Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-26
Nafrl'man & gunrnaL.
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 90, 1879.
Our First visit to Havana...No. 1.


On the 18th Of March, 1856, we first saw the
Island Of Cuba The sun was rapidly sinking to
the horizon at one moment wading through the
heecy clouds Of crimson and gold, and then burst
ing through the sheen and shadow, flooded the
distant city, mountains and plains and the restless
ocean waves with enchanting splendors, II pos
sible more gorgeous than the orient skies can
show The day had been such as can be seen
only in the tropics; cannot be described must
be seen to be appreciated. Our steamer was
making every effort to pass the Moro Castle be-
fore the sun went behind the distant hills There
is u singular law of Spain, that no vessel domes-
tic foreign shall be permitted to enter or leave
the Port Of Havana after the flag upon the castle
is lowered, which at the setting of the sun, dis
appears until its rising, when its waving folds
again stream forth in the breeze to greet its ear
| lest beams. This is singular and very arbi-
| trary law, for no vessel whatever the stress OF
weather or the necessity Of making port, can
pass the guns peeping through the numerous port
holes of this the most formidable fortress on the
American continent. Moro Castle is wonderful
| pile OF solid masonry with numerous loop-holes,
barbette guns and all the adjuncts and fixtures
OF fort ready to withstand any attack or to fire
the first gun upon an aggressive foe We heard
that it extended three-fourths OF mile and
mounted in all about nine hundred guns but do
not vouch for either.
We were well repaid for staying outside all
night, for it was quite warm and pleasant, As
the water was too deep for a good anchorage we
kent moving the whole night and had a fine view
of the revolving light, which is said by many to
be the finest ON the continent or perlans in the
world. We were informed that the machinery
alone used there cost half million of dollars.
At one moment all is shrouded in darkness. the
next, the air, the sea and the land seem all aiane
with most intensely brilliant lirht-so light that
one could read without difficulty ON the deck
mile or more from the shore. Nearly all night we
sat upon the deck and watched the sudden ,rk
ness that swallowed up the light and the brilliant
flashes seeming to electrify sea and land. and
every beholder, and chen, in the intense glow OF
feeling thrilling through the heart. the light dis
appears as suddenly as it came, and the restless
wa5es grow more restless still, until the ponder
ous machinery sets the land and sea ablaze again
with the mysterious light
At last the morning dawned, and as the first
rays of the sun came shining upon the spires of
the CITY, the thunder of the morning gun boomed
over the sea and echoed back from the hills The
flag was run up, and our steamer while yet under
the guns of the castle, was boarded by Spanish
official, who went through the customary forms
observed on boarding foreign vessels We were
then informed that we could get permit TO 20
ashore for one dollar. A large number of the
passengers procured one for two days for dollar
and half We moved slowly to the anchorage
and soon after we're surrounded by the bungos
(hoats1 swarminu with natives--tneu woman and