The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-26

unhBsi +ihr Ilort5 tnntl ~ gave Protection.
"Aecidcnts" are frequent along this line
..---obstructiona placed on the track,
bombs thrown upon the train. shots
1red through the cars N " previous
Journey over the saflic road--Rhen
bound Tor q sugar plantation forty miller,
beyond Cardenus sled me to believe The
insertion or my Cuban, friends that I
am q "mascotteH This day before. an
exploding bomb killed one passenger
ana injured several; on the dny OF my
return Train on another branch OF the
ROAD was wrecked. and the ,lnyyafter
three passenger cars were pitched down
into an arroyo. Every train that passes
this way has Its strong guard OF soldlera
In an Iron clad car attnched--a cattle
car covered with Iron plates ngwhlch
are loop-holes for guns-each soldier
standing at HIS gun, ready for instant
action. On the day OF our Journey 10
Matanzas, burning cane fields on elther
Side told that the Insurgents were moi
Inactive nor far away. AT oneItimo wi,
counted seven fires within the range OF
vision. But wo were also insured tina,
the rebels. whose secret sympathizers
are In every house throughout the lnnd,
are all posted In all that IL going on;
ana that The presence OF. 50 many Amer.
leans Uheir supposed frlends) rendered
the train safe from attack. On the
other hand, II was asserted that the
greatest danger would come from Span
18Th treachery, that soldiers In the forts
might have orders 10 fire on the hated
Aincricans-cspecially ae outspoken
senator Gallingcr was ot the party
and the action afterwards attributed 10
inc insurgents. az so many Spanish
atrocities have been. But nothing hap-
pcned. In perfect safety we pursued
tho even tenor OF our way and arrived In
due time at Matanzas. The ladies' of
the congressional party did not Venture
to make the trip. There were Senators
Money, Gallinger and Smith, Represent
tatiVe Amos q. Cummings, Editor
'Klopsch, OF the Christian Herald-he
who has agreed 10 furnish the magnIIi-
cent sum OF $4,000 d. month for six
months to the Red Cross society from
the Christian Endeavorcrs OF the United
states: besides several secretaries, two
photographers aud the usual contingent
Of reporters: the Red Cross party In.
Guiding Miss Barton. five members of
her stan, and her humble friend, your
correspondents. =. =
Matanzas Is one OF the Oldest and
quaintest cities of Cuba, and before the
war was one OF the wealthlest. but Is
now most woefu,ly down at the heel
-Four centuries ago populous Indian
village, named Yucayo, occupied Sthc
same delightful situation-between two
rivers. with n broad bay In front as
blue as the sky above II, envlroned by
green hills in the form OF an amphi.
theatre. History tells US how in 1868.
Don Manzaneda purchased one hundred
and fifty acres OF land from King Car
los II, including the then deserted Yucca
yo. whose original Inhabitants had
long since been killed or euslaved by
the thrifty Spaniards. The new owner
Immediately settled thereon a colony
OF Canary Islarders-which perhaps &C.
counts for the peculiar yellowish-
brown complexion OF the Inhabitants OF
to-day. The founding of Matanzas was
completed with an expedition unique In
Cuban affairs and worthy OF the build
ers OF Chicago. The Canary, colonists ar
rived on q Saturday afternoon In Octo-
Der. The next morning Bishop Com
pospilla, assembled them and with mass
and ceremony solemnly changed the
heather name of the place to 'San Car
los Y San Seyerino." On Monday, the
third day, the corner stone OF the ca
thedral was laid and the site marked
out fora castle and fortress-the ruins
OF which still remain. The colonlsts
were afterwards given considerable
space in the adjacent Yumuri valley for
q cattle range. and for many years de-
voted themselves to the raising OF cat
tie for beef. Hence. in time. The place
became known as "El Metanzas
de San sy Observation-Disclosures,
meaning slaughter pen; but the name
being too long for everyday use for
lazy eople.seven.eighth OF 1t was soon
omitted. The growing city eventually
climbed up the hillside and stepped over
the rivers San. Juan and Yumuri, which
are supposed 10 bound 1t on the north
and south. That portion OF the city
now lying south of San Juan,
known as Pueblo Nuevo, New
Town, Is connected by several
handsome stone bridges. among
them the notable Puente Beiem, and
contains the railway depots and many
handsome villas in the outskirts. II has
also one OF the handsomest streets In
all Cuba. the CalZada (Avenue) de San
Estedan, lined with imposing residences.
all OF which have piliared fronts and
porticos, and flower-filled gardens sur
rounded by iron ratings with tall stone
pillars topped by urns. Porticos and ter
races are paved with mosaic OF black
and white marble. or blue and yellow
tiles:} and the colors and combinations,
styles OF architecture and Ornamental
lions that in our country would be
pronounced Saudy, hero tone In perfect
harmony with the bright sun and blue
sky. MatanZas' central square, the
Plaza d'Armas. Is laid ont with the
usual walks and shrubbery, benches and
gas posts, and has \ fine statue OF Fer
dlnand VII. In the center. In this plaza
IN times past many patriots have met
death by order OF. the government.
Here Gabriel Conception de Ia Valdez,
the celebrated mulatto poet and one OF
the roblest men Cuba ever produced.
was shot hy soldiers OF the line. He
was accused OF completely with the
slave insurrectlon OF 1914. when the
blacks made desperate effort to gain
their freedom. Grouped around the
Plaza dArmas are the several govern
ment Offices. the residences OF the
Bishop, the Commandante, and others
high in authority also the finest shops
and cafes.
The northern portion OF Matanzas.
that lying beyond the Yumurl river.
Is called Versailles and reaches half
way up the Cumbre hills. From the