New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-03
LIFE AT KEY WEST.
FREQUENT COMMUNICATIONS WITH
CUBA-MEN WHO PRIZE POOR
ACCOMMODATIONS.

ACCOMMODATIONS.
Key West. Fla June 2s-The naval officers on
board the ships In this harbor not hopeful OF a
speedy movement against Havana The blockading
feet s be strengthened by or more mon
tors. which will coal from the collier Pompey, of
Cardenas. Two tugs Will keep a lookout about
Cardenas, n revenue cutter VIII patrol the shore
between Bahia Honda and Port Cabanas. one or
more big ships will lie of Havana always and the
others will move along the coast between Havana
and Matanzns. Blockade duty Is dull work: the
officers have fancy names for IT, such as threading
the cinder path
An idea of the equipment Of Gomezs army could
he gained from looking at some Of his of1icers ana
men who were towed into port the other day In n
l.tie sailboat by the tug Uncas which picked them
up of Cardenas. Their boat had been captured
from the Spanards and converted into dispatch
boat. Some Of the men were barefooted some
wore canvas clothes that had been patched with
cloth that did not match and all were hungry
looking, shaggy ard unhcmpt.
MANY CUBAN MESSENGERS.
Hardly a day passes now without the arrival OF
one or more messengers from Cuba The CUBAN
scouts go into Havana. Santiago. Cardehas ana
Matanzas. They slip away from the most care
fully watched and row out TO our ships a
Cuban in Key West who wished 10 send parcei
10 his cousin operating with small band of In
surgents close to Havana City. gave the parcel To-
day TO a Cuban officer who is going TO row ashore
from one of ships at point one hundred mics
east of Havana. and who viii pass 1t on to its
destination. The messenger accepted the parcei
as postman would have taken IT, Probably mes
ssyns could he sent into Havana City II IL were
necessary.
Recently a Cuban lieutenant carrying dispatches
after long waiting key near Cardenas sighted
a small American vessel. rowed out TO her
and asked TO be taken to Commodore Watson. VINO
he said would give him transportation TO Key
West
mo sir YOU can't come aboard How do
know that you not a Spanish spyT the com
nander Of the warshp said. The Lieutenant VINO
spoke English well. expostulated and argued. but
all IN vain He was compelled to row ashore and
walt till the next day. when another warship hove
in sight Her commander knew him and got him
passage to Key West.
MEN FROM THE ARMY OF GOMEZ
The six ENJOYS from Gomez had stuffy little
cabin on their boat. which about fifteen feet
long They had a rude cooking apparatus, in which
they roasted sweet potatoes Their provisions were
bag OF sweet potatoes and a large bottle OF fresh
water that must have got exceedingly warm Oh
their voyage. They had n few sticks OF wool 10
cook with When they arrived here they We're
taken In charge by the local Junta. and quartered
in rooms over FL Polaco Restaurant. where all the
Cuban couriers and spies make their headquarters
while in Key West. The rooms are small ana ho'
and the beds do not look inviting -,
After a man has been sleeping IN the bush
few months his place Witn Whe snec, ems on on he
The Cuban courisrs complain Of me heat here
livery one who has beer in Cuba says tnw
and an Key West for heat
The Christian Commission of the Young Women's
Christian Association has opened headquaIieIss
near the naval stores for the express benefit OF
sailors and marines, and is giving away tracts ana
Testaments. The commissions rooms are pointed
out by large signs but are not thronged with men
from the ships. who find entertainment elsewhere
HOW BLUEJACKETs SPEND THEIR TINE
The well-known fondness of bluejackets when
ashore for all methods Of travel except walking
crops out even here, where the coral roads are
rough and dusty. Riding about In carriages. driven
BY Cubans. is inexpensive and amusing 10 JACK
and bicycle riding Is also lavor.e sP N hire @
the sailors would Undoubtedly turn equestrian5 ana
ga9p about the s ' AN tho
who take great satisfaction In gruny ilstr1cLln5
the boys how the shoes should be polished ana now
The saloons. which bid for the sailors patronaso
York Bcwery. and get good deal OF money out Of
JssE nsh q 1t snf Without to
when it is time TO turn IN or else consider
S Sase Of ,h. Soldiers Monument In triangle OPP
pose the naval stores and sleep on me- she grass Ss the
Erase .nf W siTn'H Is foul i've" With coa dust
gave so much pain to the English correspondents,
We're due % colonel Hun,ngtons marines e:,, VINO
nsmo These marines mad been cooped UP on the
Panther for several months. and then went into a
they used TO go about shouting Remember NE
Maine. and making profane and abusive remarks
about Spain. They were crazy TO be let loose on
the Spaniaris. ana they fought like heroes when
the time came.
HOW JACK INvENTS NEWS
pleasant Characteristic Of the man-o'-wars man
Is his nvariable willingness 10 furnish news to IN
curing reporters. II tip is given 10 him as to the
sort Of matter wanted the response will be prompt
Some exclusive reports OF battles and lombard
men,s printed in the New-York papers were 90,
tained by interviewing the sailors. The o'hcers %
incoming ships generally tell the reporters "hd'
has happened the cruise. but often the voyage
has been 100 uneventful. in which case jealous
reporter can get fake particulars from the iorc-
castle The sailor happy wnen the paper comes
OUT with MS yarn II. and feels FULLY repaid ior
his tioubl@ IN iryenting IL. . .
IL Is doubtful II a single saloon would hnd IL
proA, bic do business In Key West if Obliged 10
denend Oh the patronage of the Cubdns. EX-
MAYOR Nionsaivatgc. who served two terms az
MAYOR when the city larger than ii IS now.
as il he'd then 1900 inhabitants, says that in one
wear only ono Cuban brought before him, ar
Police MAGISTRATE, answer for drunkenness. In
The parts OF the city inhabited entirely by Cuhans
there are no saloons at all. and no policemen arc
reedeh in those parts Of the town, The Key West
Cuban is The most peaceful law-abiding person
tms yinabie.