davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16
ABOUT PUERTO RICO AND SAN JUAN
West Indian Spanish Cities Bckaded and Otherwise, 7ha
Are Now the Cynosure of All Eyes--Ha Bahia
Honda, Matanzas and Santiago de Cuba,

Ranking among the foremost seaports
and commercial marts of the world Ha-
vana, the capital and great maritime
city of Cuba, lies on the west side of a
beautiful bay of the gulf of Mexico.
Havana is upon the northwest coast of
the island, almost due south and 30
miles distant from Key West. The
number of its inhabitants, owing to the
peculiar mode of census taking in its
colonies by the Spanish government, is
not definitely known. but probably it
comprises 800, 600 people, white and
black. The city stands on sort Of pen
insula formed on one side by the bay
and on the other by the waters of the
gulf of Mexico.
Within the past two years Spain has
squandered vast sums ON what il con.
siders the strengthening of Havanas
Notifications, but in spite of all that
the town is in no position to repel any
serious attack by land or sea- Havana's
defenses facing the sea may be divided
into two parts, those at the entrance of
and in the harbor and those which have
been recently put up along the coast
east and west of the mouth of the har-
Dor. The most widely known of all
Havana's forts is the celebrated MORO
Castle at the western entrance of the
port century or more ago its ire
mendous bastions, bristling with the
heaviest and deadliest artillery of the
age, babe defiance TO all the navies of
the world. Today the once terrible
MORO is used as a prison and is practi-
cally worthless for defense of the city.
On the eastern shore of the harbor rise
the walls of the fortress known as La
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16

has been built up with great establish
ments and palatial residences fronting
on a newly laid park, or boulevard, "
as it is called. This is the celebrated
Prado.
There is an old town and new town,
the former inside the ancient limits,
with its excessively narrow, badly
paved, dirty and vile smelling streets,
always densely thronged in the morn
ing, the latter pervaded all day by an
aristocratio stiffness, but blossoming
forth wonderfully after nightfall. Here
is the Paseo de Isabel, the finest thor
oughfare in Havana, crossing the city
from end to end, fianked by fine houses,
with double row of trees and spacious
carriageways and many fountains and
statues. The Paseo de Tacon, laid out
in the same way, forms a continuation
of this drive and leads TO the Botanical
garden. The governor generals palace
is in this paseo, where the captain gen.
eral and his staff have an office for the
transaction of public business, as we'll
as their residence.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16

iards have been there are dozens Of
them. By the way, the harsh sounding
word which we say for Cuba is not at
all that which the discoverer bestowed
upon the largest island of the Antilles,
but should be pronounced as if spelled
Koo- bah.
Historically Santiago de Cuba is
memorable mainly for the French occu-
patton and ransom in 1868, and the
affair of the Virginius, which occurred
just 20 years ago and resulted in the
Spanish governments paying an indem-
nifty to the United States for the muir
der of Captain Fry and his companions.
Santiago has also been the seat OF most
of Cuba s modern rebellions against the
arbitrary and bitterly oppressive rule
of the home government, and long
line of patriots, shot on the ramparts
of MORO Castle. oyerbanging the har.
Dor, have furnished food for sharks.
In the harbor of Santiago de Cuba
lies the wreck of the old ST. Paul, one
of the ships Of the Spanish armada,
which Philip III sent to En- Gland in the
year 1888. Ii was one of tho lew of that
famous ilotilla which ESCAPED destruc-
ton at the time in tremendous gale
that tore the armada to pieces. After
cbeckered career, in which the st Paul
breasted the waves OF innumerable seas
and withstood the storm Of three GEN.
turtles, she was sent over tn perform
some government service for the Span
ish colonies In America. Being caught
In hurricane somewhere off the coast
of South Carolina, she was driven far
southwark and finally put in at Santiago
IN great distress. Eere she was run
ashore, and for many years afterward
figured as "a guardship, looking as trim
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16

