The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-20
Havana Reinvested With the Glory
and Dignity Of the Prosperous
Days Of Her Power.
Elaborate Ceremonials as Governor
Wood Turns Over Island to
New Government.

hauled down in few hours, still foated
above the grim walls of the fortresses
which guard the entrance Of the harbor.
; The early morning was cool and de-
lightful, and the entire population, rein
forced by thousands Of visitors, was |
nation and expectancy. The streets were !.
thronged and the air was filled with a !
ceaseless din. The babble of voices were
drowned by the sharp cries of drivers and
'the clangor of warning bells.
Much curiosity was aroused by a statue
Of freedom which had been raised during
the night in Central park, upon the ped
estal where for, centuries statue OF
Queen Isabella had stood. During the
morning q bountiful breakfast was given
to several thousand poor children by Mr..
Paine of Boston, who has passed the win
ter in Havana for many years. AS the
day advanced the heat became intense.
The Transfer Occurs at Noon.
The actual transfer of the control Of
the island was scheduled to occur exactly
at noon, Havana time, which is 1890 p.
NJ, Washington time, but those invited
to witness the ceremony were requested
to be at the palace at 1880 a. m. They
included, besides the American officers
and the members Of President-elect
| Palma's cabinet, the members OF con-
gress, the supreme court Judges, the gov
| errors OIL tluS provinces, the Objects OIL LuS
visiting warships, the foreign consuls,
William Jennings Bryan, the other visit
ing American statesmen, several of Senior
| Palma Central Valley, N. Y, neighbors;
Horatio Reubens. counsel for the former
4 Cuban junta; Colonel William Aston
Chanler and a few other specially invited
1 guests.
The Transfer at the Palace.
The palace is an imposing, yellow stone
structure, the upper stories Of It's front
/ being. built over a stone colonnade, giving
it fine architectural effect! 1t fronts
an exquisite park, the Place de Armes.
with its stately royal palms and banana
Etrees, called ..Laurels of India
On either side Of the entrance, marble
stairways ascend to the audience
chamber, an imposing room, oblong, with
a lofty ceiling and marble floor.
Owing to the limited space, the people
| were to have no sight Of the ceremony
which was to constitute them a nation,
but outside they were to witness spec
/ tacle which would stir the pulse, for they
were to see the beloved five barred and
! single-starred flag which Cespides first
threw to the breeze In 1858, at the open
| ing of the Ten Years War, raised by the
. act of the United States above the palace.
This thing which was to happen had been
the dream Of their lives and of their an
cestors for generations. Their parents.
brothers and friends had gone to their
deaths to accomplish it. Many were al
ready before the palace with the rising
| sun, and some even slept in the park, to
be certain not to miss this sight.
"Here They Gomez
Soon all the side streets running into
the plaza were choked into 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 female.
Then crowds sought the roofs, over
flowing every building that commanded
view of the flagstaff on the palace. A.
/ far as the eye could see, the roof lines
were fringed with human freight
/ Drawn up below, in the open space OF
the plaza were eight dismounted troops
of the eventh cavalry with sabres at their
heels. Their horses were already on
/ board the steamer which was to take them
back to the United States.
Shortly before II $50 a. N. those who
i were to witness the ceremony began to
/ arrive, in carriages, through street
kept clear by the police.
The naval officers were arrayed in full
uniform, respondent in gold braid and
plumed chapeaux. The Cubans, generally,
wore black frock suits, white waistcoats
and silk hats. They formed dis