Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-04-27


the "Blue peak towering up into the
air 1910 feet.
The climate is hot and dry during
the greater part of the year. The
months from the beginning of May to
October are called the wet season,
though rains fall during every month
in the year. From November to April
the dry season prevails. Rain often
descends in torrents from July to Sen
ternber. 1t is said that no snow has
ever been known to fall on the island.
though frosts occur sometimes on the
highest mountains. There are but
few rivers in Cuba, the Cauto being
the only one that deserves the i'm port
ance of being considered a navigable
stream. Small steamers ascend this
river for distance of forty miles. A
number of other rivers, under favor
able circumstances, can be navigated
tor distance of from ten to twenty
miles from their mouths.
Cuba is probably the most fertile is
land in the world, the products of its
soil and the wealth created thereby
having filled the Golfers of Spain and
deferred the bankruptcy of the mon
archy for many years. The chief
agricultural products of the island are
coffee, tobacco and sugar. The sugar
estates are the most important indus
trial establishments on the island.
ranging in size from 300 to ], 900 acres.
The coffee estates are also very inn
portant. Tobacco is indigenous to
Cuba, and its excellent quality is fa-
nous throughout the world. These
estates are scattered throughout the
island, but the most valuable and fer
tile are situated in the western part.
The history of Cuba is merely a re-
cital of wrongs, tragedy with scarce
ly breathing spell between the acts.
Governed by race cruel by nature
and ra apacious by instinct, the Cubans
have probably suffered more from ex-
ters than any other people of modern
times. The sufferings of the Cubans
and the intense sympathy of the peo-
pie of the United States, induced
President Polk to propose, through
the United States minister at Madrid,
the purchase of the island from Spain,
but the proposal resulted in nothing.
Ten years later a similar proposal was
made, but after debate on the ques-
ton in the United States Senate the
subject was dropped.
In 1868 the revolt known as the ten
years war broke out. The independ-
ence of the island was declared by the
insurgents, and a considerable army
was active in the field and gained a
number of notable successes. After
ten years of guerilla warfare, signal
lied by great cruelty, the Madrid gov
ernment promised certain reforms,
and the patriots, who were worn out
through sheer WEAKNESS of fighting,
accepted the inevitable. 1t is a mat
these promises were kept, and about
the only change in the administra-
ton of the affairs of the island was
the trebling of the tax rate and the
adoption of various schemes of extor-
ton. From that time to the begin.
ming of the present rebellion the con-
dition of the people continued to grow
worse, and much of the native popu1a-
fin,, ad -
cape oppression.
The present rebellion was Inaugural
ted by exiles, who possessed opportun-
tiles to develop pans of freedom not
enjoyed by Cubans residing in their
native country. They raised the sum
of 900 and secured the cooperation
of several veterans of the ten years
war. The discomfort and suffering of
the people throughout the island were
so general that all that was needed
was to elevate the standard of liberty,
and willing men gathered around it.
Within few days after General An
tonic Maceo landed in Santiago de
Cuba several thousand soldiers flocked
to him, though the Spaniards were
close upon his trail. In the meantime,
General Gomez had gained several
successes in spite of the superior
forces of the Spaniards, and he re
solved to invade the western portion
of the island in company with Maceo.
Their successes led to the erection of
the famous trochas, which were sup
posed to represent dividing line be-
tween the territory controlled by the
opposing forces, in order to separate
and prevent cooperation of the Cuban
forces, but which do not deter the
rebel forces from going from province
to province at will.
On February 10, 1896, Weyler issued
his two famous DEGREES of concentra-
ton. BY them every human being in
the country districts was compelled TO
leave his home, after it had been de-
stroyed Dy the Spanish columns, and
go to one of the fortified towns under
the vigilance of the Spanish soldiery.
With the homes of the reconcentrados
their cultivated lands were to be de-
yastated, and around the towns where
they had to live not piece of bread
was to be given them. In this man
~.e~ ,,odor ~,rafovf of r1sf;fary o.