Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-21
REPUBLIC OF CUBA.
Reins Of Government Handed
Over by United States.
Inspiring Scene at Havana When Pres,
Palma Assumed Contol.
Americans Leave Island and Cuba Nav,
Has Her Dearest Wish.

Havana, May 20.-The natal day OF
the republic Of Cuba found Havana ar
rayed ike a queen to await the coming
OF her lord. She seemed reinyested for
/ the occasion with the dignity Of tina
4 prosperous days Of her power and
I wealth.. The decorations were uniyer-
sal In some cases LIen had worked
all hlSht by the light Of torches to COM
plete elaborate GCsigas There was
not residence, pretentious or humble.
that did not bear upon it's quaint ia
c&de some emblem in honor of the
event Many OF the arches erected
at the entrance ~ pla2as by political
societies, fratcfnal clubs. residents OF
| various civil divisions OF the city and
business organizations had an air OF
. feal grandeur. The scaffolding was
covered with canvas painted in imita-
ton OF marble ana from a distance
the illusion was complete, Bunting
spread on Venetian masts canopied
the deep narrow streets from the rays
OF the sun. Beneath these canopies
the Cuban colors and palms graced
the open doorways, through which
ehmpses could be caught of luxuriant
gardens, in cool inner courts. MANY
OF the balconies jutting from the
white walled buildings were adorned
with roses. Nature seemed in harmony
with the spirit of the festivities. The
parks We're literally afiame with tropi-
cal flowers and the vaulted sky above
might have been chiselled out Of tur-
quoise. Above every red, tiled roof
rose Cuban flag.
The whole city seemed suddenly
buried beneath a forest Of waving ban.
ners.
The decorations along the water
'front.' were exceedingly lavish and all
the shipping in me harbor was dress
ed in gala attire. The majority of the
ships flew the American ensign at the
main and the Cuban colors at the fore
OF 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 We're to embark, as
Well as the foreign warships which had
been sent by their governments to be
present at the birth Of q new republic,
were dressed with streams OF signal
nags' fore and aft, man-of- fashion.
Outside the sapphire waters or the gulf.
sparkling beneath the tropical sun.
washed the rocky foot Of the sentinel
80 - N@''S9 Which uStIti the entrance Oh
the harbor. The American colors
which were to be hauled down in a few
hours still hOated above the grim walls.
Not another bit of color showed upon
them.
The early morning was cool and de-
ightful and the entire population. REIN
forced by thousands of visitors was
abroad soon after daylight All was
and expectancy. The streets
were swarming With people and were
illed with ceaseless din. The babble
II voices was drowned in the sharp
,rtes Of drivers and the clamor Of
warning bells. AS the coachmen drove
heir carriages over the stony pave
nents. pedestrians had a busy time
1eeping out of the way of the wheels.
There are 1000 public carriages in Ha-
ANA and, Tuesday morning, each one
If them seemed racing somewhere on
, life or death mission.