Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-21


that know the coyes and inlets or the island as
well as did the old buccaneers, and bring hltner
from the coastwise villages ana . n U ne
And what queer crews they have though! A
dozen men and boys and dogs seem TO live happily
reI and laugh and eat and sleep anywhere, at all
times smoking and eating and drinking when not
sleeping but ever ragged picturesque, lazy Jolly
lot among whom a true artist could achieve lame.
LANcHERos.
Around behind Catalina are hundreds OF lanches
or lighters with their clumsy single masts, square,
built bulls, and bellying sides, their fantastic
groups of lancheros or lightermen, their bits OF
rbbon and tinsei futtering In the breeze, their
ne and almost oriental mosaic OF light and color.
Your lancnero Is a character. He Is the one sem
biance OF a man who can never be hurried. he rs
quiet and pleasant and Will not De ied INTO anAety
BIZ any hustling sea captain. He believes In not
earning too much, but In earning regularly Inere
Is no summer nor winter for him, nor any otner
change. He regards the progress OF the worlds
commerce as dependent on him: and SO IL Is mere
He win labor but few hours each day, as much
time being passed In the dreamful SieSta nat upon
bis pey In or out OF the sum- In his boats bottom,
as In labor and his nights are devoted 10 the nvey
cock light and the exuperant fandango ne needs eos
the sun b. day and the stan by night ana COCO
many scorn even that pybpriety. He Is thor
0ushly happy man. and while certain g9Oa pegI ya
ton OF his soul would require instantly cnanged
conditions, it is a question whether so completely
q conteated spirit would thrive under missionary
devices
WHAT rHD-vEssKIs CONTAIN.
The sailing craft from American and CANADIAN
ports, comprising greater number of vessels than
all other craft combined are grouped in the center
OF the bay anchored so that wide paths are left
between lines OF vessels for movements OF the
energetic ferries, which ply between Havana
proper and the opposite shore by day and night
Along the low. crowded, quaint wharves on the
Havana side, by the Catalina Warehouses, sklrtlng
the Regla docks and storehouses, or served at var
Gus points In the bay Dy these picturesque ngnt-
ers, and their noisy lancheros are oarks ana oarK-
entines briggs and brgantines two, three and four
masted schooners, and full-rfgged ships, dis
charging and receiving cargoes. Here are
Dutch barks and br1gS diSchargfng coal from
CardiY. They will receive sugar or molasses
for Philadelphia or New YORK, and tnere Ioaa
with general cargoes for some European port.
brought coal from the Baltic and tiles from France
and spain. French brigs and Darks are dls-
charging cargoes OF tiles from MaIselLiess Here
are Spanish vessels with linen and wines from
Barcelona. All manner OF queer Portuguese craft
are here with onions and garlic and Hour. From
onions. Cabbage, potatoes, apples and salt nsh
From south America have come or1gs and or1g-
antines, with the general air and build OF spanish
craft, and these have brought wheat, fruit and
rassajo or 1erked beef, olives, sweet OIL, bacon,
butter, lari, rgs and brandy. From Vera Cruz and
Mexico have come what our American sea-folk are
pleased 10 term .trampr steamers, with hundreds
OF bulls for the bull-nghts and for meat; and
American ana Canadian vessels bring hither three
people OF cuba
HOW cARGoEs ARE UNLoADED.
IL can be readily imagined that all this har-
bor-life activity Is remarkable, representing as
II does al the most marked and peculiar In
national life in nearly every civilized country on
the globe. concentered into this little bright
and cleaning space behind two ugly Spanish
forts But few vessels are permitted land
these are spanish alone) to unload or receive
cargoes at docks and wharves. Indeed the gen.
lea
modern methods OF saving labor rob the poor OF
s1stentation, and therefore hundreds upon hun
dreds OF the lanches or lighters are always In use
conveying, in dnblets, and with the least possible
ease and Dispatch cargoes TO and from all vessels
In port Zach Lighter Is manned d. oy & crew ,S o.
opportunity for a boss and third 10 furnish the
others company.
LIGHTERS AND CREWS.