The street Ia which the American con-
sui lived before his withdrawal-one Of
the principal thoroughfares-is not
passable at all for vehicles, nor for
horsemen after dark, and to walk
through it at any time is almost at the
risk of ones neck. Most of the streets
are lined with cement sidewalks from
10 to 10 inches wide, but some of them
have no sidewalks, and pedestrians are
obliged to take the road, where naked
children are always playing in the
streams of offensive water that percolate
through the broken stones. 1t is no
wonder that this city has the reputation
of being the most unhealthy place in
Cuba. Hemmed in by mountains, with
all this filth fostering in the sun, the
surprise is not that yellow fever makes
an annual visit and carries off many
victims, but that it does not remain the
year around. When the rains descend,
these almost perpendicular alleys are
sometimes flied with torrents of such
impetuosity that no one can cross them
on foot, and even horsemen hesitate to
climb them. The city might easily
have an inexhaustible supply of pure
cold water if only there were sufficient
enterprise among the citizens to cause
it to be brought in pipes from the neigh
boring heights. But Santiago remains
wretchedly deficient in this respect,
though there is much suffering and i'll
health from lack of this prime necessity.
Referring to the name by which the
ancient city is known, it should be said
that San Jago. San Diego, Santiago, are
really the same name, rendered James
in our language, and wherever the Span.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16

the province bearing its own name. The
city is situated OH the side of hill 100
feet above the bay. The streets are bad
and many Of them are very steep, but
all are lighted at night by gas and are
lined with we'll built stone houses. The
city is supplied with bad water through
an aqueduct, and as it is shut in from
the northern breezes by mountains the
suffocating heat and the miasmatic
effiuvia from adjacent marshes render
it the most unhealthful abode in the
Antilles. The harbor. although one of
the best in America. is difficult Of ac-
cess, owing 20 the narrowness Of the
entrance. 1t is defended by four forts.
West of the city, 10 miles distant, are
the extensive copper mines of FL Cabre.
which export annually more than 20,
600 tons. The other exports are coffee.
sugar AID mciasses. The port, four
milos in Length, is well sheltered anG
is deep enough for ships of the line.
Santiago de Cuba is connected by rail
and telegraph with the principal towns
OH the island. Tho city's population is
$4,000.
The hills which inclose Santiago on
three sides rising rapidly from the bay
to mountains OF great height and beauty,
are lovely to look upon and afford ex-
cellent drainage TO the city. Starting
at the shore, the narrow streets run
steeply mp tho hillsides $50 feet or more,
and appear TO have never been repaired
since the days of velasquez, the found
er of the city. Tropical rains have
washed great cutters down them, in
some places three or four feet deep, and
the traffic Of nearly 400 years has up.
rooted the original cobblestones and
worn dangerous pitfalls and mantraps.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16
on both sides OF the river. The houses

. ON both sides OF the river. The houses
are substantially built. mostly Of stone.
but with an entire absence OF ARCHITECT
tural beauty. For defense tho castle of
San Severino and several land batteries
are relied on. For commercial impor-
lance Matanzas ranks next TO Havana,
and il is connected by railways with
Havana. Cardenas and other principal
towns ON the island.
Prior 20 the outbreak OF the last rev.
olution in Cuba Matanzas had popula-
ton of so 900. but this in the suburbs
has been largely increased by the hud-
ding there OF helpless paci1oos driven
In from the rural districts by General
Weyler's oldiers TO starve.
The valley of the Yumuri, one of the
most beautiful in the world. may be
seen from the decks of ships coming into
the bay of Matanzas. Then it appears
as a long, deep cut between two ridges
of hills, but its full beauty and rich
ness are not apparent till the valley is
seen from above. The ridge by the val
ley is a favorte point OF observation for
sightseers. The climb up the hill to
the church which the devout Galatians
have erected for votive offerings to the
Virgin of Monserrat is toilsome one.
The height once reached, magnificent
panorama below unfolds itself.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16

