Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-11-09
Troubles of the Camera Man in
Cuba and Porto Rico.

vana, while, sewed up in various parts
OF his clothing, were some 500 grains
of quinine and morphine furnished him
by DR.. Fernandez's friends in Havana.
I became very much attached to this
little hero and kept him with me as
long as | remained in western Cuba.
Upon the return OF the boat from
the Isle of Pines + at once set about
arranging for my transportation. This
was no easy matter, as the captain,
who was likewise purser and freight
clerk, in response to my inevitable
query of "Quanto vale?" was unable to-
demonstrate either by words or signs
the requisite amount of cash for my
passage. Finally, in despair, offered
him my wallet, from which he proceed
ed to help himself. apparently accord
ing to his own ideas of traffic rates.
However, he left me some small
change, upon perceiving which, and not
having, up to that time, made any adj
ditions to my original stock of ex-
pressions, said, somewhat lamely,
"Mucho gracias.' Then, as l sauntered
aboard, I caught myself wondering
wherefore the skipper had smiled SO
broadly Upon landing with my outfit
at Nueva Corona, Isle of Pines, few
hours later, found myself an object
of much curiosity among the natives.
None of them could speak English, and
many of them had never seen an
American before. Evidently the whole
town had turned out upon the approach
OF the steamer, and upon landing I
determined to seize the first opportu-
nifty for photographing the community.
In obedience to the inspiration, there
fore, opened my travelling chest and,
Numbering my tripod and camera,
proceeded to train the latter on the
crowd. The ehect OF this act | shall
never forget. If that innocent glass
eyed box had been a battery of gat-
ling guns, it could hardly have created
more CONSERVATION among my specta-
tors. BY the time l had secured my
proper focus, two-thirds of their num-
Der had lodged out of sight, while, with
few exceptions, the remainder stood
eying me with undisguised suspicion.
My instructions were to make a
thorough tour of the Isle of Pines, and,
as there are absolutely no transporta-
ton facilities other than saddle horses,
l was obliged to organize my expedi-
ton accordingly. Through the assist
ance of DR.. Fernando Plazaola, the al
calde of Nueva Corona, to whom ! had
letters of introduction, was enabled
to secure the services Of two good ma
tive attendants, together with three
saddle horses and two pack animals.
With this outfit l made complete cir
cult of the island. the expedition &C.
cupying a space of nearly two weeks.
During this time | succeeded in pho
tographing two localities which my
guides declared had never before been
visited by white man. And the will
terror regions seemed to thoroughly
bear out their statements. This is
particularly so of the great cienaga
swamp, which occupies the entire
southern half OF the island. This vast
everglade is at once the most beauti-
full and most desolate region one could
conceive of, and furnished many rare
and interesting subjects for my camera.
One afternoon, while focusing my
lens on some immense cieba trees
which overhung narrow lagoon, l was
suddenly startled at the sight of a
huge serpent uncoiling himself from a
limb of one of the very trees l was
photographing. I was so thoroughly
terrified at the sight that have since
wondered that l had sufficient pres
ence of mind to complete the exposure
before catching up my camera and