The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-02-16
HAVANA DURING OUR WAR.
BLACK RECORD or SLAVE DRIVERS
WHOM GR1NT rs AIDING.
How the .,,r,.r ar,norI,le. in cnba Insuite

WHOM GRfNT IN AIOiN0s
How the spnpi.b Authorities in Cabs Insult"
ed the American Flag, and Conspired nj
tho Capture of United states Vessels
Havana tho Home OF tbs ton'cuer"'o
Pirnt s-Ths Late hatchery of Citizens
of New York.
To the Edtor or The SIN.
Sin! The recent bloody attack on four Ainer-
can citizens in the streets Of Havana and the killing
Of one and the woundug Of two Others very nH,ur-
ally recalls some Of the incidents which controlled
the public sentiment and characterized the people OIL
Havana during the time OF our rebellion.
The steamer Columbia Capt. Barton, bound for New
Orleans, via. Havana, IN the year 1853, took out
sf2J 900 and a number Of prominent Federal officers
she entered the harbor OF Havana In tho morning
with tile United States Gag ying at the tadrail, md
the Spanish colors at tho foremost. As ehe steam
ed MP before tho city, pretty much oil the fngs con-
spcicusly displayed by the vessels at anchor were
CONFEDERATE coLoRs.
The onfcers Of the Columbia, though well known
to The citizens and oncials Of Havana, were treated
rudely, and the passengers wero made to feel how
especially unpopular they were among tue
"loyal ISLANDERS" Toward sundown the Columbia
made her preparations TO leave the harbor and while
engaged in hosting anchor clerk Of the house OF
g Co. cane of TO the steamer and informed
Capt Barton that
/ IHE PIRATE FLORIDA,
Capt Mafhtt, would give his vessel chase. and
capture II Il possible. 7ho Columbia, fortunately,
was very fast, aud Capt Barton concluded TO take
his chances with the pirate. Accordingly he pro-
ceeded To sea, the Florida following in his wake
The Florida HreA upon the Columbia, within three
leagues Of the Cuban shores and pursued her until
the next night. While the Columbia was in port a
blockade schooner loaded with cotton, flying the
Confederate colors, came into port and was towed
TO her anchorage by one Of the Spanish Govern
ment towboats.
AN ISDfGHITY THAT ouour TO be REMEMBERED.
A short time after this, the steamer Morning Star,
bound from New Orleans Via Havana to New forK.
reached the entrance OF the harbor Just at shutdown.
Ttestcamcr was near that 1t seemed as " one
could throw biscuit from her 10 the shore; but
the red nag was lowered and the merchant vesse WAS
compelled to remain outside Of the harbor all night
prey to the chances OF accident and storm. While
thus keeping on and off," large Confederate
steamer, recognized by parties on tao Morning Star
from Galveston, entered the harbor Of Havana, and
and by Its long train Of smoke could be traced on Its
way up TO the city to It's anchorage. Toward morn
ing another Confederate steamer piintei white, lc
| the harbor, and took the direction Of the Texan
coast; but tho American citizens, on board Of the
hotuluk SNiTs u OhiNtu otAFs NerSNA ~ pNANs
with friendly nation" were kept out Of the har
Dor Until sunrise. This was
SPANISH NEUTRALITY.
In one OF these incidental trips TO Havana" the
writer went ashore at Havana with Col Tucker
Gen Banks's Private Secretary, Gen Strotncr, u 8
A., and other officers, all in undress uniforms. Al
Dominico's the headquarters OF people, there wns
an immense crowd, tho night being particularly sui
try. Upon tho appearance OF the "hibusteros.
Americans, there was every demonstration made
that vns possible without vulgar rudeness TO make
the Federal oticers feel uncomfortable. Among the
most demonstrating was celsorated blockade rna.
friends proclaimed, that he had already
MADE MS FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
in getting munitions of war into the blockaded
ports, and bringing out cotton In return. In q
crowd OF Ave or six hundred persons there were at
least two hundred distinguished by Confederate neck
tes-red, white aud rcd. The same party Of Federal
officers the next evening rode out to the Pn-eo,
At In the long train OF carriages and yoanies Of
which their vehicle formed one, its OCCUPANTS,
were pointed at, sneercd at, and In one or two 10.
| stances women rose in their carriages and
WAVED SMALL coNFIDERAIg FLAGS.
Many others were With the Confederate colors
wro4Eht intb rosettes and used ornaments OF the
hair dress. The buzz OF cnnN crsatiOn at the no
tells aud public places partook OF cxutant tone OF
JOY at what seemed To be the speedy downfall of the
United States. The harbor at this time was ouliyen-
cd by Confederate naga, and every available placC
was used for tile equipment aud building Of blockade
runners.
The description OF the shooting a, tho four Amer
leans which has just occurred In Havana seems ~
~ descriptive Of the feelings we have described
Seven years ago there WIS bitter and intense IN
tired OF everything American, and no doubt this sen
tment, famed by the present civil war, developed
into the lamentlble aompt to massacre four Of Our
citizens. II Is useless 70 say that there ia any re
speCt regard for ANY thing American among Wha,
the spanish people call tho loyll citizens OF In,
"Gem OF the Antilles COMMON sENsE.