The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-01-28
MExIco C1rY. DEC. 90, 1ssO.


tended the theaters. After reaching New
York we met Mr.. Wetherell and wife
and ten men, bound for Mexico and of
the same railroad as ourselves, so our
party in all, numbered seventeen.
Thursday afternoon we went aboard our
steamer, which we found to be very
large and elegantly built boat. with the
Houston swinging berths and everything
to make one comfortable, even to the
life preservers in each state-ro DOM, which
we thought might be very convenient
should we have any occasion to use
them Some of our boys, l believe, tried
theirs on TO see if they were perfect fit.
Of American passengers bound for Mex
leo there were twenty-five. Besides
these there were great many Spanish
people. Tho most of them had been
spending the summer in the states and
were now going to their homes in
Havana. We set sail at 4 O'Clock il
the afternoon, November 18th, with a
very smooth seS, but about 10 o'clock it
became quite rough. Then 1 could fully
appreciate Mark Twain's description
of u sea voyage, as nearly all the passen-
gers were sea sick. My husband was
among the more fortunate ones, and
could eat his five meals day, as we had
lunch at 7 in the morning. breakfast at
0, lunch at 10, dinner at and lunch
again at Z in the evening. There was
no necessity of going hungry, as there
vas every luxury New York City could
provide. The evening Of the 18th we
passed Bloody Island, and saw the first
lighthouse. Later in the evening We
passed Sandy Hook. The 14th we could
see the coast of Florida. We were then
two hundred and sixty miles from Ha-
vana. We had some distinguished pas
sengers on board. One was the Count of
Cuba (Conde de la Reunion de Cuba
and General Escobedo. The 18th we
saw the mountains ON the island of Cuba
and about in the evening we discover
ed the gas lights of the City of Havana.
When about two miles from shore our
captain gave signals for Il pilot to be sent
Oul W lRhC US lllC SAl0huCl.
Signals were answered by the shooting
of red, yellow and blue rockets. In q
short time we saw small boat coming
out 10 Us bringing the pilot. We were all
very glad to see him coming, as we were
very anxious to get into port that night,
our seamen having predicted nnrther
for the next day, and as it was raining
some then, our captain thought It best
to be anchored in port than drifting NJ
sea. The Spanish people were all very
much excited to be so near their homes
once more, and we noticed one peculiar
lty among them. Both ladies and gentle
men had, after coming IN sight OF the
city, gone and dressed themselves in full
dress. ! asked one of the ladies why
they did not keep on their travelling
dresses and wraps until they reached
their homes. She told me that would not
| be nice; that they could not present
themselves at home in their travelling
costumes. We found out the custom of
| the higher class of Spaniards was to
| turn their night intO day that the ladies
never 20 on the streets in the daytime,
but from shutdown until midnight they
promenade the Plazas in full dress or
ride in open carriages. The pilot was
| now on board and We were twisting and
| turning through the many bouys and
rocks. We passed Castle Moro, and
came to the fort which was built on
a long ledge of rocks and the many
cannons which were facing US had the
| tendency to give US rather q gloomy
feeling. The sentinel came out and
wanted TO know who goes there ?" The
! t. =, g
| ington!" so we were allowed to pass
and were anchored about Il mile from
shore Here our Spanish friends met
with a disappointment, as they could moi
go ashore until the health officers and
custOm-houSe officers had come aboard
which they did not do until about 1C
O'Clock. 1t was very pretty sight u
see the different kind of row-boats
and sail-bOats coming out to get the
passengers. The boats were all lighted
and the lights from the different steam
ers and men-of-war gave the harbor d
most brilliant appearance. Alter the
Spanish people left US and the boat be
came quiet, we Americans retired with
the intention of visiting the city
the next day, as the steamer was to re
main there two days to discharge cargo
About 4 O'Clock in the morning we were
all awakened by the ringing of bell:
from the city and firing of cannons from
the fort and different men, Of-war. W.
all hurried ourselves around to find ou
what was the occasion of so much noise
and found it to be gala day IN honor o
of the Queens baby child. All the ship
were a mass of flags of the national col
ors, red, yellow and blue, every rope anC
spar was covered with them.
Our storm had passed away, and thu
I Aar- vol tn hGa nj ant
About 8 O'Clock boats came out for u
and we went ashore. There we took car
riages and went to the Hotel Passage
This was very nice building, five stor
les high and very cOmmodious
All the floors and stiarways ar
of marble There are no carpet
used in Havana on account of the warn
climate. Rugs are spread down in tn
center of each room. We were some
what amused when taken to our room
to see our beds, as they consisted only O
springs, blankets and sheets, with on,
sheet for covering, nevertheless, W
/ found them very comfortable whel
night came. After dinner We took
carriage and rode over the city. TIL
; buildings are all very ancient lookin
and all built of stone The streets ar
very narrow, just wide enough for on
carriage TO pass another. They ar
5 paved and kept very clean. The side
} walks are about two feet wide and ais
of stone. They have street cars whic
was the only familiarsigh we saw. Tn
! stores are all thrown open and the good
are arranged IN such way that i
riding by, you look in an
think you have seen every article in th
store. The stores are not deep but broa
so the goods show of at very good I'D
5 vantage. The buildings were all de,
E GRATED in bunting and flags, and th
4 streets were arched from one building I
4; another with the bunting their who
7 length.
G We saw the tomb of Christophs
Columbus, the queens palace, and wen
TO the captain generals garden. Til
{ was grand beyond description. Til
{ building was very handsome, and Ii
!, grounds most elegant. There were q
E kinds of tropical trees bearing frui
E Palm trees and flowers that ara indi
: cribable. All kinds Of flowers that 81
i cherished in our hot houses at home. al
e here growing promiscuously. W,
!, presented with bOquet, whic
4 have preserved, to keep
, memento Of the plsc
The Rsnflsnasn haa maas ecsGt selsuI