The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-05
G)bANS GOING HONE
War Refugees Leaving Ameri-
ca by Shiploads.
AMERICAN BUSINESS MEN
Looking for Openings are
Swelling the Ranks.
AMERICAN BUSINESS MEN

New York, jan 4-The changed relat tons
Of this port with Havana, go lately held
by the enemy and blockaded by the Ameri-
can men-of-war, were strikingly illustrated
on Wednesday last, when the steamer Seq
uranca, of the New York and Cuba Mail
Steamship Company Ward IAne). sailed
from Pier Is, East River. at p. m. For
an hour before the time OF sailing. parties
of men, women and children, mostly cary
ing handbags, bandboxes and parcels, were.
hurrying upon the pier. near the foot of
Wall Street. and up the gangway OF the
vessel. The passengers. with the friends
who had come TO bid them good bye, filled
the main saloon Of the steamer as they
exchanged adieus. while others were look
ing after their luggage or getting them
selves settled in their staterooms. In the
scene of hustle and confusion, three things
were especially noticeable. One was the
large proportion Of women and children
among the passengers, another the prevu-
lenceof the Spanish language. which was
heard on every side. and. third. the we'll
TODD appearance of nearly all the people,
many of whom wore evidently persons OF
refinement and comparative wealth Most
of the dark-eyed matrons and the young
ladies, their daughters, were extensively
attired in the latest fashions, and num-
Der of the small children were attended
by negro nurse-maids. While some of the
passengers were Americans, going to Ha-
vana for business reasons. ii was evident
that large majority of those making the
trip TO Cuba were simply going home.
Only few of the staterooms on the Sc
guranca were untitled at the time Of sail
ing, and her passenger-list. counting chill
dren numbered 10, being the largest list on
any Ward Line steamer since the close OF
the Spanish-American war.
Throughout the war. of course. tht ordin-
airy service of the Havana steamship lines
was wholly suspended. All Of the Ward
Line boats were used as United States
transports, including the Havana, Concho.
Yucatan, Matanzas, Orizaba, City Of Wash
ington, Vigilancia, Saratoga, Seguranca,
IIidalgo. Santiago and Seneca. Their names
were not changed, but on the transport
service they were known by numbers.
Regular service 10 Havana was resumed
by the line as soon as the port was re-
opened, after the signing of the prelimin-
airy treaty of peace. Representatives of
the company said yesterday that the tide
Of travel to Havana set again very slowly.
but the gradual increase had become large
within the last two months so that now,
while the steamers from this port were
not crowded, they were carrying about the
same number of passengers as before the
war. The great majority of the passeng-
ers. 1t is said. We're Cubans. chiefly be-
longing to the planter and merchant class
es, who with their wives and families.
left the island before the beginning of active
hostilities between the United States and
Spain, and had since been living in thie |
country Despite the disorganized con-
dition of Cuba, they were now encouraged |
to return home and reestablish their inter- !
ests there. Many passengers. too. were on !
their way 10 Mexico. and their were some |
Americans going to Cuba to engage in bus
mess enterprises. The number of the later !
was not yet large, as the island was still |
In too disturbed a state TO attract business |
men who did not already have interests /
there demanding their care. Shipments /
Of freight to had been considerable. but |
they had been chiefly Influenced by con- |
siderations of changes In the tariff. and /
not by any immediate demand for them. /
The shipments had consisted largely of /
From Havana to this port
here had so far been scarcely any travel I
and but very little freight
The line of steamers from Miami. Fla.
iirect to Havana. was established on Dec
9mber by the Florida East Coast Com
'any. which Is operated in connection with
ne Florida East Coast Railway The route
rom this city is by rail 10 Miami. by way
# Washington. D. c. and Jacksonville
)ne steamer, the Lincoln, runs from Miami
vice week on Sundays and wednes-
lays. At the New York office il wac said
hat the travel 10 Havana had been good
yer SINCE the line opened. and had been
Increasing. The passengers were n mix
ure Of returning Cubans. Americans On
BUSINESS and tourists impeTled by curiosity.
Steamers on the Plant Line from Port
'ampa. Fla. began running to Havana
gain as soon as that port was reopened.
he service IS tri-weekly. the ccomdations
n each vessel being sufficient for about
twenty-five passengers. A. the New York
flee Of the line It wac said yesterday that
he travel TO Havana by this route had
cen heavy ever since service was re-
umed. the first exodus being that % Gu
ans returning 20 their native island from
Jew York, Florida and other points 81
MS country. Now good many Amer |
ans were going. some 10 look after bust
ess Interests already established. and /
Tiers 70 examine the country and rlvesti-
ate the condition OF affairs with view
, new business projeccs The boats we're /
INNING full al the time. and il was often /
ecessary 10 put extra Pullman cars on
le route from New York 10 Miami IT.
me cases w0uld-he passengers Rad 20 be
Ir1ed away as they could n0c > assured
ere % securing ber-hs on the next steam
2. Il is me intention Of the company 10
s-ablisn line 70 Porto Rico early II
anuary. running from Por- Tampa %
once, anr touching al san Juau
GA = TO RIA.
sars tie - KID 80 Fac txsz Bra