Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
A Cruise In the Macedonia and Leyan
BY CAPTAIN JOS. s. CRANE, SIR,

BY CAPTAIN JOS. 8. CRANE, SIR.
We set sail from Norfolk in Janu-
ary, 1910, on board the u. s. frgate
" Macedonia" 32-pound cannonades.
We passed Cape Henry same day
and struck the Gulf Stream the next
day. This stream is said to have no
soundings. The water on sounding,
looks very green, while the Gulf is
as blue as the sky. and the water is
warm as new milk. The stream
comes from somewhere and goes to
nowhere; at least, it spreads itself
out from ninety miles between
Florida Keys and Cuba to five hum
dred miles wide on the Northeast
Coast, and melts the icebergs as fast
as they appear.
In few days we sighted the island
of San Domingo, when the lookout
sang aloud:
Land-'o ~
Where-away?"
"Two points on our star board
bow"
The next day we were close enough
to make out white specks, supposed
to be houses on the shore. We
passed through the "Mona Passage, :"
into the Greater Antilles, with the
islands Of Jamaica, Grand and Lit
tie and Bar Caymans on our left, and
Isle de Pines on our right, then on
to Cuba. Here we fell in with
"Dutch galley-ott," or brig, In dis
tress. These vessels are very slow
sailing craft, about equal to the Chi
nese junk. All hands on board were
sick, except one boy. Commodore
Wilkinson, having sent three officers
on board Of her, we sailed in envoy
to Havana, and, passing Cape San
Antonio, Cuba, in few days we ar
rived at Havana. Our ship lay in
the offing until the officers and sail
ors came on board, when we sailed
to Pensacola, Fla. After three weeks
In that port we weighed anchor, and
sailed for Cuba, which is about six
hundred miles across the Gulf to
Havana, 1.-the city of castles" so
called because protected by them on
all sides; on the left you enter in
the celebrated " Moro Castle" cut
out of the solid rock, and opposite
is "Castle Ponta," where the old
sailors say Gen. Lopez was garroted
just before our arrival there. His
last words were, (they didn't give
him much time) with the crucifix in
his hand, "GOd and Cuba ="
Just back of "Morc CASTLE" as
YOU go into port, is Castle Blanco."
To enter the harbor of Havana, you
pass through a long neck or canal Of
water. In shape it resembles a
+" rosin. the.bOw bottle," with " Moro
Castle" as the stopper. Along the
landing of Havana there. are stone
walls, and, at intervals. steps run
ming into the narrow streets, graded
by full blooded thirsty Spaniards,
with carbine, sword and enormous
spurs. In the rear of the city Is
Castle Cora" where Captain Kidd
and Miss Cora used to rendezvous or
hide from the Captain General of the
island of Cuba.
When Commodore Shubrick was
in command of the West Indies or
Home Squadron, he demanded of
the Captain.G General of Cuba the re-
lease Of all the Americans confined
In their castles, dungeons, prisons
and chain.g gangs. The Governor
paid no attention to the demand
A second notice of the Commodore
threatened with dose of hot
shot, or a broadside of iron, to blow
down all the church steeples, and
other fine buildings, including the
Governors headquarters. Old sail.
Ors who had been in the West Indies
or Home Station for years say the
castles belched forth sixty-o d
Americons--some confined there fol
over twenty years. Old and gray
headed men were released. God only
knows how many Americans had
died In these castles and prisons, ol
were garroted for very trifling Of
fences.
Havana Is right on the Gulf Stream
which runs at the rate of Al knots