davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

tary district, fits fortifications are from
me Modern standpoint Insignificant.
Its main protection lies in its shallow
waters and long neck OF land stretch
ing northwest from the city. IL Is con-
nected by rail with Matanzas and Ha-
vana and with Yucarro to the east. A
large proportion OF its normal mercan-
tile community are Americans. to whom
the place has mainly owed it's impor-
tance. prosperity and growth, and for
that reason II has been commonly call
ed "the American city" A notable
adornment OF the place is bronze
statue OF Columbus. which stands in the
large public square.
To the eastward another 100 miles is
Sagua la Grande, with a population OF
IL 900. IL is situated at the head OF nav
igation in the river from which IL takes
its name. 1T is railway terminus, but
is of minor Importance commercially.
The harbor is open only to light draft
vessels. and the services OF good pilot
are necessary 10 enter ii.
Stretching along several hundred
miles easterly from Sagua is a coast so
wild that it has always been the chosen
resort of the buccaneer and the filibus-
ter. who alone know how to enter the
numerous small bays. The largest set
Element in that region is NueYitas. gen.
orally called Las Nuevitas del Principe.
which is the port OF entry for the i'm
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14
Naval Flags

In the navy there are seven fags oes-
ignating rank aside from the speciai ono
pertaining to the secretary of the navy.
Next to his is the assistant secretary'ss
an exact counterpart of the former ex.
cept that the colors are reversed
All the remaining flags have blue
field and white stars. the order being.
For admrals, four stars; for vice ad-
mirals. three stars: for rear admirals.
two stars: for commodores, one star IN
center OF blue pennant. The captains
pennant is strip of bunting 10 feet
long, with 13 stars in blue field and .
red and white stripe. Last OF all Is
small triangular pennant with a dead
blue field. denoting the senior officer's
presence in the absence OF the captain
of a ship.
There are seven sizes Of flags used in
the navy, running down from SO feet
TO feet in length. The first five sizes
are designated officially as ship fiagss
and the remaining two are boat flags.
Sizes Nos. l and are now almost obso-
lete. They were intended for the old
wooden frigates. whose sterns stood high
above the water. and would be entirely
unsuitable for the low lying frceboard
OF our cruisers and battleshps.
A vessel in commission always car
ries the national coors at the stern un-
til sundown every night. The flag OK
the commanding officer remains at the
masthead day and night. In going to
and from shore ships small boats carry
the flag OF the senior officer at the fore
when the officer is below the grade OF
captain; otherwise the officers own
colors are used.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

bors. all excellent ports, but all sur
rounded by the wilderness. Some OF
these are Vita, Jururu. Barlay, Naran-
10. Sama, Banes and Nipe, the last
named being large enough TO float a
navy. Beyond the coast is clean, and
behind the reefs are some magnificent
shelters-as. for example, Navas, which
is shaped like a horseshoe, has an aver
age depth OF nine fathoms and is 600
feet wide at the entrance.
At last, about 22 miles from the east
ern extremity of Cuba. there is the fine
harbor OF Baracoa, discovered by CO.
lumbus on his first voyage in 1892.
Above Baracoa rises the curious mesa.
or table mountain. called the Yunque.
visible 40 miles at sea and which has
been a landmark for centuries. Ordi-
narily millions OF bananas and cocoa
nuts are shipped from this place.
The bay is small, but deep and well
sheltered. 1t Is the outlet of a vast
and fertile region and is one of the
ports which have been uninterruptedly
in direct communication with the in
surgents since the outbreak OF the Gu
ban rebellion. The locality is beautiful,
and the climate is healthful.
on the southeastern coast of the is
land is Santiago de Cuba, or st. Jago,
as its inhabitants generally call 1t. for
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

merly the capital and the second city
OF the Pearl of the Antilles in size and
population. 1t is built principally on
hillside 100 feet above the bay and Is
perhaps the most strongly fortified
town in the entire island. Hemmed in
by mountains and with no sanitary
regulations. 1t has aptly been called the
pesthole OF the western hemisphere, for
yellow fever is bred here constantly.
Like Havana. IL has all the other mod
ern accessories OF civilized life Found
ed in 1914 by Diego Velasquez. IL is.
after Baracoa, the oldest town I'm Cuba.
The principal buildings are the cathe-
dral. several churches, a college, hos
pital and numerous converts and
schools. Two railways lead from 1t TO
the north and west. The harbor, said
to be the most beautiful in the world, is
four miles long, well sheltered and deep
enough for ships of the greatest draft.
The bay entrance is narrow, with low
land on the left and a towering hill OF
rock on the right, upon which a MORO
Castle Is built. The rock itself is part
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

