The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-05-23
AMERICAN FLAGS
Fu0lED DER CUBA
Now Cuban Colors Take tho
Place Of "Old Glory"
CUBAN DAY OF INDEPENDENCE

havana Soene sf Great DrlIIianoy
During Transfer Of Government.
strests Aaoked With Thousand. o,
Pstrlots-orsat Demonstration.
Favana. May 20.-The natal day of
Cuba found Havana arrayed like a
queen to await the coming Of her lord.
sne seemed reinvested for tho oocsion
win the dignity Of the prosperous
es1s OF her power and wealth. The
oecorations were universal. There
was not a residence, pretentions or
humble, that dfd not bear upvn its
quaint facade some emblem in honor
OF the event. The many arches Greet
Gu az the entrances Of plazas by politi.
cal societies. fraternal clubs, resi-.
dences and business organizations had
an air OF real grandeur. Bunting
spread on Venetian masts canopied the
deep. narrow streets from the rays of
the sun. Beneath these canopies tho
CUBAN coiors and palms graced thu
open doorway. Nature seemed In has-
mons with the Spirit Of the festivi.
ties.
fne parks Wore literally aflame with
tropical nowers and the vaulted sky
ABOVE migtS have been chiseled out of
turquoise. Above every red tiled roof
rose Cuban has. The whole city
seemed suddenly buried beneath a for
est or waving banners.
The decorations along tho water
'front.' were exceedingly lavish and It'll
the shipping in the harbor was dressed
IN gala attire. The majority Of tho
snips hew the American ensign at the
main and the Cuban colorB at the fore
or miz1en.
!ne es.riy morning was cool and do.
!iehtfW and the entire population, 70.
lnron;ed by thousan nds of visitors,
wN abroad soon SITTER daylight. The
preets were swarnting with people
and were filled with osaseless din.
There are 1000 pubic carriages in
Havana and this. morning each one of
them seemed raa1ng somewhere on q
life or death mission.
The actual tnansrer Of the control Of
the island waS schsdulsd to OCCUR on.
actly at noon, Havana time, which 10
1880 p. M Washington time, but
those invited to witness the ceremony
were requested to be at the palace as
l1:So n. M They included besides the
Amsrdoan officers and the members of
prsHenSelect Palma's cabinet, the
members of congress-, the supreme
court Judges, the governors Of the
the officers Of the visiting
the foreign consuls, William
jennings Bryan. the other visiting
american statesmen, several Of Senor
Pafma's' Central Valley. N. Y, neigh.
oofs; Reratio Rube'ns. counsel for the
former Cuban junttt; Colonel William
Astor Chanler and. q few other spe
cially invited guests.
Senor Palma attached his signature
to document as president Of the Gu.
ban republic after an exchange of con.
gratulatitns, and the veteran General
Gomez ascended to the roof of tho pal.
ace, where he was accorded a great
reception.
General Wood personally lowered
the American oolors, which were ga.
1uted. ana with his own hands hoistsd
the Cuban nag, as an act Of tho Unit
Cd States. Gomez assisting.
At the time tho transfer took place
IN Havana General WhitesSde, at San.
tiago, turned over his authority to his
Cuban successor and sailed away with
the American cavalry which had been
in garrison there.
General Wood and his staff and tho
American troops embarked immediate.
ly after the holsting Of the Cuban flag,
and the American ships steamed out
Of the harbor.