The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-06-24

Two great rocks on the Cnhan coas;
rise abruptly from the Caribbean sea
The sea, Of brilliant green waters and
changing colors. casts its beautiful
shells TO the shore for toll and slips an
arm in between the great rocks that
draw apart for it reluctantly and stand
sentinels Of the harbor of Santiago de
Cuba.
From the brown rock on the right the
antique yellow walls, the Moorish tow
ers and turrets of Moro Castle have
looked across the sea for over two CEN
turtles and q half. The moses have
grown over the crumbling battlements
and the ivy crept over the queer little
turrets and about the grated windows;
little gray lizards have basked in the
sun ON the great fight of stairs stretch
ing down to the water edge nesting
birds gathered above the huge battle
door and plumed themselves upon the
heavy guns of La Batteria de la Estrel-
la, pointing out to sea. Not for half
century has the drawbridge over the
deep moat been lifted-not since the
pirates swarmed along the coast and
met in their chosen and sheltered port
of Guantanamo.
In 153Sa unique battle was waged in
Santiago bay between the fiery Spaniard
Diego Perez and French corsair. The
two vessels met and fought till sunset
of the first day. Then a truce was
agreed upon, and the captains sex
changed civilities and sent each other
presents of fruit and wine" Further
more, they decided to fight only by day.
They agreed that artillery was an in
vention Of towards, and they would
fight in the only manner worthy of gen.
tlemen-with lance and sword Thus
they would prove their valor, and he
who won should have his opponents
ship. So fought these doughty pirates
the second day till sunset. Then again,
In spite Of many slain and wounded on
each side, they exchanged the compli-
ments of the day, refreshing themselves
with each others fruit and wine But
the Spanish captain sent to the people
OF the city asking them in return for |
his services in case he was defeated to |
him for the loss of his ship, |
that being his only property. The au-
thorities refused to pledge themselves |
IN any way. So unaided, the valorous |
Perez fought his adversary the third |
day and the fourth. On the evening of |
the fourth, during the courteous inter- |
lude, the Frenchman promised to fight |
again on the morrow. But, thinking it !
over in the dim watches Of the night, |
the persistence of Diego Perez seemed |
SO ominous the Frenchman slipped his
cable in the darkness and quietly sailed
away, leaving Perez to mourn his abb
sence.
At nightfall in years past dark, low
hulled brigantines slipped cautiously in
from sea and were moored quickly as
near the shore as possible. Over the
hastily laid gangways long lines of dark
forms were hurried from the slaveships,
;hackled two by two at the wrist. Now
and again lifeless form and some with
breath still in their bodies would be
passed up from below and dropped into
The sea that told no tales-these the
more fortunate ones. The others were
hurried inland, staggering as they went,
naked, with cramped and swollen limbs,
mothers with newborn infants in their
lrms--all these had known the fearful
horrors of the "middle passage"
The waves that ever besiege the cas-
lie rock have tunneled great cave be-
eath the Morro high, broad, deep and
neEplQred Strange legends are told of
he things it hides and those who used !
in years gone by, and the veriest
uajiro knows we'll that he who at
empts to penetrate its secrets will new
r return. Only the waves, murmuring
s they go, creep into the black, lofty
ortal open TO the sea. Above the cave,
ut upon the ramparts Of MORO, many
ondemned patriots have been led, their
orms silhouettCd against the clear sea
Ky for a few seconds, Il last cry of
Cuba libreH then a rattle Of mus.
etry, and the swift falling bodies 90
own into the sea.
Santiago is the see of an archbishop.
be head Of the Catholic church in
,uba, and from all the cities in the is.
and people come to the great ceremo-
les, and the narrow streets are brilliant
nth the professionals. The bells of the
athedral chime the hours as they have
himed for two centuries and more and
all to mass and vespers.
Nearly 20 years ago, one November
fternoon, past the American consulate
larched tho officers and crew of the
'irginius, condemned men. They
larched in fours saluting the Amer
AN consulate, its flagstaff significantly
are, and before the gray walls of the
Ity abattoir-fit place for such deed
so members of the expedition, many
them Americans, lmelt with their
acks to the firing squadron and fell
before the clumsy firing of the
panish soldiers, who finally discharged
leir rifles in the mouths of the victims
} dispatch them.
In the waters of the harbor the hun
", man eating sharks swim restlessly
and fro, and woe to the seaman who
SEES his footing and falls overheard
; will not even rise again. And down