mentioned are all OF any signidcance a.
the long Cuban coast line. In the boE1
bardments while the only intention X
10 destroy government property. bu1l0@
ings and residences may be injured, an
In case OF determined resistance = oitX
or town would be shelled and the hotno@
and houses OF sle people shattered au0
crushed II II should be deemed necoor'
sary.
And what are these homes? The
houses OF Havana are typical OF those
throughout the island. though there are
some wooden dwellings and other1s
especially In the interior. like oul mod
erD villas. They are solidly blAlt o.
stone. with very thick walls. often
painted within and without in showy
colors. especially blue. green or yellow
and sometimes in all three. They are
either OF one story and rooted with
tiles or two storied with roof Of SUBJ
stantiai masonry.
Frequently they are surmounted by -
mlrador 0ookout). which affords at the
same time a magnificent view and q
cool and agreeable retreat after sunset
The doors, almost always double, open
directly into the parlor or into a large
gateway guarded by janitor and lead
ing into courtyard. whence a wide
staircase leads to the apartments
above. All the rooms open upon a COW
cred y.eranda which surrounds the
courtyard.
ALBERT p. SOUTEWICK
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

know when they are getting within
long range of the port by the natural
hills near IL called from their shape
''Tetas de Managua," or the "Maiden's
Breasts" If the light on Morro Castle
is burning, IL can be seen 20 miles away,
as the tower, though only 20 feet high,
stands on a bluff as much higher, on
which the historic fortress Is built. 1t
was extinguished at the first approach
of the hated Yankees, but the Span
iards have never been noted for their
liberality TO seamen. and the wonder is
that they have maintained any lights ct
all on the coast.
The small harbor OF San Antonio is
at the extreme western end of the is
land. near the cape of the same name.
There is lighthouse 107 feet high above
1t and a spring OF fresh water, furnish
ing an adequate supply for large fleet.
The interior country there is a part of
the celebrated Pinar del Rio province.
SO long held and so bravely defended by
Maceo.
Guanabacoa. just TO the right OF Ha-
vana. offers some facilities for landing,
but the first city OF Importance is Ma
tanzas, "A miles eastward. and that got
it's first baptism of American fire when
the guns of Point Rubalcava and Point
Maya were silenced and those OF the
two castles. San Severino and Penas
Atlas, Just inside the spacious skull
shaped harbor, were rendered mute by
the guns of SIMPSONS warships. The
city lies ut the apex OF the bay, the
frontal bone OF the watery caput. Pr
lots identify this port by its table top
ped hill called the Pan" or Loaf OF
Matanzas.
The "City OK the Two Rivers" as is Is
designated. is n strongly fortified sea-
port on the San Juan and Yumuri riv-
crs. these streams dividing IL into Ver-
sailles. Matanzas and New City. II has
castle, fine barracks. a hospital thea
ter and the inevitable cock pit. Among
the schools. which are proportionately
more numerous than anywhere else in.
Cuba, is the Empress academy one II
the best educational establishments In
the West Indies. It has long been a
favoritc residence for Americans.
The city contains Jew objects Of inter.
est. The streets are narrow. but fairly
we'll paved. The houses. generally ono
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

out TO the old hulk and broken of
pieces OF wood from the ancient ship as
mementos.
The city, with its population of $4,000,
is a curious mixture of decay and gran
deur. The antiquity is generally on the
outside and therefore most apparent.
On one of the principal streets is an old
stone building, with former handsome
pillars and arches that are now Clipped
and crumbling and a wide entrance
that has been an object of grandeur.
but is now greasy and in filthy condi-
ton. and yet IL is the leading club
house Inside II is OF sparkling beauty
and brilliancy. The floors and walls
are OF colored marble, "a large fountain
in the center cools the air with shower
ing jets of water. shimmering chande-
liers covered with glass pendants hang
from the ceiling and artistic tables Of
bronze and marble stand in the elegant
dining room.
Many residences with shabby extcriors
are lined with expensive marbles within
and are handsomely furnished. A ma
jority OF the houses have heavy tim
bers set deep in the ground to render
them as safe as possible in case OF
earthquake, for the city has had an oc-
casional shake. as the unsteady APP
pearance of some OF the buildings indi-
Gates. Immense sugar plantations are
but few miles from the city.
It was at Santiago de Cuba in Novem-
ber, 1873. that Captain Fry and several
OF the crew and passengers OF the Vir-
ginius were shot TO death by order OF
the authorities. She had been captured
Ivy the Spanish steamer Tornado. and
tho claim was made that she was carry
ing men. supplies and ammunition to
the then fighting Cubans I'm rebellion.
To the northwest OF Santiago de Cuba.
50 miles away. Is Manzanillo. with a
good harbor and a large trade. but no
especial means OF defense. The popula-
ton is about 5000 Trinidad is another
minor seaport on the south shore OF
the province OF Santa Clara. Cienfue-
gos. also in the same province. is a
city from which freight is shipped to-
ward the center OF the island and thence
on TO Havana. IL is located on the bay
of Jagua and possesses a fine harbor.
which is capacious and safe and Is de-
Tended by the fort of Los Angeles. The
city In the most beautiful on the is-
land. The streets are wide and straight.
and many OF the houses are surround
ed by beautiful gardens. Railways con-
meet II with Cardenas and sagua Ia
Grande. The city. founded In 1913, was
named In honor OF the captain general
OF Cuba. II has q large local and ex.
port trade. The Isle OF Pines is utterly
unfortified.
There are several large interior forti-
fed towns. like Santa Clara. Puerto
Principe and San Sg.Ssobal. but those
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