with Havana and Matanzas in one d.
rection and with Gucaro in the opposite
direction. Several lines of steamers ply
to various other points At time short.
ly prior to the recent opening of hostili.
ties between the United States and
Spain large proportion of the mercan-
tile community in Cardenas was Amer
lean. To its enterprise the city main
ly owed its Importance, and so general
ly has this been acknowledged that
common name for the place has long
been the American city," The chief
exports are sugar, moiasses and coffee.
Before the outbreak of the latest Cuban
revolution 10, 600 boxes of sugar were
on an average furnished annually from
single one of the surrounding planta-
tions.
Bahia Honda deep Bay) is harbor
OF Cuba on the north coast OF the island,
60 miles west southwest of Havana It's
deep, landlccked waters afford an ex-
cellent harbor, but from its situation in
respect TO the commercial productions
Of Cuba and its advantages over Havana
for trade with Europe and the United
States the city has not attained great
proportion. The facilities for landing
flibustering expeditions there and sup
plies for the insurgents have compelled
the Spaniards to maintain vigilant
patrol before Bahia Honda, and now in
the present war the United States ships
keep careful watch Of that harbor dur
ing the blockade Ct the Cuban ports.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16

I've Notifications that co,,o.
form the castle. as the Spaniards ' 10y
all their big forts, although this has a u ~
tie OF the appearance that is COMMIT ra ut
supposed to belong to castle. II,
town--a city--of forts and ba,ta.a
all built Of stone, rising one abova ~
other, crowding and jostling each o au'
or. When 1t was built, it must bar. '
been nearly impregnable, and even n nase
although modern guns would soon y.
duce the stone works, the place ooa,, ~,
in few days, from its commsnS Sa'u
situation and other natural adyantaaaEs
be made stronghold.
The town lies on a rocky penipsr,.
shaped like the narrow end of n lOna
curved squash. This peninsula is an =
land, IN fact. being separated from -. IS
mainland by an insignificant inlet fa,
miles down the coast. In front ~ ~.
peninsula is the sea. behind il tho h" .o
Dor. The land rises somewhat abruntIr
to height of perhaps 400 or $50 foe;
On the seaward slope are the fort;eoa
tions, ON the harbor slope is the citr
On the slope toward the harbor so small
space is left that the houses are cro,rd
ed together and are in general tallor
than West Indian houses. In addition
to the castle. or perhaps as part of tbo,
great wall was bpiIt
around the city. which is kept in such
good order that it is as perfect TODAY as
1t was century ago. The city, howev.
er, has outgrown the wall and MANY
buildings are now outside.
San Juan has about 30, 600 inbabit.
ants and its commerce is large. Ii is tho
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16

Cabana. They run from the southern
sally port of the MORO to the village of
Casa Blanca in an unbroken palisade of
gray and white stone, enlivened here
and there with spatters of brilliant red.
There are newly made sand batteries
along the western and eastern shores of
the bay and TO the passage from the
outer sea. Most of the guns in the Span
ish Notifications are of antiquated mod.
ell, the old smoothbore PARROT guns be.
ing large element in the armament.
There are, however, considerable
number of heavy Krupp guns of ap-
proved model, which in the hands of
good gunners might give trouble TO an
attacking feet, but as most of these
guns are mounted en- barbette. with no
protection 10 gun or gunner, a well
directed fire from the vessels would soon
render them useless. The value Of the
Spaniards' zines and torpedoes with
which the harbor is supposed TO be fill.
ed will probably soon be thoroughly
tested.
Under the present blockade by United
States vessels commerce is of course at
an end in this great port. Within the
city the usual. gayeties prevail among
the wealthy Spanish population and
the civil and military officers, while
Spanish soldiers are on short rations
and pacificos in the suburbs are starv-
ing. There is much of magnificence as
of squalor in this great city that soon
may be shattered by bombardment.
Though some portions of Havana make
you think that the world has gone back
q few hundred years, the city of today
has n surprising air of newness. All
that extensive space which until re-
GENTLY was occupied by the cid walls
umusSzJI $500 tn .Ess
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16

