The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1898-05-11
JESS WRITES A LETTER.
Tells of Some Interesting Observations at
the Seat of War.

the Seat of War.
Hon. Jess E. Mercer, who left the Qui-
ct and peaceful precincts of Leary few
days ago for the stirring scenes of war
about Key West, has been heard from.
The last issue of the Calhoun Courier
contal0eded this interesting letter from
him:
KEY WEST, FLA, April 26, 1885,
This is the only city in the United States
where neither frost or snow haS ever
been seen. But it is remarkable in more
ways than one. 1t is peculiar in climate,
situation, structure and population. 1t
is situated 20 miles from the mainland
and only go miles from the border of the
tropics, so near the Gulf stream that
most of the tropical plants and fruits
thrive when painted.
The island is of coral formation, as fiat
as pancake and only IA few feet above
the sea level. 1t looks as though an or
binary tidal wave would wash every
house into the sea, but, as a matter of
record, there has never been any trouble
with hig h water, even in a storm. The
city proper covers the western end of the
island, or key. as 1t is called. 1t is dense
ly settled, and about as un-American as
possible. AS a rule, the business uses
have no signs, and there is a general air
of don t. care whether-I-s e 10 I'm 0 t.
about the shops. The houses are of all
sizes, jumbled up in the oldest way. The
streets have natural pavements- coral
rock. There is no soil, although what
passes for soil would be excellent fertil.
M If cd = -
rich in phosphates.
Cocoanut trees, kind of pine and OLE
ander are about the only foliage on the
island Thepopulation is composed Of
7 900 Americans, 1000 CuOans, 1000
negroes and COnchS (as the natives of
the Bahamas are called. These proper
tons live in an agreeable state of con-
tempt and discord The Cubans hale
the Conchs, the Conchs deteSt the Gu
bans ami both despise the "niggers.'
The men are understood, weak aud eff
Terminate. The women are not good
looking and are given to face powder,
presumably to obscure their unattracliye
compilations. Men and women smoke
and swarm together and chat er inces-
sanity. They Subsisl on coffee, pork and
bananas, which, taken together with a
whole lot vi sleep and sitting around,
constitute the bulk of their living. Ia
ken as whole, the community furnishes
striking example of a people being
born tired. | have no. yet discovered
any good excuse for the existence of so
many people on strip of coral in mid
ocean, so remote from Gods country,
but they are here to stay-toO tired 10
get away
AS to the war-we sailed from Port
Tampa Friday evening, April 22nd, and
arrived here Saturday at p. N. The
first Spanish prize had just been brought
nto this harbor, and the wharves, house
tops and cupolas were crowded with the
excited populace looking eagerly for
''fuI ther developments. Prize-taking
goes merrly on, and at this writing the
harbor is tue prisOn-hOuSe of fourteen
Spanish merchantmen, and two Of her
gunbOats are hourly expected. The prize
crew Tor crew capturing price are en-
titled to half the value Of prizes captur-
ed, including cargo. 1t will be seen
that part of the American fleet is do
ing a lucrative business. The capture
OF Spanish merchantmen is growing mo-
notonous, and unless they bring in few
war ships Of the enemy or a section of
Moro Castle my Impotence Will lead me
to return to southwest Georgia. Re-
specially, }. E. MERCER.