ingly supcrfluous. It's Moro Castle, at
the left of the entrance leading to the
sepicircular harbor, is far-famed-- Di-
rcctly opposite is the Bateria de la Pun
Ia, on q projecting tongue of land called
La Punta. On the same side as MORO
is the grim, forbldding exterior Of the
castle La Cabanas, used for years as a
prison house The fortification is locat-
cd upon abrupt hills. Still farther in
ward Is the Casa Blanca. commanding
the city. and beyond, in regular success
sion around the bay, are seen the forts
Numero Cuatro, Principe. San Lazaro
and Pastora. the tower OF Chorrera and
the fortress Of Santo Domingo. Between
the forts Numero Cuatro and Casa
Blanca stands the small town OF Regla,
with ito vast warehouses built of stone
and corrugated iron. as handsome and
substantial as any i'm the world. and in
which each year has been stored the
greater part OF the islands sugar pre-
oaratory to expectation.
Bahia Honda, meaning deep bay"
Is co miles west southwest of Havana
and the most direct natural objective
point Tor tho landing OF United States
troops from Tampa or the western PEN
insular coast of Florida, as a glance at
the map instantly reveals. There are
numerous large harbors. more than in
hundred harbored Maine" on the
northern shore of Cuba, but the best OF
all ~ that of Bahia Honda, which is safe,
deep and easily entered. Some OF the
bays arc ns large as that of the capital
city. and thcro are many existing in
solitude that are amply large for the
hoating OF feet. All the important
ones arc mined. and IL viii be neces-
gary 90 remove the torpedoes which the
-saat.iards- -hapo sown broadcast In the
harbor beds.
IL Is peculiar fact that nearly every
estuary on the north oaast Of Cuba Is
marked by some distinguishing feature
OF the landscape ny which pilots IA
inilar with the island can enter any Of
ihoin even at night. This IL true Of the
h.i.s adjacent to Bahia Honda. ono of
which is crowned with martello tow
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

OF the castle. and everywhere are cut
galleries, In which soldiers may move
about. These terraces I'm the rock. sur
mounted by tiers OF masonry above.
give the castle the appearance OF being
built i'm many stories. The color effect
lis light yellow, almost cream, except
that down by the sea level. where the
water has worn caverns I'm the rock. the
color Is a dark green.
On a low point opposite is a small
fort. and there are other minor fortih-
cations on every available elevation.
They are many in number. picturesque
ly antiquated and can support each
other In an engagement. but lack the
efficiency of modern guns and up to
date equipment
The bay. wen mined with torpedoes.
widens 10 a considerable size as the city
is approached. and the water is deep,
except at the wharfs.
There may be seen the ribs of an old
ship sticking out OF the mud. all that
is left of the st. Paul, one OF the great
ships Of the Spanish armada OF 1888.
But so years ago she was almost in
tact after an existence of 2K centuries.
Following the dispersal OF the armada
by storm and shot, the st. Paul was
used as a merchantmen and visited va
rious American ports, but principally
Port Royal. Jamaica, which was then
the greatest seaport in the western
hemisphere. Caught in hurricane in
the West Indies. she put in at st. Jago
for repairs. but was so badly injured
that she never left the harbor. For
some years she was used as a magazine
ship and then finally went to pieces.
Visitors from time To time have rowed
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