best kent and cleanest city have seen
in any Spanish country. 1t has not the
wealth or the grandeur Of Havana, but
it is in much better order. The streets
are broader than ia the old parts of Ha-
vana, there is good system Of sewer.
age aad plenty Of lights, both gas and
electric There are rood broad sidewalks
and well paved rcadwuys The houses
are mostly Of brick or stone, cemented
OH the outside, and this cement is kept
in seed repair and well painted or
whitewashed Rainwater is used ex.
clusively, caught from the roofs ard
stored IN stone tanks This is the grand
city a Puerto Rioo. and the Puerto RI.
cans arc justly proud q It, rarely call.
ing &c by us rame BIZ; speaking of is
alvavs as THE city or "el CAPITAL
In Gau Juan ara Puer5o Rico gener.
ally che finds 2 climate where the timer
n.cGeier never taas Below 80 degrees
Snd se.@crn riseC above so Owing 90 ia
favorable position hurricanes do nCE
disturb Puerto Rico; earthquakes ats
unknown here; snakes and other venom
ors creatures axe "a scarce as in l. lana
and there are pleuty of places in the
highlands where yellow fever aud kin.
drtd diseases Cannot eCgGe. Though
Puerto Rico IS populated 60 the number
OF 500, C00-mainly by an educated class
ct Spaniards, with mixture of creoles,
Germans, French, Danes, Swedes and
Russians, and q modicum of Chinese,
Canary islanders and Chuetas, or de-
scendants of the Moorish Jews from
Majorca-there is plenty of room for
more, and, unlike most of the islands,
there are good many more white citi-
zens than black ones.
The official society of San Juan is
headed by his excellency the captain
general, appointed by the Spanish crown
to govern the island, and his assistants,
the junta of military officers, who are
also crown appointees The captain gen.
eral is president of the royal audiencia,
or assembly, and the memb ers of the
cortes are drawn from the seven colonies
into which the island is divided-one
representative for SO many hundred in
habitants. There normally are 1866
regular troops garrisoned in the MORO,
besides reserve militia.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16
SAN JUAN IN PUERTO RICO.
1t Is the Principal City of the Island and
Is Well Defended.

it Is the Principal City of the Island and
Is Well Defended.
Favored III some respects above all
other islands of the Greater Antilles is
Puerto Rico. the smallest and most
easterly Of the group. 1t is separated
from Santo Domingo on the west by the
Mona passage, in which lies the island
OF Mona, and from the Virgin islands
on the east by the Virgin passage, In
which are Vieque and Culebra islands.
In shape the island is nearly rectan
gle, the length of which east and west
is 20 miles and the breadth north and
south about 36 miles. 1t lies wholly
within the tropics, and its area, includ-
ing its dependencies. the three islands
named, is 3, $50 square miles. It's coasts
are generally regular, but there are
many bays and inlets, and the north
coast contains many navigable lagoons.
While the capital, Ponce, is the lar.
gest city of the island, San Juan is
the principal seaport, and special in.
terest attaches to this celebrated harbor
today in the desire of Spain to hold il
and OF the United States to obtain it as
q base of naval supplies, for it is the
gateway into Puerto Rico.
AS seen from the sea San Juan con.
sists almost entirely of series of mass
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16
cARoENAs AND BAHIA HONDA
Two Ports That Are Much Talked About
In These Days.

Two Ports That Are Much Talked About
In These Days.
Situated IA one of the finest sugar
Producing districts in the West Indies
aud 1903 miles east Of Havana ia the
maritime city of Cardenas. Although
comparatively modern town. having
been founded in 1928. il has grcwn SO
rapidly as to be at present one of the
principal commercial centers of the
island 1t is the capital o. the civil dis
trict of its own name in the western
department. and il has population of
about IL, 900, comprising ZOO whites
and 2, 800 negroes. The streets OF Car
denas are broad, regularly laid cut and
lighted with gas. A spacious square in
the center is embellished with bronze
statue of Columbus. and the city's
houses, number of which have two
stories, are neat, well built and solid.
The port, protected by a neck of land
stretching northwest of the city, though
shallow, is commodious and is much fire.
quented by shipping The loading of
vessels is much facilitated by number
of good wharfs extending for the most
part long distance from the shore.
Cardenas is the headquarters of the
military district. 1t is connected by rail
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16
THE PORT OF MATANZAS.

