The Worcester spy., 1898-11-06
QUAINT, QUIET sARAcoA.
An Old Cuban Town With an Interes sting
History.

(From the New York Tribune)
Baraeoa, the most, eastern port of the
newly acquired American possessions
in Cuba, presents phases in history
more unique than those of it's sister
towns. The site was discovered byCol-
umbus in 1901, and the Spanish dwell
ers, in true Alhambrio tale-telling style,
point out a crumbf1ng ruin in a prom
inent part of the town. as the founda-
tion of a building erected by Columbus.
He saw here harbor safe from storms
and one favorably situated for ship re-
pairs. The discoverer, however, was
not privileged to utilize it, scarce even
to publish it's advantages to the civiliz-
ed world, as soon after his visit his
career was cut short by the cruel hand
of the nation which he had served.
Eleven years afterward Velasquez took
possession of the town. Several houses
said to have bsen erected by him yet re-
main.
Later Baracoa served Cortez as a
hating place for ship repairs and for
recruits, when arranging his descent
| on the AZtecs. 1t next became famous
in history as "a rendezvous for pirates.
1t easily commanded the marine high
way between Mexico and Spain; the
| abrupt heights Immediately back of
| the bay offered excellent watch
ground, and the coral caves that flank
ed the shore afforded safe storage for
plumber Civilization put these mar
auders to flight. Baracoa then as
sumed and has since maintained an air
Of responsibility, serving little pur-
poses in the active world except as a
safe port for storm tossed vessels.
About 65 years ago NJ Salett a
I IL
| recognizing it as the natural port of
the richest banana district in Cuba,
| freighted "a small schooner with five
| hundred lunches of the fruit. This
was the beginning of the largest ban
ana, trade of later gears between that
port and New York.
| Another and still more novel chap
| ter in history is now opening for the
time-worn town. 1t has been rediscov-
cred. Perhaps it will figure as q, Win
| ter resort, after modern conveniences
are introduced, so that comfort and lux
ury may abound in the strangely old
and picturesque city.
The inhabintants are of the varied
types common to Cuban towns, and
number upward of six thousand. This
fact makes itself manifest only on fete
days, so quiet and dreamy is daily ex-
istence The town is built on coral
| palisades about thirty feet in heignS,
though a portion of it, little else than
a streak of roofs, nestles at their base
Communication between the two towns
is by means of steps roughly hewn in
the coral formation, and used alike by
man and beast The dwelling are
mainly of one story, with fortress-like
walls of erout roofs of red. fiuted tiles,
and with windows covered with fancy
iron gratings. The streets are narrow
generally unpaved, save for few
worn down stepping stones, and are
shadeless. The bautiful gardens Of
which the inhabitants boast are either
inclosed by high walls or else occupy
the hollow square around winch some
of the houses are built.
Some of the palisades caves which ex-
tend into the bay have been fashioned
into bath houses, steps, doors and seats
having been hewn in the coral or made
Of rustic woodwork. A bath here is
ideal. especially if taken In the early
morning under the influence of q soft
atnosnhere. which never fails to inspire
one with a. sense of peace and happi-
naes The music of the wavelets lap
nine at the base of the fairy-like struc-
t,Ire the iridescent tints reflected by
tha snarlling water TO every. chink and
granny of the fanciful wallis the seduc-
five Influence of the water tempered
Nv tropical heat, all tend to dispel dull
care and transport the bather to ely
sian fields.
Directly back of the town croWning
on almost perpendicular ledge about
two hunderd feet in height ana seem.
inpa finish to the natural ledge forma-
lion is the old Spanish fort, used of
late wears as a hospital.