Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-16
An Oath Bound Society That
Has Murderous Aims.
HUNDREDS FREED BY sPAN1ARDs
A Parting Gift to the United States
by the DOns-Havana's Great Col
gOtha, the Ossary-Funerals That
Are Very Spectacular.

With few exceptions the entire popula-
ton is of that religion, and the clergy
therefore holds very strong position
in Cuba. Aside from the spiritual pow
er it exercises, the clergy holds prom
inent place in the economical life of the
island in that it represents great wealth
and holds considerable landed interests.
The Jesuits the Carmelites and the
Paulist fathers are the wealthiest or
ders. They own large blocks OF real
estate in every town Of Importance in
the island, and have been left valuable
requests in former years.
The Paulists own large tracts of land
on Havana's water front, and, as was
shown by the recent investigation into
Spanish government properties pursued
by the American evacuation commits
sion, the ground on which the Reina
and Santa Clara batteries stand belongs
to this religious order.
A curious feature Of Cuban burial
places is the existence of "ossaries," or
deposits of bones in every cemetery,
where exhumed bodies are piled after a
certain number of years have elapsed
since their burial in cases where the
ground lease has not been renewed by
the owner. The Havana ossary is most
worthy Of description as being the lar
gest in the island.
At the northwest corner of Colon
cemetery stands an Enclosure about $50
feet square surrounded by a massive
stone wall and open to the heavens.
The walls are about ten feet high and
successfully conceal their contents.
There is nothing to indicate the use or
employment to which this Enclosure is
put, and to the unsuspecting wayfarer
Lit presents an innocent exterior, broad
spxpanse of whitewashed masonry. With
s3n, in a pit dug to the depth Of 20 or 80
bet, lies q gigantic collection of hu-
man skeletons 1t is estimated that the
bones of at least 100000 bodies arc
massed there, bleached and discolored.
This monstrous pile represents the
disinterred dead Of the city of Ha-
vana for possibly century. Colon
cemetery is of recent date. but all the
bodies buried in the old Espada ceme-
terry were dug out and the remains de-
posted in the Colon ossaly about 10
years ago.
A "swell" funeral in Havana at first
sight more closely resembles q circus
parade than anything else. The hearse
itself is an imposing car surmounted by
tall plumes profusely decorated with
gilt ornaments and drawn by six or
eight gorgeously caparisoned black
horses.
The driver is appareled in gaudy
red livery trimmed with gold lace, and
on either side Of the Car six mutes or
hired pallbearers follow ON foot, cloth
ed in the same bright livery. The
horses are covered by long, flowing
mantles of net, and their heads are dec
Grated with colored plumes that stand
erect about q foot and a half in air. An
American coming suddenly for the first
time on such gay and glittering cor
tege would hardly believe he was wit
Messing funeral.
The hearse is followed by carriages
bearing the relatives and friends OF the
deceased, but Oh no occasion or under
any consideration do women assist at
funerals
One of the government institutions
which will be sorely missed by the
needy inhabitants of Cuba is the
Monte Pho, or national pawnshop,
where at moderate rate of interest
they could obtain loans on personal
propertv. In the event Of failure on the
mart of the borrower to redeem his
pledge the Monte Pho sold the goods at
auction, deducted the interest due and
returned the balance to him.
This was a great accommodation tc
the DOOR, who were thus relieved from
falling into the hands of rapaclouf
pawnbrokers.
The Cubans, like all Latin races, are
extremely musical and have produced
some composers and artists of European
reputation. They have peculiar native
dance called the "Danzon, we'll suited
1 to the climate because of the fact that
it demands no great exertion.
A society Of criminals exists in Cubs
known by the generic name of mani
gos." The Nanigos are constant men
ace to society, and the oaths they TAKE
Oh Joining the society bind them to
life of crime.
There are different local clubs o.
Nanigos bearing different names fo1
each district, but all are branches o.
the central association.
In its beginning only negroes, ex-con
yicts and recognized criminals belonged
to the society, but in the last few year
it has spread SO and assumed sucl
alarming proportions that it count
among its members men who woult
never be suspected Of having any con
pection with Naniguismo and who ar
only unmasked through the unravelinf
Of some mysterious crime.
The Initiation rites Of the neophyt
into the mysteries Of Nanigulsmo in
clude the decapitating Of a cock and tn
drinking Of it's warm blood as sealing
| Tho fSFSk SNors0I