Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-21
THE RICHMOND PARTY LIKE CUBA
Natives Don't Like Spain Because OF TAXA
tIon-Nr. Epps's Narrow Escape.

Messrs. II. NJ. Smith, Jr.. l.. o. Wen
denburg. r. II. Fox, and Claiborne Epps
have returned from Cuba. where they
went about three weeks ago. These gen.
tlemen give glorious and picturesque ac-
counts Of their southern voyage. Al an
informal reunion of the party at the
residence of Mr.. Smith. No. II nor'h r1i'h
street. yesterday afternoon. a DlspatCh
reporter who was present CLEANED SOM
very in:ere ling facts concerning thal
far-away SUI ny land.
Soon after the gentlemen had assem-
bled the genial Commonwealth Attorney
got out a dry palm-leaf. rolled up Ike
corn-shuck, and breaking the ribbon
bands from either end, distributed from
the quaint package Cuban cigars among
his guests.
HE WAS AMAZED.
"Weu. sir" began Mr.. Smith, Il was
amazed first at the primitiveness OF
Cuba, next at its natural. rugged beauty.
then at the warmth and friendliness OF
the people toward Americans, ana thelr
hatred for Spain"
1.-THE CubaAs have no love Tor spain
broke in Mr.. cndenburg, because they
tax the people to death. You know SPAIN
Is bankrupt, and she derives almost All
the money necessary 10 carry OF her
government from this little island. which
is about 200 miles long and 100 miles
across. Why tho Spanish government as
sesses a man in Cuba 10 cents every time
he kills one of his own chickens. and Sc
every time he slaughters beef from his
own pastures"
And not only is this true" interrupted
Mr.. Epps. but whenever a Cuban mar
res he has 10 pay Spain s.. and when he
is blessed with an addition to his family
he is taxed g. We decided we could not
afford TO move to Cuba
Mr.. Fox here managed to interpolate
few sentences into the conversation.
lie declared that the Cubans d!I not
like Spanish money and would give s.
of 1t for IS of American currency any
time.
yes, but would like to know what
portion of Cuba you visited said the
scribe.
WENT TO BARACOA.
"Oh." resumed Mr. Smith. 1--WE went
to Baracoa, a small city located on the
extreme eastern coast. the largest banana
and cocoanut shipping point on the
island. Through the influence and popu-
larity Of Mr.. Fox, as the Richmond re-
preventative Of the American Produce
Exchange we were invited by Mr.. John
II. Hart. of Philadelphia. president OF the
Hart Steamship Line, 10 make the trip.
MIR. Hart was our host, and he provided
us with nearly everything calculated to
make man happy and comfortable. We
sailed on the Braganza. Of the Hart Line,
and were five days going to and five days
returning from Cuba. Mr.. Hart spared
no expense to make our voyage and stay
upon the island delightful to every men,
Der of the party On board were also
the Misses Sproule and brother of Phil
adelphia. and Miss Christian, of Boston,
and they. too, were pleased with the
trip. our boat plies between Philadel-
phia, where we boarded, and Baracoa,
and is a splendid steel ship having about
thirty elegant staterooms and a hand
somely furnished salon and dining-room
The ship is IA sister ship TO the United
States man-of-war Alo'"-"@ having been
built by the same English firm.
RIDING THROUGH MOUNTAINS.
captain Sam West. Of the Hart Com
pany, went down with us, and Captain
William c. Scott, agent of the line al
Baracoa, met us at that point. Upon
our arrival at Baracoa Captain Scott
had horses, or ponies, for our use TO ride
through the mountains. Mr.. Fox, who
stands feet inches, chose the highest
horse, and then had TO lift w his feet
TO keep them from dragging the ground.
oh, he had terrible time. However
we spent two days in the mountains as
the guests of Mr.. Raphael Arrue. presi-
dent of the Planters Association, OF the
Island of Cuba, and whose income is
about $4,000 a year. Mr.. Franco Arrue
acted as our guide through the noun
tains."
MIR. EPPS'S ESCAPE.
Now. let me tell you about the trr
| through the mountains and Mr.. Epps's
narrow escape from DEATH" interposed
Mr.. Wendenburg. and he was permitted
| TO do so, Mr.. Epps raising the only OBJ
| jeiNion. The Richmond lawyer then pro
| ceeded to describe the narrow, rugged
roads and the dangers to one unaccus
| toned to them. He told of the appear
ance OF the island which he declared
| looked like an immense bed OF cora
! raised several hundred even more than g
| thousand feet above the level of the sea
| by volcanic erputions. The Virginia dele
| CATION. preceded by their guide, was gal
| loping over the little pathway through
| the mountains. and were just passing nea
| the edge Of a precipice of 200 feet. wher
| three Spaniards rode along. Now, th'
road was only wide enough for two rider!
! to pass and all went successfully by pu
| Mr.. Epps, the left hind foot or whos'
horse slipped, crushing over the edge o.
| the frightful precpice The Spaniard 10y
| Mr.. Eppss side shrieked and grabbed tn
| Richmonder by the collar, pulling him 10
| ward the mountain side. The scared AM
NAL then jumped toward the hillside an'
steadied himself upon the solid rock o
| the road. II was close call Tor IN
rotund Deputy-Sergeant OF Richmond
and he did not realize his danger unit
| ne stepped near the edge OF the blum ant
| looked into the chasm below.
HALF-DROwNED RICHMONDERS.
But this was not the only striking In
| cident OF the trip, for many startling eX
periences are told. Nearly all the part!
were sea-sick but feel that their voyage
| even at this season of the year. was o!
| no means "a futile one. They brought oaci
a wealth of curiosities. which are interest,"
| ing both TO themselves and all thei
friends.
The greatest difficulty experienced du
ring the trip was learning to drink waite
4 from what the Cubans call their mon
KEYS. A monkey is a porcelain arrange
ment, something like a coffee-pot' VII
a little spout. 1t Is considered horribi
lack OF courtesy to put this spout In one
mouth In order TO drink. IL must be hell
| above the face, and the crystal nus
poured into the mouth. While endeavor
ing TO accomplish this feat Messrs. Wen
denburg and Fox were half drowned.
Probably Fatal Dificulty.
MEMPHIS. TENN. August 2o.-Dr. NJ
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