The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-04-21
PROPHECY FULFILLED
Major James X Vardaman Writes Another Inter-
estng Letter Sacos Remarkable Prophecy For Cuba.

SANTIAGO, CUBA, April ?, 1892.

SANTIAGO, CUBA, April ?, 1892. ::
n II. 7. Crosby, Editor Commonwealth, Green
SS9HMN wood Miss:
e My DEAR HENRY Il have been
thinking for some days of writing
YOU letter, but / have been SO very
busy that | have scarcely had time to
write to my wife. The board of
claims has had It's hands full for the
1 last three weeks.
A few days ago, when the claim Of
the Spanish Iron company
\ came up for trial, we discovered that
ssit would be necessary for the board
Ito visit the works Of this company in
n q body; SO General Manager Cox, u
4 most admirable young gentleman, no.
\ titled US that his tug would be at the
\ wharf at any time, subject to the di-
rection of the board. Tuesday morn
ling, bright and early, we boarded this
tug, passed down Santiago bay out
into the Caribbean sea, and, after
three hours of tossing upon that beau
tiful body of blue water, we arrived
at Daiquiri. Daiquiri, it will be re-
membered, is the place where General
Shafter's army landed when Cuba was
first invaded by the American forces.
] 1t is most picturesque spot. The
lands contiguous to it are high, the
scenery is wild and broken, the valleys
are covered with the most beautiful
palms and fragrant flowers, which
emit their perfume on every side and
give TO the place most enchanting
and interesting appearance. When
our ship landed we were met on the
wharf by Mr.. Cox, who had train
in readiness to carry US up the valley
a distance Of four miles to the iron
mines. These mines are in the midst
Of a mountain range which runs from
Cape Maisi, the extreme eastern end
Of the island, westward far beyond
the city of Santiago. ! was told by
Mr.. Cox that the land now occupied
by his mining company was years ago
one Of the most fertile and productive
coffee plantations on the island OF
Cuba. 1t seems almost incredible
when you see those mountain sides,
now denuded OF all their soil, almost
perpendicular, to think that they
were ever \ source Of almost fabulous
wealth to their owner: but there still
remain evidences Of the wealth Of
which Mr.. Cox spoke. In the little
valley near the mine there is wreck
of once magnificent sugar.house.
whose smokestack still stands to mark
the place where this once prosperous
enterprise stood. In addition to pro-
ducng coffee, Mr.. Cox told me that
these old barren hills, rWk-ribbed |
and ancient rs the sun" with scarcely |
enough soil upon them TO sprout a
pea, once yielded the most luxuriant
suxar-cane. | could scarcely realize
that such had ever been the case.
The country Is 50 wild and broken
and has such an unciylized appear
ance, and the people are SO crude and !
ancient in their customs and ways
that one lIesitates to believe when
told that wealth and luxury once pre-
vailed there.
We spent the day and night In this
attractive place. Most Of the time,
however, was devoted to taking testi-
mony 10 the case Of the Spanish.
American Iron Co. VS.. the United
States for Il claim of sl14,000 for
damages sustained at the hands Of
Spanish aud American soldiers. Our
work being finished, we were invited
by Mr.. Cox to Il most delightful din
ner, While IL was all Cuban ia style
and get-up, still enjoyed it very
much indeed. / was given the first
glass Of rich Jersey milk ! have had
since left home. How much en-.