In Havana Bay there are certainly 1000 lighters,
constantly In use, so that 5000 men are thus EN-.
ployed and at least 5000 souls thus comfortably
sustained Most OF these ok live over at Regia
lust back Of the santa Catalina wharves, or the
srill quainter Gale Baluarte quarter and In the
narrow streets and through and about their queer
Old abodes some OF the strongest sights you ever
witnessed will be seen Children OF all colors and
caste and ages dsport naked among hairless dogs,
aggressive goats. demure donkeys, and all manner
good nature Litteis need-d TO sustain life, hence
happy -heartedness among them Is universal Night
made Is TO get outside OF clothing and last sunday
morning when was wandering about In the VI
ctnlty OF the little old Regla market, actually
stepped over fourteen naked sleeping women and
children lying In all sorts OF poetures landings
along galleries, and at the doors OF little acobas
Some Of them opened theiI handsome , eyes OH;
oy the Intrusion
LIVELY SCENES
The Havana consignees OF cargoes provide YES
sells with these lanches and their lanchero crews,
and ship-captains must perforce be suited with
no sob fv,
given each vessels captain by the consignor pro-
vides for only limited "lay- days in port IL this
consignee shall not have taken the cargo from the
vessel within the stated number OF days, the
vessel Is entitled by clause In the charter
party, 70 demurrage In the nature OF a penalty IN
gold o. from IS 70 go per day. for such delay
vessels In port are constantly these gaudily-
bedecked lighters and their nght-hearted crews
usually being employed as the steyedores Of the
carRoes, handling II from the hold 70 the decys ol
the lighters. But all this labor Is done in the
slowest possible manner interspersed with an
unaccountable righteousness ON the part OF thesk
thousands Of happy-go-lucky and pretentiously
energetic lightermen-
FRoA ONE END OF THE SPLENDID BAY
10 the other from day until dark, the creaktnp o.
pulleys, the oficious commands OF mates m.
weird .-shantyipg,- or singing Of crews at In.
s.wenchesr in hosting goods; the excited and su
percillious tallying Of the spanish custom houss
barking OF dogs with which every lighter is bro
yided the garrulous chat tering and yelling Of IN
Cuban workmen Of all classes: the snorting ant
puf,ing OF the fussy tugs as they bring TO ancho
newly-arryed vessel or take out 20 sea one read,
for another struggle with the storms, with tn
greetings and hallooings OF departure; the gaily
painted and be-nagged Government boats plyin,
In every direction on their service OF never-endn
taxation upon commerce.; the ferries speedn,
from shofn TO shore with their crowds OF motIe
people-fOr Cuba houses all nationalities; tn
1000 guacafiOs or little hooded harbor. boats 10
all purposes Of dlckering or passenger service; tn
countless bum boats pedding fruit and vile cigar
among the ships crews; the continual tnterchang
Of military and social couTJesies between the fort
and stlyos OF artillery: and In day, as well as a
night. the eyer-chining bells OF church, convent
and monastery. mingled with strains from unsee
fandangOes and reveirieS on shOre-fOrm q CON
mtnging CT sight and sound pleasant In color an
variety, and often fascinating In bewildering cor
fusion.
MoLAssEs BY THE WHOLESALE
A b well known, the chief exports OF Cuba-i
tact, the sources OF her wonderful weaIth-az
sugar and molasses The average crop reache
nearly 10000 tons OF sugar and 100000 hog.
heads OF molasses. The United States receive
nve-stxths OF this enormous product, and Il
almost worth q trip To CuDa 10 vessels lOa
with molasses for foreign ports IL Is brought
Havana from all parts Of the island py rail- an
team 10 little sea-coast coves, and thence BY II
rakish coasters have already mentioned Il
warenoused In santa Catalina and IN Regla
immense butts, many holding from 500 TO !, OC
ho2sheads each From these butts IL Is conveye
IA ciotn hose 70 empty hogsheads In the lighter
lighter-ioad usually consisting OF from tairty I
are brought 10 the vessels side, elevated from IN
lighter 10 large stationary trough built on u
vessels deck directly above the hatchway TO u
hold, lowered until 10 rests upon this huge trough