The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-15

Copyright. fsss-
II is surprising how little L. known In
this country OF the many ports on the
northern shore of Cuba whieh either have
already been besfegsd by the warsh.ps OF
our navy or viii Ia short time form che
targets for some OF our heaviest marine
guns.
OF Havana. or Habana, as the Spaniards
spell II. 90 much has been written that any
further details are seef-sinziy superfuous.
Jts Moro Castle. at the eft OF the entrance
leading 10 the ssmi-circuIsr hsrbor. IL far
famed. Directly opposite II the BsteriA de
la PuntA. on a projecting tongue OF land
called La Punta. On the same side as
Moro In the grim, forbsdding exterior of
the Castle La Cabsnas. used for years az a
prison house. The fertilization IL located
upcu abrupt nlils Still farther inward II
the Casa Blanca, commanding the city.
and beyond. In regular succession around
sbe bay, are seen the forts Sumero CuatTo.
Principe. San Iazaro and Pas.ora. the
tower OF chorrera and the fortress OF San
10 Domingo Between ths forts Numero
Cuatro and Casa Blanca stands the small
town OF Regia, with its vast warehouses
built Of stone and corrugated iron, az
handsome and substantial az any In the
world. and ia which each year has been
stored the greater part Of the island
sugar preparatory 20 expectation.
Bahia Honda. meaning deep bay, ~
sixty miles west southwest OF Havana ana
the most direct natural objective point Tor
the landing Of United States troops from
Tampa or the western penlnsilar coast OF
Florida, az a glance at the map instantly
reveals There are numerous large mar
bors more than In "hundrsd-haroorsh
Maine" on the northern shore OF CuDa, OUT
the best OF all Is that Of Bahia Honda.
which is safe, deep and easily catered.
Some OF the bays are as large as That OK
the capital city. and there are many exist
ing In solitude that are amply large Tor the
floating Of fleet. All the important ones
are mined. and IL will be necessary TO re-
move the torpedoes which the spaniards
have sown broadcast In the hars,or beds
1t 10 q peculiar fact that neatly every
estuary on the north coast OF Cuba 10
marked by some distinguishing feature OF
the landscape. By which pilots familiar
with the island can enter them even a,
night. This is true of the hills adjacent TO
Bahia Honda. one OF which Is crowned
with a marteiIo tower. The port or Caha-
mas. fifteen miles farther east. is another
easily recognized. and twelve miles beyond
that, nearer Havana. In the splendid har-
b5r Of Muriei which Is conspicuous from
its Pan de Murlei." or table-topped hiu.
Immediately behind IL.
Approaching Havana harbor. sailors
know when they are getting within long
range OF the port by the natural hills near
II called from their shape ''Tesas de Mana
qua" or the "Maiden's Breasts" II the
light on Moro Castle is burning. II can be
seen twenty miles away. az the tower.
though only seventy-nine feet high, stands
on a biufr as much higher. on which the
historic fortress Is built. II was extiH-
rulshea nj the first approach of the hated
Yankees but the 6panlards have never
been noted for their liberality To seamen
and the wonder Is that they have main
tanned any lights at all on the coast.
The small harbor OF San Antonio Is al
the extreme western end or the Island,
near the cape OF the same name. There IL
q lighthouse i97 feet high above IT, and q
spring OF fresh water furnishing an ade-
anate supply for "A large fleet. The In
terror country there ss part OF the csie-
brated P.nar del Rio province. so long held
and so bravsiy defended by Maeeo.
Guarabacoa. just TO the right OF Havana,
ofse-s some facilities for landing, but the
frss city OF Importance is Matanxas. forty
four miles eastward. and that got its first
baptism of American fire when the guns OF
Point Rubaicava and Point MAYA were
s,le~eed and tlrose OF the two castles. San
Severino and Penss Atlas, just inside the
spacious skuii-shaped harbor, were rem
dered mute by the guns III Sampson's war
ships. The city lies at the apex of the bay.
the frontal bone of the wasery caput.
Pilots identify this port by its table-topped
hill called the Pan or Loaf" OF Matan-
xss.
The City OF the Two Rivers "a II 10
designated. ia a strongly fortified seaport
on the San Juan and Yumuri rivers, these
streams dividing IL into Versailles. Matau-
sSs and New City. II has a castle. hne
barracks, a hospital. ihearer and the inev-
liable cockpit Among the schools. which
are proporsionateiy more numerous than
anywhere else Tn Cuba. Ia the Empress
academy. one Of the best educational es-
Establishments I'm the West Indies. II has
long been n favorite residence for Arneri-
cans.
The city contains few objects OF interest.
The streets are narrow. but fairly well
pased The houses. generally enc 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
sunlixh, especially trying during the heat
OF the day.
On the piaxa are the Casa de Ayunta
mtento--the residence Of the governor-the
cafes and clubs, There are two OF the
latter next door 10 each other-ihs Casino.
patronfzef By the Spanish. and the Liceo.
whose membership Ia principally cuban
In the northern suburb % Versailles are
the military barracks. the hospital and the
castle OF San Severino. an ancient fort now
used rs IA military prison. which Is az the
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