Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-09

Havana, is eighty miles. Key West
is on an island between the main
land or Florida Bay. Matanzas is
sixty miles down the Gulf from Ha-
vana. 1t is an open harbor and very
rough at times for shipping. Yes.
sells make fast to moorings when
stopping to trade so as not to drop
their anchors. There is a pier for
vessels, but it is no good. On each
side of Matanzas flow two streams
from high knobs, (veritable Peaks
of Otter, )-streams not deep enough
for flat boats, and fearfully rough on
those passing through to an outlet.
Some of the Macedonia" O fl
GERS were invited to a pleasure party
on sugar plantation at Matanzas,
owned by Mr.. Burton, Of Massa-
chusetts. Matanzas is two miles
from the mouth of Mariel river. AT
the outlet of this river rocks had
been placed either in time of trou-
BILE with other nations or to keep out
privateers. There is not more than
twelve inches of water in crossing
the mouth, and about twenty-five
feet inside the rocks. If removed,
1t would be an excellent harbor for
all kinds Of vessels. But so long as
Cuba is bound under the yoke OF
Spain, so long will the rocks remain
as an obstruction. 1t would be q
heaven for shipping. We passed up
the Mariel twelve miles, and there
observed drove of fifty mules, led
by bell mule and driven by a
muleteer, whose sword dragged the
ground, and whose spurs equaled
"Don Quixote's." These pack
mules, with ten gallons of molasses
in each keg, slung across their backs
in wicker baskets, go for miles. The
roads were then (fifty-six years ago)
not wide enough for wagon-all
done by packing. How is it now?
Passing up the river we saw among
the long reeds lots of green crabs as
large as small wash basin, and f.
nally reached the sugar house,
What's that? Well, it's where they
separate the molasses and sugar; the
floor was about 80 x 40 feet, and on
an incline, so as to let the molosses
run over the floor and into a large
trough. All the sugar is "Squill-
geed," or shoveled back. Three
large, black men attended to this op-
Grafton on the floor. Their white
trousers were rolled up to their knees
as they waded around showing back
the sugar. Their feet looked white
and clean underneath, and only one
of them seemed to be troubled with
a sore toe.
Cuba, you know, is about 500 miles
long and 800 miles wide at the wild
est part, and it is almost across the
Gulf of Mexico from Cape San An
tonic, Cuba, to Cape Catoche. Yucca
tan. Across the Yucatan Channel to
the main land is but short distance.
Toward the latter part of 1910, we
were transferred from the " Macedo-
mia to the first-class sloop of war
4" Levant" 18 thirty-two Founders
and two "Faxion" or "Paxinn
shell-shot guns amidships. Her ar
mament was too heavy for her build,
yet she was one of the fastest sailers
in th Navy, and one of the prettiest
ships afioat. Her masts had most
beautiful slope or rake with sails set
low and aloft, and a top-gallant
breeze. She would make 10 and IL
knots an hour. Several times we
made trips to Havana, and along the
island of Cuba. There were vessels
in Havana at that time from all parts
of the world and flying flags from all
countries except China.
Sailing from Pensacola to Norfolk
in November, 1s41, with eighty dis
abled seamen and boys, from the eff.
fects Of the yellow fever. We un-
bent our sails and slowed them away
in the sailroom expecting to 60 to
the Navy Yard. But orders were
given us to put to sea in three days.
Here was hard work for a ships
crew Of only one-half her number.
When ready for sea, draft of eighty
seamen and boys came from New
York, and we were towed down to
Hampton Roads by the u, 8. Steam
boat Pointsett." Next day we
put to sea. After several days out
we had a fOrty-eight hours storm in
what is called the " Horse latitude"
q hollow In the sea. "The greatest
depth Of the North Atlantic, and
and the second greatest depth yet
measured is 1853 feet-just north
Of Porto Rico, in the latitude 1872 39/
N, $50 26> w. There are many pro-
found depressions in this part of the
sea basin. Between Cuba and Grand
Cayman there Is hole 1852 feet,
or almost four miles Deep" Here
we buried a ship-mate, Jack Dash
wood, who died of heart trouble
He hailed from Norfolk. The Le-
want" was very cranky vessel, and
all that kept us from going over In