The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-03-17
TRIP TO CUBA.
Mr.. L. Patterson Speaks Inter-
estingly of 1t.
Saw .G0mez's Entry to Havana, Called
on Gen. Lee, and Took in All
The Sights.

Mr. l.. Patterson, who returned Mon
day night from his trip to Cuba with
the Journal excursionists, reports hav-
ing had very pleasant time. His com
plexion shows the healthful effects of
haying been out in warmer sun than
has shown in Mankato for many long
months. The excursion went south
early in February on the crest of a
severe cold wave. One of the party
froze his ears badly at Nashville, Tenn
This gentleman had been resident Of
Minnesota for forty years and during
that time had never been frost bitten.
The excursionists seemed to suffer from
the cold more than the Southerners,
who gazed in establishment at the fur
coats worn with comfort by he Mime
sofa people. The latter also found the
hotels ia the south very uncomfortable.
as they had little provision for Danish
ing cold
In New Orleans, ice formed on the
street to such an extent as to interfere
with traffic. Mr.. Patterson saw pa
troll wagon containing two policemen
and prisoner stalled on very slight
grade, as the feet of the beasts slipped.
The policemen were obliged to get out
and push on the wagon. The waves on
Lake Pontchartrain, back of the city,
covered the sides of the docks with ice
Mr. Patterson found the streets of New
Orleans torn up, as a new system of
underground sewerage is being put in,
to replace the surface system, and the
residents are expecting conditions of
health to be greatly improved
The party made the trip to Havana
on the Olivette, the steamer that was
heard of so much year ago, before the
war broke out. Mr.. Patterson state
that as the steamer entered Havana
harbor the scene was an exciting one.
The steamer had laid to outside of the
harbor until daylight, in order that all
steamer was going almost due east
when it entered, and the sunlight
gilded everything The United States
war ships were lying at anchor in the
harbor, the wreck of the Maine was
clearly visible, and many thoughts of
the events of the past year were re-
called.
OOn board the Olivptte were number
of Cubans returning to their native
land after long absence Some had
been exiled and some had not seen the
island for twenty years. Men and
women sang, shouted and wept for joy,
swung flags. and cried Dear Cuba
Libre!'
The party spent several days in
Havana and went out twelve miles
and visited Sen. Fitzhugh Lees camp.
They met and conversed with the
famous former consul-general, and he
joined the group when its picture was
taken at the camp. He welcomed the
visitors warmly.
Gen Maxine Gomez the comman-
der-in- chief of the Cuban army and the
hero of the war, made his triumphal
entry into Havana while the party
was there. Mr. Patterson describes
Gomez as noble looking man who has
respect for all Mr.. Patterson denoun.
ces the action of the Cuban assembly in
removing him as commander-in-ch
Havana was found to he compare
lively clean city. The work of paving
was in progress. There is no electric
street railway. mules and horses being
the propelling power. A person can
hire carriage and go anywhere in the
city for twenty cents, but if stop is
made only for a few smoments the fee
has to be paid again.
Mr.. Patterson found the Spaniards
and the property owning Cubans all de,
sirous of annexation to the United
States, but the masses of the Cubans
want independence He believes that
the government is making a mistake in
distributing SO many rations as it does
among the people and considers the
gift of $4,000, 900 to the Cuban soldiers
as one that will not be appreciated as it
should be.
The excursionists witnessed distribution