of the United States was thus engendered, which reached a climax when the United States battleship Maine, on a friendly visit in the harbor of Havana, was destroyed by a submarine mine on Feb. 15, 1898. Hostile action quickly followed, and war between Spain and the United States was declared on April 24. On July 3 the American fleet under Admiral Sampson destroyed Spain's strongest fleet off Santiago. Meanwhile Santiago was besieged by the United States forces under General Shafter. A fierce battle was fought on July 1, and on July 17 the Spanish general surrendered with his army of 25,000 men. Peace negotiations followed, and by treaty signed on Dec. 10, 1898, Spain surrendered all sovereignty over Cuba, and ceded Porto Rico to the United States. On Dec. 28th the United States formally took the island over for military occupation temporarily. It was the declared policy of the United States to promote the independence of Cuba and surrender all jurisdiction in the island so soon as a firm and stable government should be established. To this end, under military occupation of the island, the United States proceeded to establish order, organized civil and municipal governments, established schools throughout the island and provided for a convention of the people, under which a constitution was formed and the Republic of Cuba established. On May 20, 1902, the authority of the United States was withdrawn, and on the same day Tomas Estrada Palma, who had been elected president of the republic, was inaugurated. Four years later he was re-elected, but gross frauds were charged, disaffection spread and in September of 1906 the island was swept with a whirlwind of revolution. The government was helpless. President Palma called upon the United States to intervene as provided by treaty, and resigned his office, the insurgents acquiesced and laid down their arms, and for a second time the United States assumed temporary jurisdiction of the island and established a provisional government. After administering the island for two years, during which many reforms were inaugurated and public tranquillity was restored, the provisional government caused a popular election to be held in December, 1908. This resulted in the election of a new government with José Miguel Gomez as President. This new government was duly inaugurated and in February, 1909, the authority of the United States was finally withdrawn and the Republic of Cuba was again established.
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| BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO |
Cuckoo, a bird named from its coo coo cry, found both in the Old and the New World. The European cuckoos have the habit of laying their eggs in the nests of other birds—usually smaller birds than themselves. But this habit is not common to all members of the group, for a number of the cuckoos make nests. The two forms common in the northeastern United States are the yellow-billed and the black-billed cuckoos, birds with noticeably long tails, of an olive-brown color above and white below. They make a loose nest of twigs, and lay four or five eggs of a pale, greenish color. They destroy many injurious caterpillars, and one writer suggests they might well be called the caterpillar-bird. They are shy birds, and the call of the rain-crow, as they are commonly called, is better known than the bird itself. It is a series of tut-tuts, followed by cl-uck-chucks, and then a loud cow-cow-cow.
Cu′cumber. See Cucumis.
Cu′cumis. A genus of plants of the gourd family, to which belong the various forms of muskmelons and cucumbers. It belongs to the tropics and contains about 30 species, mostly in Africa and the East Indies. The numerous forms of muskmelon, cantaloupe, etc. are forms of the C. Melo from southern Asia. The cucumbers are forms of C. Sativus, also from southern Asia.
Cul′berson, Charles A. (1855-), governor of Texas and U. S. senator, born in Alabama, and moved with his parents in 1858 to Gilmer, Texas, and later to Jefferson and to Dallas. After studying law he practiced that profession, and in 1890 became attorney-general of the state, and subsequently governor. In 1899 he was elected U. S. senator, and was re-elected in 1905.
Culloden (kŭl-lōd′en), a tract of moorland, about five miles from Inverness, Scotland. Here, April 16, 1746, was fought a battle which put an end forever to the hope of the Stuarts of regaining the English throne. The Duke of Cumberland, with his artillery and disciplined troops, was more than a match for Charles Edward, the young Pretender, whose little army of Highlanders were worn out by a night march, and were half-starving and broken by desertion. After a desperate and bloody attack, the English stood firm and the Highlanders broke and fled.
Cullom, Shelby Moore, United States senator and Republican governor of Illinois (1876-83), was born in Wayne County, Ky., Nov. 22, 1829. In 1830 he removed with his parents to Illinois, and studied law and practiced at Springfield, where he had his home. In 1856 he was elected to the Illinois legislature, and in 1860 was speaker of the chamber. From 1865 to 1871 he represented his district in Congress, when he
