The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-15
THE HARRORs OF CUBA.
Plenty of Them In Which the Filibuste
ers Tan Land.

Frederick A. Ober In New York Recorder
Cuba. with its $500 miles of coast line,
has probably more good harbors and more
hidden inlets, lying concealed behind their
frothing coral reefs. than any other island
in this hemisphere. With a total area of
about 5000 square miles, scarcely one
fourth of which is cultivated. and vast
forests of cedar, mahogany and precious
woods, as well as UNEMPLOYED mines of
gold, iron and copper. it has. also, numer-
Gus beautiful harbors, still boriered by
virgin vegetation. yet capable of contain
ing half the navies OF the world.
Lying. as IL does, adjacent to Florida,
the Bahamas. and even Haiti and Jamai-
ca, II is peculiarly approachable by small
craft, and many smuggler and fli5uster
has reaped the reward OF bold adventure
by utilizing his knowledge OF the passes
through the reefs. Although the south
coast has many ard good harbors. like
those OF Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo,
Cienfuegos. etc. yet the ones preferred by
the Cuban sympathizers are those of the
north coast. This Is probably owing to
their closeness to Florida and Its semi
circle of reefs and inlets. the nearest of
which are not over ninety or a hundred
miles away.
II was conclusively shown a little while
ago that the leaders OF the Cuban forces
had opened n new inlet Qrom perhaps
United StateS) by which they had received
much-needed supplies OF artillery and am
munition. They made a wide detour
around the city OF Havana, while every
body not I'm the secret was wondering why
they had not assaulted its defenses and
made an attempt to take H. The reason
was that they had no artillery. no amn.y-
milton; and when they had once pierced the
Gordon of Spanish soldiers stretched across
the island from Havana to the south coast
they FASTENED TO possess themselves of a
harbor.
They took. Il was rumored, the fine har-
Dor and port Of Bahia Honda and held IL
long enough for the desired supplies TO
reach them. Then they coun,ermarched
and seemed to mediate an attack upon
Havana. having with them the deslderata
which they previously lacked. Ii has been
no difficult thing 20 effect a landing on
the coast OF Cuba for one acquainted with
the landmarks. Every port and harbor OF
any Importance has some peculiar conflc-
uration OF shore line or prominent hill or
noticeable tower or lighthouse by which
the sailors coasiing those shores are made
as much at home as though merely steer
ing through a river they had lived in all
their lives
Beginning at Cape Antonio. the extreme
western point of Cuba. the north coast
curves like the back of a huge caterpillar.
running eastersy for distance OF probably
loo miles OF tortuous length. AT the cape
lighthouse Is set ie7 feet high. which dis
plays a white light. varied by a flash every
half minute. The cape Itself is low and
rocky. There Is good spring water 20 b. OBJ
tained here and inside the coral reefs
there is good anchorage The bark country
Is Wild ard broken. excellent hiding rlsr,ss
being afforded for flitusters and snug
Slers
A REGULARITY of the sea currents here IS
mat they run east for half the months and
west the other half Another strange o.
eurrence, that was noted by Vumhellt
when he made his survey OF these seas Is a
fresh water spring Of great volume which
EGshes M from unknown .ferths Of. The
coast hetSesu the Isle Of Pines ard the
cape Although there are numerous good
inieis and baYs all the way east from Cane
san Antonio. yet the best deem water har-
Dor Is found abou; 80 miles eaSterlv to
sard Havana Il Is that OF Bahia Honda
ard x Is this which was taken hv 10,
Gomez and held long enough 10 allow Of tha
entrance and discharge Of a vessel lnaaas
With ammanitious recently sent from a for
eisa port The entrance Of this deep BAY
: Eot-'' ana Is easily located BY the curious
nils back of &; as Wei as by an ancien.
uar'ello tower on It's eastern shore.
There Is another good port, fifteen miles
farsher east. called Cahanas and twalt-a
miles farther a fac harbor. known as po--
Asriel Here the laadfan IS unnistakat,s
owing 20 the cOntiEuity Of a tahio-sa,nA5
niil called the Pan De Mariel" Sirh.inr
he d1sky outlines OF this strange mi
group or some da-k night the appro.chir-
sailor knows thar in front Of II. bearing ~
ceSain direction. lies one OF the best ana
most sheltered ancforaSes on the northern
coast: '"
At great distance. even coming down
rom the Florida KEYS il can he lo-s.s,r ~,
ihe conspicuous group OF hills called To-
Tetas ic Manacgs. or the Naifen's F.rnss,..
anf ss nearer approached. by the ancient
fortress castle. the Moro. with its upb,.
house sending friendly warning twenty
miles cut 10 sea
This IS the harhor par excellence OF TIA
Pearl q the Antilles. and cauahle NJ a.
~t-ir-1o3ating at least aa sails yfs V0T.
house Is e1, seveaiv-nIne feet high ~,
the lantern Is ~ feet above sea level ovr,--
70 - situation on tie high blar over he
hArhor N"V
forty-fcgr miles eas;erlv s the n,e ,o-,
* Na'anzss. 50 recea,ly threatsnass ~, ~.