Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-09
"Land-'o!O 4"
a. UyL 0,,

"Where-awayw
1.-TWO points on the starboard bow"
1t was San Juan, or Porto Rico :"
Here we passed through the Mona
Passage" into the Caribbean Sea, and
on to "San Juan del Norte," now
Graytown, Nicaragua, in among the
Caribs. The senoritas" are of a
dark color-long black hair, short
dresses to the knee and barefooted-
looking very enticing for a bite
Here we lost a sailor, Henry Lipner.
He was bitten by "horn snake"
and then struck with its tail. He
lived four days. He had been up
Nicaragua river after fresh water.
We see itstated in different papers
that there are only twelve feet of
water on the bar of San Juan, or
Nicaragua river. The Levant," a
first-class sloop-of-war, drawing 10
feet of water, passed over the bar.
and at that time there was a depth
Of twenty-one feet. So it seems it
has filled up nine feet in 56 years.
Professor Coffin, who was a fine navi-
gator, had his charts laid on deck in
taking the Levant" into port. The
deepest water is next the point or
peninsula, as you round in, and not
to the main land. We sailed so close
to the point that New Orleans bis
cult could be thrown on shore. The
biscuits are made Of -four and beans,
and it takes sledge hammer to
break them, even after being soaked
in warm water two days.
When several miles outside, Cap
tain Fitzhugh ordered the "Jack"
to be run up to the fore truck and a
gun fired for pilot. The pilot was
slow in coming, so we rounded in as
he came alongside.
Captain Fitzhugh asked, &" Where
is the deepest water?' The pilot
pointed to the main land.
Captain Fitzhugh replied, "You
are a id liar. Come aboard and
you will get your pay"
We we're sent to San Juan del
Norte to relieve a captain of New
York brig who was in prison for a
violation of their revenue laws
We were ordered to get out warps to
tow the Leyant" in front of San
Juan del Norte. Captain Ftzhugh
said, "I'll blow their cane houses to
the everlasting if they don't come
to time" The commandant came
on board, and the matter was soon
settled. The captain was released
and Sl7, 900 paid for damages.
Lake Nicaragua is a very short
distance up the river. 1t is sixty or
seventy miles long, and will be part
of the proposed canal.
In November, 1912, we came from
Norfolk by Baltimore to Greenbrier,
and this ended part of our cruise of
three years. Our late friend, Mai.
H. III. Harrison, was, at the same
time, in the West Indies, or Home
Station, on board the U. s. schooner,
"GIampus," of the surveying expe-
dition. He resigned as officer and
became private citizen.
The Levant' was lost with all
bands on board just before the war,
on her way from Yokohama to San
Francisco: The last seen of her was
with hammocks hung up to dry on
both sides, between fore and main
masts. 1t is supposed a squall struck
her very suddenly, and she turned
over.
Cuba, the Pearl of the Antilles"
has been under a monarchical rule
for nearly four hundred years. Now
Is the time for 1t to become an inde-
pendent government. Now is the
blessed time to make Cuba what it
ought to be-one of the United Re-
publics of this Continent. What
says Uncle Sam? Belarquez was
Governor Of Cuba when fernando
Cortez sailed from thence for Mexico,
FEB. 18th, 1879 by way of Yuca-
tan, then on to Vera Cruz i'm April
of the same year.
Cortez, the Conquerer, come to
Cuba when under twenty years Of
age. He was born in 1886. "Christo
Columbo" discovered America In
1892, hence, this would be only 81
years after the discovery. "Cortez
entered the present city of Mexico
Tuesday, Nov. 9Th, 1919. The Aztec
king, Montezuma, came out to meet
.Cortez, las tradition says) on the site
Of the present Hospital de Jesus,
founded by him In commemoration
of this meeting. The aggressions of
Of the Spaniards and their oppres-
sion of the Mexicans soon turned
the Aztecs' friendship into hatred,
and Cortez was driven out of the
city over the Talcopan Causeway,
now called Tacuba, on the night Of
July 1st, 1920. Cortez received re-
Inducements from Cuba and had
another battle and recaptured the
city of Mexico August 18th. 1921
but they found different city than
when the meek Montezuma met
them at the gate. All the treasure