The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-31
SOME FACTS ABOUT CUBA
TIMELY DATA CONCERNING SPANS
TREAS URE ISLAND.
The Revolutionary Outbreaks of tho Last
Tbrse-Qusr ers Off Csntury-Span-.
ish Infringements.

greatest length Is 800 miles, It's narrowest
part % miles, and its average width ABOUT
40 miles. The circumference Of the island
"a 2OO0 miles, and is suppo led 10 contain
81 900 square miles. The nearest port TO
this continent Is Matanzas, lying due
sou-n from Cape Sable. Fla, distance
of only 100 miles. Havana is 10 miles
West Of Matanzas. The climate IS varl-
able but snow never falls In CUBA. IN
the cities and near the sw1mps yellow
fever prevails from the middle I june 10
the last Of October, but IN the interior or
the island It IS no more unhealthy IMAM
I'm American cities in summer. Inc aver
age temperature at Havana IS a, the
maximum 80. and the minimum o. de-
grees. The population OF the Island IS
about 100000. OF which 10000 are Spani-
ards.
HAVANA.
Havana. the eighth commercial capital
of the world. with population of 10000.
has a harbor populoUs with the ships OF
all nations. Nero Castle. with its big
guns Keeping out through the yellow
stones and it's sentinel lighthouse. staads
guard over the narrow entrances, w'th
the battery Of La Punta opposite. The
city is rich IN public buildings, cathedrais
and venerable churches. The dwelling
houses are universally so constructed as
which constitutes the only yard or court
attached The house is divided into
living room. a store room, chambers ana
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 gentleman call
ers. The rooms are lofty and the floors
succeed or tiled in marble, while the
walls and ceilings are frequently orna-
rnented i'm fresco. The most striking pc
culiarity Of the town house I'm 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. &c Cuban
ladies' rarely stir abroad except I'm vehi-
Gle and in consequence the feet of the
senoritas are marvels Of smailness and
delicacy. Their voices are sweet and low.
while the subdued tone Of their complex
an is relieved by the arch vivacity OF
night-black eyes. But the domestic anec-
tons are not cultivated-in fact, home TO
the average Cuban is only place to
sleep.
CUBAS INSURGENTS.
The first attempt of the Cubans to
throw off the Spanish yoke was made
I'm 1923, when Simon Bolivar offered to
aid the disaffected party by putting an
invading
was made in 1926. and third in 1873 IN
der the leadership Of General Lopez,
conspiracy was developed at Cienfuegos
and Trinidad in 1S4S to establish Cuban
independence but the natives were timid.
and after two years Of desultory nghunS'
LopeZ was overpowered and executed in
1850 The island was in chronic state
OF civil war from 1868 to 1876. fact which
so attracted the attention of President
fH.E act Of a Tlns4 HffH1
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 hostilties Spain actually sent 10
Cuba $4,000 enlisted men, OF whom only
a few hundred ever returned. Since 1915
rowing bands of insurgents have caused
the authorities more or less serious
trouble, and the mountains and half
inaccessible forests OF the eastern shore
stil serve to secrete many armed ana
disatfected people.
In the revolution of 1873 the command
ers Of the little guard coast gunboats,
probably in 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
Spanish vessels until the imperial naval
authorities saw fit to let them proceed.
The Edward Lee when sgnaled, adopt
ed the tactics Of the Alliance a week ago,
and, setting all sails distanced the gun
boat which opened fire.
The claims Of 'inwarrantable detention
profcrrCr by the vessel-owners against
the Spanish Government were allowed
when presented by United States Minis
ter Lowell, and an ind emnity Of $1,000
was paid to the owners Of the Rising Sun
ana 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
MT been searched, and that the treaty
between Spain and the United States per-
mitted them TO demand that any vessel
should establish her nationality in quart
ers frequented by suspicious craft.