The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-12
TRINIDAD DE GU 6A.
valley of the Holy Trinity Is Not Affected
by the War.

From the Detroit Tribune.
Outside of Cuba one hears little about
the valley of Trinidad; yet it is the
very garden spot of the island, not only
for extraordinary beauty, fertility and
perfection OF climate, but as the place,
par excellence. for growing coffee and
sugar. Trinidad City lies at the sea
ward edge of the valley of the same
name. on the south shore of Santa
Clara province. about so miles east Of
Cienfuegos. You may reach it from
Havana, going all the way around by
water, or by rail to Cienfuegos, and
thence by steamer: or, as | did. by rail
to Batabano, the southern port of Ha-
vana province, and then IN a leisurely
cruise of $50 miles among innumerable
bays and islets. 1t any rate, you are
certain to approach the region of the
Holy Trinity by sea. as there is no all
and route from other parts Of the ISL
and. except dangerous trails over rob-
ber-infested mountains.
Quite appropriately, Trinidad has a
trinity of ports, La Boca, on the south
east. where the Tayado river empties
into the sea; the mouth of the Rio
Muse. the Casilda, a small village at
the read of an inlet. The last-named
| port is now generally used. although
Its anchorage is not of the best. the
water being so shallow that all vessels
must be loaded by means of lighters,
n put to sea as quickly as possible
to avoid sticking fast on the sandy
bottom. The landing place. however,
Is lined with wharves and extensive
warehouses, and there Is a handsome
depot for the railway, which runs
north 20 or 30 miles. connecting several
villages and bringing the product of
rich plantations dow for shipment.
Trinidad is one of the oldest towns
In Cuba. founded only a year later
than Santiago. and 10 years after San
to Domingo, the first on the western
hemisphere. Though so little is heard
of II nowadays, the region is not with
out Its stirring and romantic history.
Trinidad bay is the famous battle
ground of three British men-of-war
against the S~paniards under Don Luis
Bassecourt. in which the English were
worsted. after three days Of hard fight
ing. Perhaps the most destructive at
tack on Trinidad City was that of the
English c~orsair, Grant, in 1902.
Through two long centuries it suffered
almost continually from piratical at
lacks, and many bloody traditions are
connected with the place.
Indeed. il is said that the wealthiest
families hereabouts are descendants OF
the old sea robbers, who turned respect
able when piracy went out Of fashion.
They bought land and built casas with
AAtB AH'AN'h aAA N ~ VI
none to the church for a~bsolution. and
became substantial. law-abiding citi-
zens.
Rambling and billy. with antique
casas and pslm-shaded gardens. the
old town cnngs "a the side = Vita
Watch Tower mountain. 90 feet
above the Caribbean. Exposed 10 h1th
and ocean breezes with nsi-
Their excessive heat nor cold from year
to year. its ciimate Is o the most
perfect under the sun. Surely this is
the heart Of that land wherein a. Is al
ways afternoon" Everybody seems 10
sleep Through the hours Of sunshine.
In a long walk AZ midday. through the
town Of $1,000 inhabitants. you meet
only here and there a lazy donkey or
a sleeping dog-noi a human being.
except at rare intervals a barefootei
servant shutting along the shady side
of 2 wall.
The streets Of Trinidad are narrow
as the narrowest in Spanish America.
and mostly unpaved. but extremely
picturesque. with their low-walled.
rough tiled houses and high-sounding
names over the doors As in Havana.
the business streets are a realization
Of Bellamy's dream OF a universal m
brella, because Of an uninterrupted
series of awnings stretched across. at
fording complete shelter from sun and
rain.
In the ~aristocratic quarters the
houses are mostly built of stone. and
some of them are imposing. with
arched entrances and much-be-stuc-
coed facades resembling carved mar
bile. They differ from those in Havana
in not having any dividing walls be-
tween the rooms. only the kitchen and
sleeping apartments being partitioned
To the ceiling. The rest are a series II
aa.a aEgAaa- xraGf hRoh anfffnnG nv
panses affording free circulation of air
and magnificent perspectives Of mar
Bile floors. rich frescoes, mirrored pam
els and tasteful furnishings. one Of
the finest houses in the town. II not IN
the whole island. is owned by an
American citizen. Mr.. Baker by name.
but here rendered senior Bah-quare.
Perhaps the handsomest country
home in the valley is owned by MIR.
Stillwell. a New Highlander. who has
a large plantation and lives like a
prince. The war has not yet affected
this part Of Cuba to any appreciate
extent. Nothing short of Skaters
and SIMPSONS guns can wake the
Trinidadians up to a realizing sense of
the true situation. They talk in a
sleepy way of political troubles in the
island" but as OF something which
does not concern them in their arcad-
ian retreat.
Around the outskirts of the park eN-
tends a broad stone 'paseo." or prom
enade. separated from the main gar
den by a fanciful iron railing, end
from the street by a low stone coping
"a profusion of gas lamps afford h:ii-
liant illumination. and have a beautiful
effect al night amid the dense green
foliage.
The Campo del Matrp is another line.
large plaza at the southeast end OF the
town. with barracks and drill grounds
for the garrison. But the most attrac-
tive resort % the place is what Is
known as the via CwPtch towerl-a
point on the adjacent mountain. which
may be easily reached on horseback.
or ever in 4 Volante. For those who
are good climbers II is the fashionable
thing to go up before breakfast. There
is a rustic road windins under pines
aud Mains naaf SRA w-fhafrhad hnfs-