The evening times., 1898-09-01

Baltimore. Sept. 1.-The experience of
entering the harbor of Havana on the
first American merchant vessel TO go
there since the cessation OF hostilities,
is told in letter from Mr.. Henry
Brown, president of the American Tow
ing and Lighterage Company, received
yesterday by Mr.. r. J. Bradford, sec
retary of the company.
The vessel is the bark Maryland for
merly ihe Spanish bark Carlos F. Rosas,
which was made prize during the dock
ada of Cuban ports. Mr.. Brown bought
the craft and her cargo OF jerked beef
and sailed from Key West in her 10 Ha-
vana for the purpose of disposing of the
cargo. He had her name changed 10 the
MARYLAND and Baltimore was given as
her hailing port.
Mr. Browns letter is, in part, as fol-
lows I'VE left Key West Wednesday.
August Il, gayly decorated with bunting,
and the Stars and Stripes from every
masthead. All vessels in port were dying
their flags. cheering and saluting Us b.
dipping their flags and blowing their
whistles as we passed. The warshi9s
and government tugs blew their whistles
and dipped their flags. Even the commo-
| dorc's flagship gave Us signal as we
passed her.
I'VE had a good run over. arriving here
| safe and well the next day, THURSDAY,
August is, being the first vessel HyinS
the Stars and Stripes, named after our
State and haiiing from our CITY, passing
Norro Castle and entering Havana harbor
since the war with Spain. MORO Castle
/ Was crowded with soldiers looking at Us
as we proudly passed by with Old Glory
! nying at our mastheads. j heard that
/ BIanco gave orders when We were report
I I'd outside for the soldiers at the fort not
1 to talk beyond a whisper while We were
/ passing. 1t certainly was very nerNy TO
! come to Havana so soon with former
Spanish vessel and cargo captured by the
| Americans, and to sell the cargo back to
| them again.
we were the first Americans TO walk
| the streets Of Havana since the war with
Spain safe and unmOlested. Our recep-
tion was notable for its kindness. Great
| crowds Of people lined the shores and
| docks, waving their hats and shouting
| Viva Americana We saluted them in
return by dipping our colors. Our frs;
| visit ashore was 10 the British consul. He
| informed US that there is no danger for
| any American in Havana now, but ad-
| yised us not to allow any of our crew
TO come ashore for fear they might get
To drinking and provoke row.
at looks like sunday here and every
lllllS Il lAltl ~ lp''Al' Aa4 l4Si IL 81 '
very glad that the war Is over and to
| see the American flag once more in Ha-
| vana harbor. They informed US that
| provisions were becoming very scarce
| and that they could have held out only
! a month longer. They expected a bonn
| bardment every day and say that il
would have been easy for the American
| forces to have taken Havana, as there
was but little ammunition IN the forts. ]
| informed them that our Government lid
not want to destroy the forts and city
and kill lots Of people, being satisfied
| that Spain would soon surrender. The
! People begged us for newspapers, as they
had but little news. being shut of from
| communication with the outside world
and said that days were months to them.
There is very little disease in Ha-
yana. but much starvation. You should
see the poor children, thin, pale and
| ragged coming out TO us in small boats
with their fathers begging for something
to eat. l have given all applicants
something which they eat eagerly. II
is a sad sight, and we should thank God
that we do not live in such a country.
our battleship Maine Is still lying
here, a complete wreck. There are six
Spanish warships in the harbor. The
Alfonso XII has been disInautled and her
| guns placed on the forts. There are sey-
eral Spanish steamers laid up, and there
is also an Italian man-of-war in the har-
bor Our cargo of beef has been sold al
a fair profit, but it will take about three
weeks to discharge VIII try and get
return cargo from here. Flour is selling
here at $25 4 barrel. / could have bought
300 barrels in Key West at s4.3) a barrel
but was afraid there would be lots OF
foreign ships here with provisions before
| us