The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-05-28
CUBA IS FREE
And Her National Flag Floats Over
M0rc Castle

Aorc Castle
AFTER YEARS OF SACRIFICE.
= Grand Demonstration in Honor
%" the Transfer c(' :!lc Cover
mcnt. The Ceremonies
Simple and Erief.
p Tuesday. May 20. the natal day OF
the Republic Of Cuba found Habana
arrayed like a queen to await the COM
ing of her lord. She seemed reinveSt-
ed for the occasion with the dignity
of the prosperous days Of her power
and wealth. The decorations were
universal. In some cases MEL had
worked all night by the light OF
torches to complete elaborate designs.
There was not residence so preten.
tious or humble that did not bear
upon its quaint facade some emblem
in honor Of the event. The many
arches erected at the entrances Of
plazas by political societies, fraternal
clubs. residences of various civil divi-
Sions Of the city and business OtGan!Ia-
ticnS had an air OF rea! grandeur. The
ScatlOlGing was covered with canvas
painted in initiation Of marble and
from distance the Illusion was CON-
p!ete Bunting spread Oh Venetian
maSts canopicd The deep narrow
streets from the rays Of the sun.
Nature seemed in harmony with ta2
spirit Of the festivities. Tie pa::;: 5
were itera:l; a:iamc with tropical
flowers. ana TIC vaIlteA SKI abuyc
might have been chiselled u;:5 OF tar
QuoiSc. Above every red tiled roof
rose Cubar flag. Tie whole city
seemed suddenly buried beneath c ccT
est OF waving burners.
THE SHIPS GAILY DRESSED.
The decorations along the water
front were exceedingly lavish and all
the shipping in the harbor was dressed
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
armored cruiser Brooklyn, which was
to take Gen. Wood away, and the
steamer Moro Castle Of the Ward
line, on which the troops were to en-
bark, as we'll as the foreign warships
which had been sent by their govern
ments to be present at the birth of
the new republic were dressed with
streams of signal flags, fore and aft:
man-of-war fashion. The American
colors, which were to be hauled down
in few hours. still ioated above the
grim walls Of the fortresseS which
guard the entrance to the harbor.
Not another bit Of color showed upon
them.
STREETS ALIVE AT EARLY DAWN.
The early morning was cool and de-
lightful and the entire population, re-
enforced 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 ceaseleSs din.
Much curiosity was aroused by a
statue of Freedom. which had been
raised during the night in Central
park, upon the pedestal where for de-
cades a statue Of Queen Isabella had
stood. During the morning bounti
full breakfast was given to several
thousand poor children by Mr.. Payne
of Boston, who has passed. the winter
in Habana for many years.
The actual transfer of the control
of the island occurred exactly at noon.
Habana time, which is 1870 p. m,
Washington time. Those invited to
the ceremony included, besides the
American officers and the members of
President-elect Palma's cabinet. the
members of congress, the supreme
court judges, the governors Of prov
inceS. the officers Of the visiting war
ships, the foreign consulS, William
Jennings Bryan and few other speci-
ally invited guests.
Owing to the limited space the peO-
pie were to have no sight Of the cere-
mony which was to constitute them
nation before the world, but outside
the palace they we're to witness a
spectacle which would stir their
pulses, for they were to see the be-
loved five barred and single starred
flag which CespedeS threw to the
breeze in 1868, at the opening of the
Ten Years war, raised by the act of
the United States above the palace.
Many arrived before the palace with
the rising sun, and some even slept in
the park to be certain not to miss this
sight. \ portion of the plaza was
kept clear by the police very early.
The remainder was packed with peO-
pie, SO thick that the ground seemed
alive.
SIGHT TO LIVE IN MEMORY.
Soon al the side streets running
into the plaza were ch0ked into Il 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, oyerliowing
every building that commanded a
view of the flagstaff on the palace. 1t
was q sight to live forever in memory.
Drawn up below in the open space
of the plaza were eight diSmounted
troops of the Seventh 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 11.30 a. M, those
who were to witness the ceremony
began to arrive. in carriages, through
a street kept clear by the police. All
the naval officers were arrayed in full
uniform, The CuDanS generally wore