Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-25

world has heard very little ~ them.
because they were accidentally discov-
cred only few years agu. by the sleepy
Chlnnman who owns the land surround.
ing their only known entrance. and
during the war the Spanish authorities
icrt u closed and guarded, lest the
caves become an insurgent rendezvous.
There are tales. however. to the chect
that In spite ~ Spanish scntries posted
~ the mouth " the caverus, the rchclH
actually did burrow a tunnel into them
from the sea and used them ~ a maya.
zine for arms and food supplies. u
" also said that since time nut 81
mind smugglers and buccaneers
have hidden their plumber IN the
sea- ward chambers reached by
passages known only 20 themselves.
while the brEands and bandith
" the hills had their secret stotc-housea
In other parts Of the vast subterranean
honey-comb. and that regular Captain
KID treasures viii some dny be found
by fortunate explorers. lie that as u
may. 1t IL worth taking good deal NJ
trouble to get % glimpse Of these cave
ems.
II would seem an easy matter 90 go
only three miles from Cuba's Second
city. ind the man who claims to own
the cavern and persuade him for n
moncycd consideration. to take you
down through the passages he has
opened Hut he or she who expects 10
de- easily anything the least little bit
out Of the common IN cuba mas clearly
rcckoned without the host In the FIRST
place. II Is wcli-nigh impossible now
days to secure any sort Of cons cyrnce
for the short trip. Most ~ the huraes
that were not taken possession " by
one army or the other ana worked 60
death. died Of starvation or wore eaton
for meat during the war. ana the few
cabmeu ~ Matnnzaa md plenty ~ Vin-
plnymcnt within city limits without
risking their docropit vehicles over the
stony country roads. To go on foot.
or without ample escort. II not 10 be-
thought 81 In these unsettled times NJ
desperate poverty and numerous foot
pads. Finally thanks Co the governor
~ the province. who lent uH his own
volante ana borrowed snddlc-hotnef
from his personal frlcnds-uur party
cradle comfort.
We chose what II known NJ Bcilc
Vista, ugeautiful Nicwl why to Bella
Mar. Instead ~ the shorter cut up the
steep hillside. The road IL lined for
fomo distance by once handsome resi-
doncsa. grecian. Moorish ana Italian IN
architecture. al with imposing Ia
cadoa nrnnmontcd with VcrandnH and
cnlnnndca In marble. stone and
wrought iron. liut most " these former
nbodea Of wealth are now deserted.
their titled owners dead or returned Ca
spain. and silence and decay hangs
over all. This melancholy Impression
produced by 40 much departed grand
cur ~ happily dinpelicd when the bOuio-
ward abruptly ends NJ the shore ~ the
bay and wide marine Wow IL sudden
~ unfoldcd. After swinging along for
sometime close 81 the gentle surf that
washes a Hilvcry beach. on the other
hand green banks Swallowed by graceful
palms and gradually alopinE a. the
Vcrdurc.clnd hills. the ruad takes q
sharp turn to the eastward. And such
road--thc dry bed Of mountain tor
rent. winding and stony. To- The top 81
the plateau.
Al last the Cave House Il reached
rnm-shnckel frame building erected
over n hole In the ground, aud there
wr found waiting the Chinese prpprio-
tor and two ~ his servants 60 act 90
guides. The former explained, In exc
cpiicnt CaHtilinn. that his mon diHcuv-
cred the caves about thirty years aEu.
while clearing u yam patch. Tumblinr
boulder out nf the way, they were
nHtunishcd H. SEQ II slide through q
thlukct and disappear with strange re-
vcrherntionH into the depths ~ the
earth. They fled In alright. calling up-
nn the saints to protect them. imngln-
INK that the gate tn the Internal re-
rinnH had been broken open. curiosity
led the landowner to investigate and
he followed the path made by the roll