The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-21
As Cubas Banners Rise There is One
Great Crashing Roar of
Rejoicing.
FOREIGN SHIPS SALUTE lhE REPUBLIC
The Ceremony of the Transfer Was Brief and
Simpls. W, J. Bryan Was Among Ihnse
Who Witnessed It. Havana
En- fete.
(By the Associated Press.)

Havana, May 2O.-The natal day of
the Republic of Cuba found Havana ar
rayed like queen, to await the coming
of her lord. She seemed vested for the
occasion with the dignity of prosperous
days of her power and wealth. The dec
orations were universal. In some cases
men had worked all night, by the light
OF torches, to complete elaborate de-
signs. There was not q residence, pre-
tcntious or humble, that did not bear
upon its quaint face some emblem III
honor of the event. The many arches
erected at the entrance of plazas by pO-
litical societies, fraternal clubs, resi-
dences of various civil divisions of the
city and business organizations had an
air OF real grandeur The scaffolding
was covered with canvass i'm imitation Cf
marble and from a djstanct a@e illusion
was complete. Bunting spread on venc-
tan masts canODed the deep, narrow
streets from the rays of the sun. Nature
seemed in harmony with the spirit of
the festivities. The parks were literally
aiIame with tropical flowers, and the
vauited sky above might have been
chiselled out of turquoise. Above every
red uled roof rose a Cuban flag The
whole city seemed suddenly buried be-
meath a forest of waving banners.
The decorations along the water front
were exceedingly lavish. and all the ship
ping in tie harbor was dressed in gala
attire. The majority of the ships llew
the American ensign at the main and the
Cuban COIOrs at the fore or mizzer The
United States armOred cruiser Brooklyn,
hich Was to take General Wood away
and the steamer MORO Castle, OF the
Ward Line. on which the troops were to
embark. az well as the foreign war
ships VIII ch had been sent by their gov
eTnmcnts to be present at the birth of
tire new Republic, were dressed With
streams of signal flags, fore and ait.
man Cf-war fashion. The American col
ors, which were to be hauled down in a
fe" EOurs, still hoated above the grim
walls Of the fortresses, which guard the
entrance of the harbor. Not another
bit of color showed uDon them
The carly morning was cool and de-
light1ul, and the entire population, re-
inforced by thousands of visitors, was
abroad soon after daylight. All was
animation and expectancy. The streets
were SWarming with people and were
hll3d with a ceaseless din
Much curiosity was aroused by a statu.
OF Freedom. which had been raised dur
ing the night in Central Park upon the
pedestal, 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 Las passed
the winter in Havana for many years.
The actual transfer of the conUroI of
the is)a11 occurred exactly ut noon.
Havana time, which is 12:3J +. ~. Wash
ln@tCn time. Those invited to the ce1e-
mony included, besides th4 American
officers and the members Of President
elect Paima's cabinet, thu members Of
Congress, the Supreme court Judges. lie
governors of the PROVINCES, the officers
OF tie visiting warships, the foreign
consuls, ". J. Bryan and a few Other
specially invited guests.
Owing To the limited space. O peorie
were TO have no sight of the ceremony.
which was to constitute them a na.ion
before the world, but outside the palace
they were to witness a spectacle which
would stir their pulses for tley were
to see the beloved five barred and single
starred flag which Cespedes FIRST threwy
TO the LIeoze in 1858 at the opcning of
the t@n years war, raised by the act of
TIE tl}tcd States above the palace.
Many arrived before the paluce with the
rising sun, and some even slept in the
park, to be certain not u miss his
sight
portion OF the plaza was kept clear
by the police very early. The remainder
was packed with people, so thick that
the ground seemed alive. Soon all the
side streets running into the plaza were
choked into a solid mass of humanity
and every door and window fronting the
square was walled in with faces, white
and black, old and young, male and fe-
male. Then crowds sought the roofs
Overlooking every building that COM
manded view of the Flagstaff on the
alhce. 1t was a sight to live forever
in mamory
Drawn up below, in the open space Of
the plaza, We're eight dismounted troops