Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-20

aNlhN A4NN "a hhR'Aif w oNtih 'hN NNH'
ing Of her lord. The decorations were
universal. Men had worked all night,
by the light Of torches, to complete
elaborate designs There was not a
residence, pretentious or humble. that
did not bear upon its quaint facade
some emblem In honor Of the event
The many arches erected at the en-
frances OF plazas by political societies,
fraternal clubs, residences Of various
civil divisions Of the city and business
organizations had an air OF real gran
deur The scaffolding was covered with
canvass painted in imitation OF marble
and from a distance the Illusion was
complete. Bunting spread on venetian
masts canopied the deep. narrow
streets from the rays Of the sun. Be-
meath the canopes the Cuban colors
and palms graced the open doorways,
through which glimpses could be
caught OF luxuriant gardens. In cool
inner courts Many Of the balconies
iutting from the white walled build
ings were adorned with roses. Nature
seemed In harmony with the spirit OF
the festivities. The parks were literally
ahame with tropical flowers and the
Vaulted sky above might have been
chiseled out OF turquoise. Above ev-
cry red tiled roof rose a Cuban flag.
The whole city seemed suddenly buried
beneath forest Of waving banners.
LAVISH DECORATIONS,
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 miz2en. The United States armored
cruiser Brooklyn which was TO take
Gen Wood away and the steamer Nor
TO Castle, of the Ward line, on which
the troops were TO embark, as we'll as
the foreign warships which had been
sent by their governments TO be pres
ent 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 90 be
hauled down In few hours, still float
ed above the grim walls Of the fortress
which guards the entrance of the har-
Dor. Not another bit Of color showed
up on them.
The early morning was cool aed .des1
aghtf1l ana the entire population, re-
inforoed by thousands OF visitors. was
abroad soon after daylight. All was
animation and expectancy. The streets
were swarming with people, and were
filled with ceaseless din. The babble
OF voices was drowned by the sharp
cries of drivers and the clamor Of warn
Ing bells. As the ooachmen drove their
carriages madly over the stony pave
ments pedestrians had n busy time
keeping out OF the way Of the wheels
There are 1000 public carriages In Ha-
vana and this morning each one Of
them seemed speeding somewhere on a
life or death mission.
STATUE OF FREEDOM.
Much curiosity was aroused by
statue Of Freedom which had been
raised during the night in central park,
upon the pedestal where, for centuries,
a statue of Queen Isabella had stood.
During the morning bountiful break
fast was given TO several thousand
poor children by Mr.. Payne OF Boston.
who has passed the winter in Havana
for many years.
As the day advanced the heat Of the
sun became intense and the weather
grew hotter every minute.
The actual transfer OF the control Of
the island was scheduled TO occur ex-
actly at noon. (Hayana time) which IS
1880 p. m. Washington, but those in
vited to witness the ceremony We're |
requested TO be at the palace at 1890 |
a. m. They included, besides the Amer |
lean officers and the members OF Pres |
ident.elect Palma's cabinet. the mem I
bers OF congress- the supreme court |
judges. the governors Of the provinces, |
the officers OF the visiting warsh ps
the foreign consuls. William Jennings 1
Bryan. the other visiting American |
statesmen, several OF Senior Pa'ma's |
Central Valley, New York, neighbours |
Horatlo Rubens, counsel for the for !
mer Cuban junta. Col William Astor |
Chanler and few other specially in
vited guests
IN THE PALACE
The palace Is an imposing yellow |
stone structure, which for centuries 4
was the residence OF the captains-gen- /
eral OF Spain. Since the American oc-
cupatlon II has been the official head .
quarters Of the military governor The .
actual transfer Of the island occurred 4
In the audience chamber which farmed 4
a fine setting for the historic occasion.
The chamber IS today exactly as II was 1
when the Spaniards departed except .
that the portraits OF the captains-geu-
eral which hung upon its walls are
gone.
owing 10 the limited space. the peo-
pie were 10 have no sight OF the cere-
mony TO be enacted here which was 10
constitute them nation before the
world. but outside they were 10 witness
a spectacle which would stir their pulls
es, for they were to see the beloved
five barred and single starred nag,
which Cespedes first threw TO the
breeze In 1858, at the opening 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
ancestors for generations. Their par
ents, brothers and friends had gone
20 their deaths 20 accomplish t. No
strange wonder then that hours before
the time set they began nocking here
from all quarters OF the city. Many
were already before the palace with the
rising sun and some even slept IN the
idlh W w NeiNalh hNA W ihiHS t.i'N
sight
POLICE KEPT PLAZA CLEAR,
A portion OF the plaza was kept clear
by the police very early The remain
der was packed with people so thick
that the ground seemed alive.
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 The crowds
Fought the roofs, overlooking even
building that commanded view Of !