The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-12-29
LETTER FROM CUBA.
Col, T. E. Matson Writes In.
terestingly to Dr.. Walter
!. Miller.
TRINIDAD, CUBA, Dec. 16, 1893.

TRINIDAD, CUBA, Dec. 16, 1893.
After an uneventful trip from Knox.
vile to Savannah, we boarded tn
transport Manitoba on December list,
and sailed away for sunny Cuba. Thi.
was an eventful day for many OF tn
men. Fully 80 per cent. Of them had
never seen the ocean and fully 81 pc
cent. had never been on board a vessel +.
We were towed out to Q by a it'll
tug, the band playing the Star Span
glod Banner; the crowds on the whar
cheering us to the echo, and waving
hundreds of flags. 1t was an impress
i've sight, and made a deep impression
On many of nj men. They realized
at last, that tley were cut off from THEN
home and friends, with hundreds OF
miles of water separating them, sepa-
rating many forever. No running the
guard line now. No little trip of thir-
ty or forty, or fifty miles into the
mountains to see pa and ma, sister and
sweetheart or wife. No, this is all over
for many a day.
We sailed Southeast, passing close to
the Island Of San Salvador, and taking
the windward passage for the eastern
point of Cuba. On Sunday morning
we rounded the point and sailed west
ward along the southern coast. From
the sea the country looked barren,
rough and broken, with mountains ris.
ing two or three thousand feet above
the sea. About noon, we sighted the
harbor entrance to Santiago. The re
mains of the Merimac were still in the
channel, likewise some Spanish vessels
Old Moro Castle, or rather what sii
left of it, was frowning down on them
All was IS quiet as the grave. W.
also passed where the first American
troops landed, and the flag first raised
on the Island. Judging from the to
Biography, our men must have had 6
| difficult time Of it. In my opinion, ont
hundred good men could have held i
against q thousand Of a landing party
As we proceeded westward we had 9
view Of three other Spanish vessels, O
gunboats sunk by u fleet. Unfor
! tunately we passed the point where th,
Christobal Colon was sunk in tn
night, so did not get to see it. Mon
day at 10 o'clock we sighted the Por
of Casilda, the entrance porto the cit,
Of Trinidad, four miles inland. Tn
harbor is surrounded by q number o
low lying islands, four or five miles out
the channel, between these is Difficult
and treacherous. We stood off all do,
signaling for a pilot, but without sue
cess. Toward night quite a storm cam
up-in fact it was the only blow we ha'
on the trip-and the Captain fearing
we might be blown on one of the man,
islands, got up steam, and we saileC
away for Cienfega lighthouse. W.
reached it about midnight, then tn,
ship was turned and headed again 70
Casilda. We reached the point shortl'
after daylight, and in about two hour
O pilot reached us in a little cat boat
Soon we were on our way, had gotten
safely in between the islands and wa
sailing nicely up the bay when sudden
ly there was a thug, a tremor, and
general upsetting Of everything movea
BILE and we were fast on a sandbar. En-
deavors were made to back off, but 0
no avail. We were stuck about two
hours when our hearts were gladene,
by the sight Of q small steamer ap
preaching. She proved to be the steam
er Manteo, in the employ of the Gov
eminent and had been wired to be oil
the lookout for us, and render any as
sistance necessary. In a short tim
she was alongside and endeavored t
pull us off, but was of no avail. Whei
orders we're given for three companies
all the Manteo could carry-to slim
their knapsacks and prepare to land
Our company, A, was the first on boarC
and took the forward lower deck. In