The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-03-27
SOME FACTS ABOUT CUBA.
Timely Data Concerning Spain's Treasure
Isl:

island
Cuba is about as large as England
proper, without the principality Of
I Wales. It's greatest Iength is 500
miles. its narrowest part twenty miles,
and its average forty miles. The cir
cumference of the island is 1000
miles. and is supposed to contain 35,-
600 square miles The nearest port to
this continent is Matanzas, lying due
South from Cape Sable, Fla, a dist
ance Of only 130 miles Havana is
sixty miles West of Matanzas. The
climate is variable. but snow never
falls in Cuba. In the cities and near
the swamps yellow fever prevails from
the middle of June to the last Of Octo
ber but in the interior of the island i
is no more unhealthy than in Ameri-
can cities in summer The average
temperature at Havana is II, the max
imum 50. and the minimum so de-
grees. The population of the island is
about 1000, 1000, of which 300, 900 are
Spaniards.
Havana, the eighth commercial
capital of the world, with population
of 400, 900, has harbor populous with
the ships of all nations. Moro Castle,
with the big guns peeping out through
the yellow stones and its sentinel
Lighthouse, stands guard over the mar
row entrance, with the battery of La
Punta opposite. The city is rich in
public buildings, cathedrals and ven
erable churches. The dwelling houses
are universally so constructed as to
form an open square in the centre,
which constitutes the only yard or
court attached. The house is divided
into a living room, a store room,
chambers and stable-these all upon
one foor-while the family vehicle
blocks up in part the only entrance,
which is used in common by horses,
ladies, slaves and gentlemen callers.
The rooms are lofty and the floors
succeed or tilted in marble, while the
walls and ceilings are frequently Or
namented in fresco.
The most striking peculiarly of the
town. house in Cuba is the precaution
taken to render it safe against sudden
attack, each accessible window being
secured with stout iron bars from top
to bottom, while bullet-proof doors
bar the entrance. The Cuban ladies'
rarely stir abroad except in vehicle,
and in consequence the feet of the:
senoritas are marvels of smallness
and delicacy. Their voices are sweet
and low. while the subdued tone of
their complexion is relieved by the
arch vivacity of night-black eyes. But
the domestic affections are not cultl-
vated-in fact, home to the average
Cuban is only place to sleep.
The first attempt OF the Cubans to
throw off the Spanish yoke was made
in 1923, when Simon Bolivar offered
to aid the disatfected party by putting
an invading force into the island.
Another was made in 1926, and a
third in 1928. Under the leadership Of
General Lopez a conspiracy was de-
veloped at Cienfuegos and Trinidad in
in lS4S to establish Cuban independ-
ence, but the natives were timid, and
after two years of desultory fighting
Lopez was overpowered and executed
in 1850. The island was in chronic
state of civil war from 1868 10 1876, a
fact which so attracted the attention
of President Grant that, in the interest
of American and Cuban commerce. he
proposed annexation. These outbreaks
were led by Cespedes, an able lawyer
and wealthy planter of Bayamo. and
during the eight years of hostilities.
Spain actually sent to Cuba 145, 900
enlisted men, of whom only few
hundred ever returned. Since 1876
rowing bands of insurgents have caus-
ed the authorities more or less serious
trouble, and the mountains and half
inaccessible forests of the eastern
shore still serve to secrete many armed
and disaffected people
In the revolution of 1873 the COM
mander of the little guardia costa gun
boats, probably in utter ignorance of
international law, interferred with
American shipping, and the Spanish
government had to pay for their rash
ness.
In one year three of our vessels were
assaulted They were all whalers-
the Ellen Rizpah, the Rising Sun and
the Edward Lee. In the case of the
first two vessels they were overhauled
near the Cuban coast, the captain TAX
en- off and the ships kept under cover
of the Spanish vessels until the impe-
rial naval authorities saw fit to let
them proceed. The Edward Lee, when
signalled, adopted the tactics of the
Alliance a week ago, and, setting all
sails, distanced the gunboat, which
opened fire.
The claims Of unwarrantable deten-
ton preferred by the vessel-owners
against the Spanish Government were
allowed when presented by United
States Minister Lowell, and an.indem-
nifty Of $1,000 was paid to the owners
of the Rising Sun and the Rizpah.
The Edward Lee, whose case was SO
analogous to the Alliance, did not get
justice so easily. The Spanish govern
ment stood out on the plea that the
vessel had suffered in no way, as she
had not been searched, and that the
treaty between Spain and the United
States p rmitted them to demakd that
any vessel should establish her nation
ality in quarters frequented by suspi-
cious craft.
The Very Throne Trembled.
LONDON. March ia dispatch to