Monserrat, upon which is the church of
Our Lady OF Monserrat, which over
looks the city, the plains in the direc-
ton of Cardenas to the eastward and
the valley OF the Yumuri to the west
ward. The latter is q celebrated spot
In Cuban scenery.
Under the low hills. just beyond the
limits of New City, the southern SUBJ
urb. are the famous caves of Bellamar,
which, though not of great extent. con-
tain some fine specimens Of stalactites
and stalagmites.
Cardenas. 10S miles east OF Havana.
with a population OF $4,000. is regarded
as the first town that virtually came
into the possession of the United States
forces. It is in one Of the finest sugar
producing sections in the West Indies.
While 1t is the headquarters Of the mill
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

The Defenses of Her Numerous
SeaCOaSt Towns.

or two stories in height, are Of stone.
plastered over and painted in various
brilliant shades. which. combined. with
the absence OF shade trees. causes a
glare in the bright sunlight especially
trying during the heat OF the day.
On the plaza are the Casa de Ayunta-
miento-thc residence OF the governor
the cafes and the clubs. There are two
OF the latter next door TO each other
the Casino, patronized by the Spanish.
and the Liceo, whose membership is
principally Cuban. In the northern sub
urb of Versailles are the military bar
racks, the hospital and the castle OF
San Severino, an ancient fort now used
as a military prison, which is at the end
of long, dusty road called the Ala
media, lined with double row OF stunt
ed trees.
The ground rises rapidly, eliminating
about two miles back in the hill Of
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

Bean fever has been added 60 the HIST
of epidemics like hay fever and rose
fever by a German doctor. who has
christened his discovery "favismus."
His cure for the disease Is to keep eway
from beanflelds.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14
Santiago de Cuba the Most Strongly
Fortified City In the War
Stricken Island.

copyright, 1881
It is surprising how little is known III
this country of the many ports on the
northern shore OF Cuba which either
have already been besieged by the war;
ships of our navy or will In short
time form the targets for some OF our
heaviest marine guns.
or Havana, or Habana, as the Span
iards spell IL. so much has been writ
ten that any further details are SEEM
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

err The port of Cabanas. which was re-
Gently shelled by the ships of SIMPSONS
squadron. Is miles farther east, is an
other easily recognized, and IL miles be-
yond that, nearer Havana, is the splen-
did harbor of Muriel, which is conspic-
uous from its Pan de Muriei," or table
topped hill. Immediately behind IL.
Approaching Havana harbor. sailors
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-14

Great Britain has 2N torpedo boats
and torpedo boat dcstroycrs. Uncle SaU
has only eight. 80 f,ft-f
The times., 1898-02-22
PENSION BILLS PASS. 4.
Gen. Custer's Sister Gets $50
Month.

Gen. Clusters Sister Gets $50 a
Month.
Thirty-nine pension bills were passed
by the House last night. They were as
follows: Margaret Custer Calhoun, sister
of Cen Custer, $50 month John @
Washburn. $50: Louisa Pasquet, Sl2; An
ME SaffeIl. So: Barbara Miller, s12; Nancy
Hallenbauh, S12; p. P. Minor, increase to
$40; Carey II. Russell, increase to $39;
Sarah A. Denny. S25; Mary e. Herd, sf2
Gustavus A Kindblade, $40: George d.
Cook. increase to $50; John f. Hatha-
way, si7; Benjamin f. Moulton, 81; Fran
els Nj, Bruner $40; Victor Beauboucher,
$50; Margaret RowselI, IS; Henry B. Con-
way, 800 Martha Frank, SIS; Esther
Brawn Sl2: Jane L. Flagg. s12;
Rachael Kern, $l2; Eliza Houghton,
SIP: r. A. Browning, $40: John Am
rein. $50; William S. Adams, $50; Eliza
beth Connolly increase to $12, Martha p.
Groves. IS: Hiram II. Palmer. $50; Mat
thew 3. Male. IS: Albert e. Redstone. S.:
Elizabeth NJ Turney S.: Elisha NJ. Luck
EFT. IS, Cora l.. Robinson, SS5 Thomas
Lane, 81: Sarah l.. Daub, s.; r. G. Eng
lish. $s: Colestra Hadley. $40.
A bill was passed granting John A. An
derson the right TO apply for pension,
and the record of Joseph r. Ffndley in
the War Department was corrected and
an honorable discharge ordered.
The times., 1898-02-22
CHURCH AND LABOR UNITE.
A New Organization Is Established
in Georgetown