Its Forts Were Recently Reduced by the
United States Fleet.
Fifty-two miles east of Havana, at the
mouth of the San Juan river, lies the
seaport city Matanzas, whose fortifica-
tions were so rudely battered by three
ships Of Admiral Simpsons blockading
feet a short time ago. The harbor is
spacious, easy Of access and we'll shell.
tered except to the northeast, from
which quarter heavy swell sometimes
rolls in. The surrounding country CON-
prises the richest part Of the island,
being covered with magnificent sugar
estates. The climate though hot is salu-
brious. Matanzas is situated ON O fat
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16
SANTIAGO DE CUBA.

Once the Capital of Cuba and Still One of
Its Great Cities.
At the head of fine bayou, formed
by the widening of the Santiago river
at its mouth OIL the southeast coast of
Cuba, lies the city of Santiago de Cuba.
the second town in political rank and
the third in commercial Importance in
the island. It was in early times the
capital of Cuba, and it is still the cap
ital of the eastern department and of
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16

ns sver, until. not long ago. some van
dai SIT fire to her and she was burned
to the waters edge. Now she is par
TALLY visible only at low tide, her ribs
and stanchions still held together by
the stout keel timbers and lower sheath
ing.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-16
THE CITY OF ClENFUEGos.

1t Is beautiful Spot and Is Defended
by Fort.
On the south side of the island of
Cuba, 1870 miles southeast of Havana,
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-20
Mining Notes and Personals.

The Grand Central ha sanother four-car
lot of good ore on the market.
The Mammoth was in the market yes
terday with eight cars of crude ore and
big lot of concentrates.
The Treasure Hill. at Silver City, has
two carloads of ore on the road to the
sampler, and it is reported that the mine
Is IN most promising condition.
The poles are being set for the electric
power line between Mercur and the Chic
ride Point mill, and it cannot be long
now before the plant is started up.
r. E. McConaughy, secretary of the
Sacramento. has returned from a visit
10 the mine, which, he states, is looking
way up in C. with mountains of good
milling ore in sight.
Joseph Crismon write from the Utah,
at Fish Springs. that a shipment of %
tons of ore has just been sent from the
mine that will carry average values of 400
ounces, in silver to the ton.
1t is understood that a new gold saver,
in the operation of which electricity is
employed, is soon to be tried on a gold
bar on Snake river. in Idaho, the prop
erty of j. 3. Cries of this city.
The Picnic Mining company, operating
in Silver City, has awarded the Utah q
Montana Machinery company the con-
tract for its steam hoist, which is to have
a capacity for sinking 1000 feet, and
which is 10 be duplicate of the South
Swansea plant.
The new board of directors of the Ga
lena. Mining company held meeting yes
terday and organized by the election of
officers as follows: II. 5. Joseph, presi-
dent and manager; H. L. Spencer, vice
president; Josiah Barnett, treasurer, and
Samuel ]. Paul, secretary.
The report was in general circulation
yesterday that the directors of the Nam
moth company had held a meeting on
Wednesday of this week and declared the
regular dividend for this month, which
report the secretary of the company re-
fused to either deny or affirm yesterday,
when approached on the subject The
regular day for the posting of the regular
dividend is on the 10Th of the month, and
the action of the company in the matter
will therefore be made known today, and
it is safe to say that the usual dividend
will be forthcoming.
Boise Statesman: A deal was consum-
mated IN this city yesterday in which
Charles Z. Taylor of Salt Lake disposed
mine in Dixie in Elmore county, and all
other claims in which he was a partner
with Dan Reber The price is not made
public. nor is the purchaser announced.
An important strike has recently been
made in the mine. Persons who are in a
position to know say that the discovery
is highly important, and marks the mine
as one of great value. Before the strike
the property was well thought Of There
is a large body of comparatively low
grade ore developed. A mill has been
cyanide process has been introduced, af-
ter thorough tests made at the exper-
mental works in Denver. The result of
these tests indicate that there is no doubt
that the process will be an entire success
in treating the ore.