San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-14
WENT TO CUBA.
Described the Methods of Keeping a Close
Watch of the Island.


Watch of the Island.
A member Of the LIGHT staff re-
ceived the following letter from a
prominent newspaper correspon.
dent OF Mississippi, now in Key
West, and who left San Antonio in
January for Cuba. Concerning his
experiences, he says:
CARRYING at Galveston 1 took
ship for Key West after having
lost OF all my available funds in
small game which l essayed. The
trip over was uneventful, being
marked only by the uniform alb
sence of all those conveniences
guaranteed by the circulars which
we read in the Alamo plaza park.
We got there about IL o'clock at
night, when 1 landed and seeking
a convenient saloon, passed the
rest Of the night in great comfort.
In the morning l arose and went
upon the highways intending to
offer nv services to the first Cuban
whom | met. Key West in the
early morning is not an inspiring
spectacle. 1t is very ugly and
poverty stricken place at first
sight. The only thing which re-
lievedl the view at all was the
great number of flags which float
at the tops of the houses, al
most every house being deco
rated in this manner. This indi-
cation of patriotism filed me
with much satisfaction inasmuch
as l argued that men would prob
ably be in great demand. l en-
tered into converse with police
man who, learning Of my belliger-
ent intentions, directed me to the
saloon OF one Leon who dispensed
drinks near the custom house. The
gentleman was out when | called
upon him but upon finding him
subsequently he directed me to
the coffee house Of one Zaldivar,
whom l sought.
Senior Zaldivar was a very sad
looking Spaniard. who spoke Eng
lish with great difficulty and who
uOI bCSh W DC az q pa CCCCu
with my disinterestedness in offer
ing several measures OF my blood
to secure the independence Of Cuba.
he informed at last that the last
expedition which was sent out had
been captured through the perfidy
OF Mr.. Sullivan and that he did
not know when another one would
GO; that there were about sixty
men at Key West who had be-
longed to said expedition and who
were waiting to 60 over but had
not yet succeeded. In conclusion
he invited me to rem ain at my
own expense until favorable op.
portunity presented itself. This,
you may we'll imagine, was not at
all satisfactory to me who was at
that time suffering the pangs Of
hunger and in need Of immediate
succor. An inspiration struck me.
L would telegraph for money. Ac-
cordingly / at once wired for the
sum OF seventy-five dollars and re-.
eeived a cattle in reply stating that
the amount have been sent. Armed
with this document l went in unto
the best hostelry in the town and
impaired with the landlord who
consented to allow me to partakt
Of his cheer until the remittance
arrived. Thus comfortably install
ed l was prepared to wait the
embarkation with great patience
Just at this point, allow me to
digress far enough to relieve your
mind OF a mistake which Is very
common in Texas, viz, that any
one can land in Cuba and 60 al
once to the camp Of the insurgents
and begin the slaughter withou
delay. The difficulty which a
present harnesses Cuba ia the ex-
treme uncertainty Of landing ex
petitions and arms. The coast o
the country is carefully patrolle'
by Spanish warships, while ther'
are also several United State
revenue cutters along the Florid