The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-05-01
OUR CUBAN COLONY.
KEY WEST, A CITY WITH FEW
AMERICAN INHABITANTS.
It Is Overrun With Refugees From
INC Island, Which Is Less
Than Ninety Mile.
:, Away.

the Island, Which is Less
+ Than Ninety Mile.
:. Away.
y Inc first im1 ression stranger get
, OF Key West at the present time
that the city has gone on perpetua
r holiday spree. Bunting flies from al
most every house top, and the color
are about evenly divided betwee,
"old Glory" and the emblem of tn
CUBAN Republic. People of all classe
and ages wear pins or other symbol
bearing the motto "Cuba Libre," ant
If Uncle Sam would only nod consen
or say nothing at all about it the Is,
Ooo patriotic inhabitants Of this sea
grit isle would skip across the chan
mel and tack tho Queen of the Antilles
to the star-spangled banner without
any more fuss. "Castillo del Moro.
or Moro Castle, is only eishty-seven
miles from the government dock a.
this point, and our swift cruisers
could cover the distance in o little
more than four hours.
The population IS about evenly iii.
ylded between white Cubars, colored
Cnbans and white Bahamians. There
are not more than a score of real
American families resident on the
island, but, Notwithstanding this fact.
the great mass of the people arc loyal
to the Union first, and to Cuba next.
1t is curious, though true, that of all
the houses, dwellings, stores, hotels
and other buildings that dot the island
from one shore to the other, not one
of them has chimney or anything
that will answer the purpose OF Chin
ney. Handsome residences and lowlv
novels are alike in this respect, and
from an eminence, gazing out over
acres OF roofs on all sides, one is at
once struck with the want of some
thing to complete the symmetry of tho
picture. Wood and coal or fuel of
any kind are unknown quantities, as
the tropical atmosphere furnishes ct
all times of the year all the heat re-
CURED. and for cooking purposes sticks
of carbon are used, which are sold by
peddlers who hawk their wares about
the streets.
There are few stores, as We under.
stand such things, and no markets.
Signboards in Spanish will tell you
where a barber shop is located or
where to buy coral ornaments. There
are not more than half q dozen real
stores conducted on the American plan
on the whole island.
Instead of q market there is daily
auction near the Government dock,
where everything in the way of pro-
visions, furniture and fruit is knocked
down to the highest bidder. Bananas.
alligator pears and pireapples are the
commonest articles Of purchase, and
here ships from Jamaica, Cuba and
Nassau in the Bahamas unload their
cargoes and dispose of them at ruin.
Gus rates rather than risk voyage at
this time of year to moro northern
ports. Quick sales and small profits
seems to he the prevailing idea with
them. AS consequence Key West is.
perhaps, the greatest banana and
pineapple market in the world. On
almost any day one con secure an
enormous bunch of bananas. ripe or
green, at from ten cents to fifteen
cents, and can cart away oil the lus-
cious pineapples he cares to purchase
at one. two or three cents each.
Directly opposite the barber docks, |
on the farther side of tho island, and
facing Cuba, is a large dancing payil.
ion called La Brisa, where Monday
and Friday nights and Saturday after
Moons public dances are held. 1t has
large broad verandas overlooking the
sea. which make ideal promenades.
anda commodious dancing hall within,
where those who desire can trip the
light fantastic to their hearts content,
upon the payment of a small fee.
The island of Key West being
strictly of coral foundation, the streets
IRE naturally of the finest macadam
that can be imagined. Long snaky
street cars drawn by pairs of dimiuu.
tive donkeys and differed by Cuban
drivers and conductors form the prin-
,ipal means of carriage, but should
any one desire to reach a certain point
within a reasonable time he had better
rust to his legs rather than to these
antiquated and Glow moving vehicles.
Duval street is the principal
;horoughfare, and q modest frame
building on this street, with hugo
ign in red and blue, bearing the
words, "Club Cubano,' indicates
where the headquarters OF the patri.
its may be found.
There must be at least 5000 refu.
,ees in Key West, combatants
md exiles from their homes, who dare
lot return under the present Spanish {
ule, and who must await the solution
# the war problem one way or the
ther before they can return and re-.
~ mn fhnir ,,oo oorr1 .