The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-04-08

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myself with distant look. It is
great massive stone castle built
on the very verge of a perceptions
rocky bluff, and with its towers and
Hundreds of little lookout towers,
and common port holes, and little
grated windows covered with green
moss and vines. 1t looks lust like
what it is, a gloomy, dark damp
old death trap, and could its walls
speak, they could tell of many a
horrid death within its confines.
Genl Blanco worked here night
and day with many thousand men
to put it in shape to protect Hava-
ma, mounting it with many new
cannon, ard now troop of II
'oA' occupy it, and bless Blan-
co for the modern conveniences
he added. | walked along shore,
which is jagged and rocky and low.
The water having worn the rocks
into many fantastic crevices and
holes, and in these were shells and
all sorts OF small sea life, Around
ahead attracted me, On reaching
there, found some Cubans, had
just landed an immense shark. and
were cutting it up; while about
twenty U. s. soldiers, the most
inquisitive people in the world,
were cutting its teeth out one by
one, taking off its fins, the tail and
anything they could get that might
be a relic or curio. The protesting
Cubans were much provoked, but
have learned that they cannot help
themselves against them. Another
eigth of a mile, and another fort
strong and substantial with walls
perhaps soft thick, all the interior
8 lid masOnery. / did not go in.
1t also is occupied by American
Soldiers, Is big new Spanish cam
mons l connted with noses sticking
through its walls.
A crowd of children bathing
drew me close to them. The big
waves rolling in would fl and refill a
Kind of basin about twenty feet
across and in this perhaps 20 little
naked cubans from four to twelve
years of age were sporting. The
water was deep, and every incom-
ing wave would spout and foam
and lash the rocks but the little
fellows were like ducks, sometimes
under, then up, full oflaugh al d
spanish jabber. In the midst of
winter, and yet warm enough to
battle in the wind with comfort!
1t seems strange. l then walked
through a portion of the older city.
Everything is compact, no vacant
spances, houses mostly one story,
stone and cement, old and moss
covered. Walls about two feet
thick, no window glass, and no
windows. The doors opening on
street, are great massive things,
covered with The heads of big iron
rivets. In this big door is small
one for a window protected by
heavy iron grating, and people
stood at the grated window looking
through, it reminded me more of
a prison cell than anything else.
The street was thronged with all
sorts and colors. The children
mostly stark naked are halflclad,
not from poverty but the custom
of warm climate. Beautiful
children fat and plump, and full of
life and vivaciIy. This nakedness
only is common in the worst part
of the city. The arist cratic portion
has nom Of it, but The hondsomest
and best dressed people 1 have
ever seen outside of oar largest
cities. l saw a Hill in the distance,
concluded to get up to it, soon was
out of the city limits on to com.
mons. Every inch of the ground
is covered with rich green grass
Beannnda and st. Augustine.
Fiocks OF goats, anu fine sleek look
ing nix ""ti'e were grazing. The
= ! j. taS same chocnle ,red