
and palms figured prominently in the
decorations. A procession, headed by
a detachment of the Tenth United
States cavalry, commanded by Lieut..
Hart, and made up of local civic So
cieties. school children and women,
proceeded with the Palma party to
the city, and then lined up on each
side to allow his carriage to pass.
Every woman and girl was armed
with small boquets, which they
threw into the carriage.
Gen. Palma sat with barred head,
bowling in response to the cheers. He
was deeply affected by the demon
stration. The ceremonies at the city
hall consisted Of speech-making by
the mayor, members of the council,
Gen. Palma and Gonzales de Quesada.
Mayor Cespedes spoke eloquently of
the gratitude that the Cuban people
owed Gen. Palma, and of the honor
of being the first to receive the first
chief executive of Cuba Libre. His
countrymen, he said, trusted Gen.
Palma implicitly, and would aid him
in every way toward a successful adj
ministration of his Office.
Gen. Palma. in responding. spoke