The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-21
SOME FACTS ABOUT CUBA.
Timely Data Concerning SpaIn's
Treasure Island.
From the Philadelphia Record.

From the Philadelphia Record.
Cuba is about as large as England prom
er, without the principality OF Wales. Its
greatest length is 500 miles. its narrowest
part 20 miles. and its average width about
40 miles The circumference OF the island
Is 1000 miles. and is supposed to contain
5000 square miles. The nearest port to
this continent is Afatanzas. lying due
south from Cape Sable, Fla. a distance
OF only I'D miles. Havana is 60 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
October. but in the interior OF the island
II is no more unhealthy than In American
cities in summer. The average tempera-
ture at Havana Is u, the maximum So
and the minimum 80 degrees. The popu-
lation OF the island is about 100000 OF
which 10000 are Spaniards.
Havana, the eighth commercial capital
OF the world, with a population of 4OO,-
OoO, has harbor populous with the ships
OF all nations. Moro Castle, with its big
guns peeping out through the yellow
stones and its sentinel lighthouse, stands
guard over the narrow entrance. with the
| battery of La Punta opposite The city Is
rich in public buildings, cathedrals and
venerable churches. The dwelling houses
are universally so constructed as to form
an open square in the center, which con-
stitutes the only yard or court attached.
The house is divided into a living room,
a store room, chambers and stable-these
all upon one floor, while the family vehicle
blocks up in part the only entrance,
which Is used in common by horses, la
dies, slaves and gentlemen callers. The
rooms are lofty and the floors succeed or
tiled in marble. while the walls and cell
ings are frequently ornamented in fresco.
Inc most striking popularity OF the town
mouse in Cuba Is the precaution taken
to render 1t 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 ex-
cept in a 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 cultivated
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 1898, when Simon Bolivar offered to
aid the disaffected party by putting an
invading force into the island Another
was made in 1896. and third in 1898
Under the leadership of Gen. Lopez. "A
conspiracy was developed at Cienfuegos
and Trinidad i'm 1S4S to establish Cuban
independence. but the natives were timid,
and after two years of desultory fighting
Lopez was overpowered and executed In
1850 The island was In a chronic state Of
civil war from 1868 to 1876. fact which
so attracted the attention of President
Grant that, in the interest OF American
and Cuban commerce. he proposed an
neXation. 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 $4,000 enlisted men, of whom
only a few hundred ever returned. Since
1876 rowing bands of insurgents have
caused the authorities more or less trou-
BILE, and the mountains and half-inacces-
sible forests of the eastern shore still serve
to secrete many armed and disaffected
people.
In the revolution Of 1878 the command
ers of the little guard costa gnnboats,
probably i'm utter ignorance of interna-
tional law. interfered with American
shipping, and the Spanish government
had to pay for their rashness.
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 captains taken off and
the ships kept under cover of the Span
ish vessels until the imperial naval au-
thorities 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 detention
preferred by the vessel owners against
| the Spanish government were allowed
when presented by United States Minister
Lowell, and an indemnity OF $4,000 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 yes
sci had suffered in no way, as she had not
been searched. and that the treaty be-
tween Spain and the United States per-
mitted them to demand that any vessel
should establish her nationality in quar-
tiers frequented by suspicious craft.
A GREWSOME BURDEN.