The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-03-24
LETTER FROM CUBA.
Corporal Charlie LipscOmb Writes
Inter, siingly
or Scenes and Happenings In and Around
Havana-Desoription of II Cuban
Day Celebration and Other
Incidents.


soon. The troops are decidedly dis
satisfied and deem that they are held
simply because they can be held.
1t Is reported among the troops that
Geul. FItzhugh Lee has expressed his
intention of resigning as commander of
the 7th Army Corps. There is no au-
thoritative source traceable, but the
current of opinions drift that way.
Our regiment passed in review for
Gen. FitZhugh Lee, j. Warren Keiffer
and Rear Admiral Sampson this after
noon. Admiral sampson came in on
his flagship New York last Wednesday
at eleven o'clock. The battleship In
diana also arrived at that time.
AS good luck would have it, was out
in the harbOr in a sail boat with two
friends, viewing the battleships that
were already in-the Texas, Brooklyn
and Chicago.
When the New York and Indiana
came in the batteries Of Moro Castle and
Cahonas fortress fired salutes, then the
Brooklyn, Chicago and Resolute, and
the flagship returned them. For awhile
/ thought had gotten into battle of
some kind, for the echoes made it sound
like several hundred big guns in action
We spent about an hour on the Texas
and then went aboard the Brooklyn,
after which we left for camp to take
part in dress parade.
Last Saturday, Serg't Niggle, of my
company, and | left camp at eight
o'clock for an all-day's "hike" through
the surrounding country, armed with
kodaks, corn beef and hard tacks. Our
passes were for Tulipan and surround
ing country. They included Havana,
too. Our direct point of interest was
Havana Harbor. We hired a sailboat
60 nh 81 ~
Chicago; then went two miles south
east to visit the big French man-of.war,
"SpaX." We were no: allowed tot go on,
but it didn't make any difference, for
the ship didn't amount to much. If it
should happen to run up against one of
our warships, it wouldn't last as long as
a SNOWFALL in August.
From there, we set sail for the Maine
wreck, took pictures of it, then went
abOal tn Texas, which was stripped to
deck Ior action and ready for the AID.
miral's inspection. Then we had to
ramos, for Rear Admiral SIMPSONS lit
tie launch steamed alongside, and he
came aboard to inspect her for the first
time in eighteen months.
While we were aboard, we saw every
thing of interest, and | had my picture
ken leaning against a big twelve inch
gun that helped to send Cevera's fleet to
the bottom of the sea.
From the Texas, we went to the New
York, and then to Cabonas Fortress,
but after reaching there, we could not
get in without pass signed by Gen.
Ludlow. | shall certainly see it before
leaving this island, for | would not feel
like had been to Cuba if | hadn't gone
through Moro and Cabonas.
We came back to Havana, and went
TO the Gov.-GeneraPs Palace, also
visited Columbus tomb and where he
held his fist mass; took pictures of
them and several street scenes.
We next visited and explored Fort
Altares southeast Of the city. This was
the only fort that held out successfully
against the English. 1t is situated on
top of hill as high as the Knob at Co
lumbia. We went up on top and rolled
some big bombs off and watched them
so pell NELL down the hill. We re-
turned to camp too late for supper and
had to 60 hungry until morning.
Next Saturday or Sunday, | shall
take trip south of Havana.
February the 18th ana Goth were two
grand days in Havana. Gen. Gomez
and his little black, dirty army
marched into the city and paraded the
principal streets. Next the army came
Havana's volunteer fire department,
which is about two thousand strong; all
wore red shirts, blue trousers and big
rubber hats and carried axes, picks
hatchets, etc. Next came floats deco
rated in every imaginable way, with
SenOritas standing or setting under
evergreens and palms. The floats were
beautiful, but what disguised me was
to see big black negro carrying ban
ner and pretty white Cuban girl on
each side, holding silk cord running
from the top of the banner. There were
a dozen such cases. White girls rode
in fine carriages with girls as black as
Gen. Julius Caesar Bragg of your city
There seems to be no distinction what
ever.
The parade started at eleven Saturday
morning and | stayed and watched
their funny performances until twelve
that night. | was very tired and went
off to get a bed for the night, which
cost $3.50 in American money. l was
dreaming all night about my breakfast
Next morning | put bold front on, as
| if | were worth a million and took
breakfast at the same place. When !
went to settle for it, the clerk told me il
was 81. He must have thought was q
white-headed Spaniard in disguise
Hereafter, shall eat Uncle Sans corn,
beef and bareback.
! l saw the rest of the Cuban monkey.
shines Sunday. They went hog-wild in
the afternoon.
| Talking about these people starving
to death, they ought to starve until they
learn to keep what is provided for them
Every man, woman and child was
throwing away flour tied up in paper
sacks. They stood on the Parade and
pelted every one who passed. By the
time one walked block he would not
know whether he had fallen in a flour
| barrel or taken day off at Ashton's
mill. | never did run into such a snag
| before. They call this snow balling
| You would have laughed had you seen
me. My suit was black when l went tC
town, but when | reached camp, there
was enough flour on Inc to make several
| loaves of bread.
This sport lasted until quite late, and
the fireworks were next on programme
on the ParadO,they had built big scat
fold for the purpose of setting off the
| fireworks. Every thing went off very
nicely until they set off big zig-zag OF
something, and il failed to work just
| right. 1t began shooting off Roman
candles, skyrockets, etc, right into the
crowd and there was a regular STAN
pede.
This was enough for me, so returned
to camp once more.
c. c. LIPscoMB.