Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1899-01-29
WILL DERDEN IN CUBA
Splendid Description of a Fa-
nous Havana Cemetery.

b'"A OF Ollf vi the most lu-
teresting places that | have visited
since last ! wrote you is Havana
burial ground (Christobal Colon
cemetery. The first thing to at
tract a persons attention as you
approach the silent place is a sug.
gestion rather Of a defense for the
living than a last resting place for
the dead. Once within its walls
you gaze upon statuary and monu.
ments interpreted with horrible
scenes the like Of which his never
been my lot 10 gaze upon aud the
recollections Of which will never
be forced from my memory.
II contains perhaps 300 acres,
enclosed by a high wall ofmasonry
two or three feet thick and about
ten feet high; the only entrance is
through large iron gate which
adds more TO the ratification Of il.
The interior Of this ancient burial
ground il network Of vaults
in which the collins containing the
dead are placed. The openings are
sealed by small ornamental tablets
Of stone bearing the names Of the
dead. Some Of the monuments
here would do credit to our Amer
lean cemeteries, notably the tomb
Of Columbus and the beautiful
monument erected over 81 Of Ha-
vana's brave fremen who persisted
in the great conhagration Of 1890.
In the center Of the cemetery is a
magnificent chapel, the driyeways
are beautiful, and rare flowers,
aud shrubbery adorn the plats.
In one corner Of the cemetery is
a large cataconb where at present
are deposited the bodies Of perhaps
800 persons. Near the main en-
trance 10 the cemetery is the
morgue in which can be- seen the
bodies Of several persons laid out
on the floor with little lime
sprinkled over and around them.
They have been doad so long and
are In such a state Of decom-
position that one is forced TO pass
IL. portals ia great haste, so terri
BILE is the stencil.
scarcely expected 10 find much
veneration for the dead in this
half.ciyilized country, and here ]
must say feelings Of reverence
were inspired when ! suddenly
came upon bare plats Of ground
that ! ann told marks the resting
place Of Americas brave eailor
boys In a grave p feet square
are l16 of the victims Of the battle.
ship Maine.
was Mortified when my guide
Che scx,onl informed me that the
cemetery was conducted ON the
plans OF "a savings bank. Each
crypt D. nlcd Tor about s2j a
year Ia small fortune In the eye.
OF these people, and when the iu-
mate--werc forgotten, or the rela.
tlous became impoverished, or for
any other reason this rental is not
paid, the remains are Immediately
sweep, from the tomb aud cast into
q common receptacle Tor all like
unlor:uuatcs - 1.-The bone yard.
This yawning chasm occupies one
corner OF the graveyard aud it isl
partly hidden by a wall built somc-
what like the one surrounding the
cemetery, this chasm is about 20.
feet square aud 30 feet deep, where
hundreds and perhaps thousands
OF human skulls aud bones are 20
be seen, many of which have crum.
BLEED TO dust, others still have some
flesh on them. While in the Gene
terry | saw one OF these cry Is
opened anAthc bones were thrown
into Che deep chasm rs the poor
Cuban WAS not able to pay the
rent any longer.
Would like 20 write more but as
time Is somewhat precious viii
close. viii write you again as
soon as have an opportunity of
seeing more OF the country.
Very respectfully,
~. I.,...,.,...