A branch ef the Church association
for the advancement of the interests of
labor" was organized last evening at
Grace Episcopal Church, Georgetown.
The meeting for organization was call
ed by Rev. Kemper Bocock, rector of
the parish. and was we'll attended,
there being many members of organ
lied labor in the District present The
meeting was preceded by prayer SER
vice.
Before presenting the speaker OF the
evening, Miss Harriette A. Keyser, of
New York. Mr.. Bocock made a few re
marks pertinent to the relation of labor
to capital.
The day of human slavery he said
has passed, but a still worse condition
exists. the servitude Of one class TO an
other. The question of the betterment
OF the condition Of mankind, he
thought, was very properly taken up
by the church: ii is against the Divine
viii that one class should opppress an
other. This is plainly learned from the
admonition of the Lord through the
prophet Malachia, when He said He
viii be swift witness against the op-
pressor of the hireling.
orthodoxy OF economy are at war, and
the question Of the reconciliation of
these two is the all-important prob
lem Of the age"
Mr. Bocock also touched on the ques-
tion of the introduction of improved
machinery into the industrial world. 1t
is not satisfactory, he said, to be told
that the men who operate the ma
chimes are receiving better wages than
they ever received before. The qGes-
tion is what is becoming Of the great
number of laborers who are displaced
by this machinery" he said.
In conclusion he said the movement
is indorsed by the Episcopal clergy and
was initiated by Bishop +. D. Hunting
ton. of New York.
Miss keyser gave a history of the
founding of the organization and the
causes which led to it The object OF
the association is to promote the inter
ests of labor by the application of the
principles of the Gospel.
The officers of the local chapter are:
President. Rev. Kemper Bocock; secre-
tary. Mr.. T. A. Donaldson.
The times., 1898-02-22
Ask FOR CONCESSIONS
The Syndicate Wants Valuable
Franchises aid Property.
A HITCH IN THE CUBAN DEAL
The Wall Street Clique Is Press
ing Mr.. Mckinley to Concede 10
1t Everything Worth Having on
the IsIand-Its Agent Here Await
Ing His Return

A hitch in the policy of President
Mckinley in regard to Cuba has come
in the shape of a demand by the j..
Pierpont Morgan-Selgman- -Rothschild
clique that in addition TO the American
Governments Endorsement of the Cuban
bonds. they must be conceded all OF the
railroad street railway. electric light and
other franchises necessary to the build
ing up, commercially, of the Island OF
Cuba. These concessions must be grant
ed for a period of twenty-five years, else
the deal will fall through, according to
the representative of the Wall street
men who was closeted with the Presi-
dent most of yesterday. Not only this
but the prospective Cuban government
must also grant to these money-getters
several thousand acres of the best sugar
plantations on the island.
This has been the first absolute stum-
bling block in the path OF the Admins
tration. Other things which are expected
to upset the whole plan are the hnding
of the court of inquiry that the Maine
disaster was caused by torpedo or
submarine mine, or the refusal of Con-
giess to become a party to the scheme,
despite the influence Of Speaker Reed
and his supporters.
The promoters of the scheme now be-
gin to fear that their $l0000o,0o0 was
bad investment, for it is generally
thought that the Maine disaster was
piece of Spanish treachery. and that war
will ensue. This will upset the whole
plan. of course. if ii prove true.
John j. McCook is here, awaiting the
return of Mr.. Mckinley from Philadel-
phia. He is said to be much interested
in { G matter.
The times., 1898-02-22
Presidential Nominations 5

The President sent the following nominations
to the Senate Yesterday:
TreasRry--IamSs o. Llford. of New Hampshire.
t" be naval officer OF customs in the districts oi
Boston and Charlestown. Mass. John II. Cozzcns,
OF Rie"dc Island. collector OF customs for The
district OF Newport, r. J.
Interior-To he receivers OF public moneys:
Herman schmidt, OF Missouri. at Boonville Mo
George A. Ramsey, of Missouri. at Springfield,
Mo-; Albert L. Towle, or Nebraska, at Valentine,
Ne6.: Thomas MoSgrove, of Washington, al Walla
Malta. Wash.
To be registers of land offices: George Steel,
OF Missoui, at lroHt0R. No.; Martin v Gideon oi
Missouri al Springfield, Mo-; James f. Pettijohn.
of Nebraska at Valentine. Neb.
State-To be consuls of the United States: Edgar
flames Banks, of Vermont, at Ragdad, Turkey
William ". Cohhs. OF Virginia, al BagdAd, Colon
ba; James Robert Spurgeon, OF Kentucky. 10 he
secretary OF the legation Of the United States At
MOnruvin Siberia.
Justioe-Mi iliam b. Rodgers, Of Montana TO Ire
atiornr, Of the United States. for the district oi
Montana.