The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-04-10
MORE FACTS ABOUT CUBA,
The Most Fertile Island i'm the World
The Story gifts Wrongs and OPP
presEiOns.

nv hhoS' lbiuil1 III tnC w ORIG
The Story gifts Wrongs and OPP
pressions.
The island OF Cuba is intersected by
mountains, which extend from east to
west, and diminish in height toward
the western part. The greatest
height of the chain is attained in the
mountain of PIcO Turquino, blue
Peak" which rises to the height of
1870 feet.
The climate is hot and dry during
the greater part of the year. The
months from the beginning of May to
October are called the wet season,
though rain falls during every month
in the year
From November to April the dry
season prevails. Rain often descends
in torrents from July to September.
1t is said hat no snow has ever beep
known to fall on the island, though
frosts occur sometimes in the highest
mountains.
There are Int few rivers in Cuba,
the Cauto bsing.the only one that de.
serves the Importance of being con
sidered q navigable stream. Small
steamers ascend this river for the
distance Of 40 miles. A number of
other rivers, under favorable circum-
Stances, can be navigated for "a dis
lance OF from 10 to 70 miles from their
mouth.
Cuba is probably the most fertile
island in the world. The product OF
its soil, and the wealth created there
by, having filed the Golfers of Spain
and deferred the bankruptcy Of the
monarchy Tor many years. The chief
agricultural products of the island are
coffee, tobacco and sugar. The sugar
estates are the most important indus
trial establishments on the island,
ranging in size from 300 to LOCO acres.
The coffee estates are also very ir-
pCrtant.
Tobacco is Indigenous to Cuba, and
its excellent quality is famous through
out the world. These estates are
scattered throughout the island, but
the most valuable and fertile are stu
ated In the western part.
The history OF Cuba is merely q re-
cital of ia succession of wrongs, q
tragedy with scarcely q breathing spell
between the acts. Governed by "a face
cruel by nature, and rapacious by in
stl9ct' the Cuoans have probably
suffered more from eXtortion and bar
barlsm from their masters thar any
other people Of modern times.
n sutferings Of the Cubans, and
the intense sympathy Of the people of
the United States, induced President
Polk to propose through the United
States minister at Madrid, the pur-
chase of the island from Spain. but the
proposal resulted in nothing. Ten
years later u similar proposal vas
made, but after a debate on the uucs-
tion In the United States Senate the
I. subject was dropped.
In 8 u the revolt known as the TO-
years war broke out. The iudepen-
dence OF the island was declared by the
insurgents, and a considerable army
was active in the field and gained a
number OF notable successes. After
ten years Of guerrilla warfare, sigma
LIKED by great cruelty, the Madrid
/, government proposed certain reforms
, n the patriots, who we're woSn Out
through sheer WEAKNESS of fEhtinp.
accepted the inevitable. 1t is a mat.
ter OF history, however, that hone of
these promises were kept, and ABOUT
the only change in the administration
CT the affairs of the island was the treb-
ling OF the tax rate and the adoption
OF various schemes of extor lion. From
that time to the beginning of the pres
ent rebellion the condition of the Do
pie continued to grow worse, and much
OF the native population emigrated to
other lands to escape oppression.
The present rebellion was inaugural
oy exiles, who possessed opportunities
to develop plans Of freedom not enjoyed
by Cubans residing in their native
country. They raised the sum OF So
OOO and secured the cooperation of
several veterans of the ~l0.years' war.
The discomfort and suffering of the
people throughout the island were so
general that all that was needed was
to elevate the standard Of liberty, and
willing men gathered around it. With
in a fnt n u NO nffn, 10. t--, -
landed in Santiago dc Cuba several
thousand soldiers hocked to him,
though the Spaniards were close upon
his trail. In the meantime, General
Gomez had gained several successes
In spite OF the superior forces of the
Spaniards, and he resolved to invade
the western portion of the island in
company with Maceo, Their successes
led to the erection OF the famous troch.
as, which were supposed to represent
a dividing line between the territory
controlled by the opposing forces, In
order TO separate and prevent the CO.
operation OF the Cuban forces, but
which do not deter the rebel forces
from going from province to province
at will.
On Feb. 16, 1896, Weyler issued his
Two famous DEGREES of concentration.
BY them every human being of the
country district was compelled to leave
his home, after 1T had been DESTROYED
by the Spanish columns, nd go to one
of the fortified towns under the vigil
ance OF the Spanish soldiery. With !
the homes of the recOncentrados their
cultivated lands were to be devastated
and around the towns where they had
to live not a piece of bread was to be
given to them. In this manner, under
pretext of a military operation, half a
million people, most Of them women
and children, were condemned to die
from hunger.
From the date of those DEGREES until
November, 1897, 300. 600 we're murdered
thus In Cuba. Since November, as o
result of Weyler's sanguinary orders
the number has been increased to 400,
OUO. Previous to the ad vent OF Weyler
the population of Cuba was estimated
at from 900, 900 to 1 ZOO. O00, but at the
present time it Is hardly probable that
more than l 600, 600 native Cubans re-
main. Havana is the capital and base
OF Spanish operations. The Cuban
capital Is Cubitas, in Puerto Principe
province, near which General Gomez
Is Carrying on his most active opera
lions.
a HORRIBLE DISASTE Second in
1tS triUhtfnl rauaUas pp1y IN Tho f,u,>,