The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-03-17


LOUISVILLE, K. NEW YORK. N.Y.
Well now for Cuba. Promptly at 10 |
P. NJ. the lines that hold the boat to the |
dock were cast off, she backs up and goes |
ahead three or four times, and having |
accomplished the feat of turning around |
land / think it could be done with more |
neatness and dispatch if they used turn
table, we started on an air line for Ha-
vana, distance of about 125 miles, which
is reached at o'clock the next morning.
Could have got here sooner, but the
Spanish government will not allow
foreign vessels to pass in or ont of the
harbor between shutdown and sunrise.
The view from the harbor is fine, and,
to stranger very odd. We anchored
about 20 rods from the wharf, and were
almost instantly surrounded by small
boats of every description, who were anxi-
Gus to carry the passengers and baggage
ashore for consideration, and no very
small one at that, but we, being under
the care of one of those truly good men,
a hotel runner. who was also an interpret
er, pay no attention to the common
boat-uen, but go ashore in our own ship
of state the Great Southern -four oared),
and having safely passed the gauntlet of
the Custom House, enter carriage and
are driven to our hotel, the "Mascotte.''
no l,n 70 INIT
trifie peculiar, for instance they serve
Goldfish and cigarettes together, and they
haven't the slightest idea what pie ia.
There was man from Bay City, Mich.
at the hotel, who was continually finding
fault with the natives, and he always
wound up his remarks by saying what
can you expect of set of blasted fools
that don't know what pie is" The first
morning in Havana we spent in driving
around the city; the buildings are low,
and are all plastered on the outside, the
streets are very narrow, most of them
being just wide enough for two carriages
to pass, and the sidewalks are SO narrow
that they would be laughable if they were
not so inconvenient. The people are mod
erately well dressed, and all, even the la
borers are neat and clean. The children up
to the age of nine or ten hardly ever tear
their clothes, for the reason that, as
general thing they don't wear any, but
prowl around in state of nudity that was
quite alarming to us-at first.
Havana has a population of about 225,-
900 and has few points of interest, the
principal of which is Moro Castle which
is situated on high, rocky bluff across
the bay from the city, and at the entrance
to the harbor. The castle is In reality
fort and is filled with soldiers, canpons, &C.
The commander of the castle, Captain
Justin treated US very courteously, and
showed us everything that was to be seen.
We made two trips into the country; the
first about twelve miles to a monster
sugar plantation, and a pineapple grove,
and the second to the city of Matanzas,
about 60 miles east of Havana, where we
saw the old church of Monserat, the
Yumuri valley and the celebrated caves Of
Bellamar. The Yumuri valley is noted for
nothing that could see except that it is a
perfect valley, being entirely surrounded
by very high hills; it is from three to five
miles in diameter, perfectly round, and
must be terribly hot. The caves of Bel
lamar are natural cavities In the ground,
and are said to nearly equal the Man,
moth Cave of Kentucky. We went in
about half a mile and, it being excessive
ly warm "let it go at that" In going to
the valley and caves we rode In queer
two wheeled rig called Uoydate; there is
one horse inside the shafts, and another
on the outside which the driver rides,
and as the horses are small and overload
ed the driver is kept busy whipping them.
We stalled going up hill and had to get
out and walk-this with the thermome-
ter about 80 in the shade was not as
pleasant as it might be.
We got back 10 Havana about $50 P. NJ.
| completely covered with dust. and hot
| enough to melt, but after a wash and
hearty dinner of Goldfish and cigarettes,
we felt better, and went out for our usual
evening prowl. There is not much to be
seen IN the city, very few fine buildings
and no high ones. The Cathedral is said
to be very ine-it contains the tomb of
Columbus and is visited by nearly every
tourist, l did not visit the Cathedral, SO
did not see Columbus never having met
the gentleman in life, | did not care to
intrude upon him in his present decom-
posed state.
The Cubans are quite clean lot. po-
lite and oollging, and fairly intelligent. |
but they are In bard luck, as the Spanish |
government keeps them down, taxes |
them numerically, and will rot allow |
them to hold any Office. or even enter the |
army or navy to any extent Even the |
smallest and most tritiing Offices such as |
letter crrrier or policeman is ap2ointive, |
and the powers take care that hone but |
good Spaniards are put on guard.
We will probably leave here for homo !
in couple of days, and I think I will |
close this letter now. for yon are prob |
ably as sick of the Queen of the Antilles |
as | am. Yours &c.
g. P. O'CoNNRLL.