The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-02-03
LETTER FROM CUBA.
Soldier Life In Cuba is Almost Like
Slavery.
How the Boys While Away the Time
Interesting Letter From Corporal
Charley Lipscomb.

Jan. 81, 1899 Soldier life in Cuba is
almost like slavery. We are not al
lowed to go into the city without
passes, and they are hard to procure.
Gov. Gen. Ludlow also requires Us
to be accompanied by commission
ed officer. My captain carried me
in last week for few hours to buy
camera.
Last Wednesday several boys and
spent the day at Playa" small
town on the Gulf, seven miles from
camp. We went on the train, and
had a pleasant time picking up
shells, surf bathing and exploring
the country generally.
Yesterday nine of us left camp at
I O'Clock with our dinner in KNAPP
sacks, canteens of water and six
shooters strapped on, Cuban ma
chetts, candles, matches, ropes, and
most of us had kodaks.
We struck out in the direction of
Havana for Colon Cemetery and
vicinity; all armed with passes,
which were of more service than
the L. S. guns.
We passed block houses, forts and
caves; after walking four miles, we
came to a small river, which we
crossed in a dug out, paying five
cents apiece, ferryage.
We climbed big mountain, find
ing on top small fort and lime
kiln, then went down into the valley,
up big canyon for mile, no
another big mountain and down;
and after walking mile, we were
in sight of Colon Cemetery, where
the Maine soldiers are lying. With
half an hours walk, we arrived at
the entrance of the Chinese GENE
terry, just outside of Colon. The
location is very rough and rocky
and the graves are as thick as hairs
on an logo back, but the Cinnamon
haven't neglected them, for each
one has small marble head and foot
slabs with names or numbers IN
their language. On some of the
graves were rocks so large that it
would take dozen strong men TO
move them. The wealthy China
men have fine porcelain tOmbs with
fancy paintings of flowers on them.
After seeing everything of interest
we went up to the rear entrance of
Colon where the dead house is.
First, one would think he was going
into fine summer house at some
seaport, but on entering the first
door, his thoughts would change
quickly. He would think he was at
the theater watching "Black Crook, >
The Devils Auction" or had
takea the wrong train and gotten off
at the station "Hell,n for Colon is a
hell on earth.
In the first room, [ counted five
nude bodies with lime sprinkled on
them, lying in trays, waiting their
turn to be dumped into grave,
where only few minutes before the
bones of another would be taken out.
In one room my eyes were attracted
towards table in the corner. In a
tray feet long, 8 inches deep, IL
inches wide at the head and or
at the foot, were two bodies lying
one on the other, covered with lime.
At one side on the floor was the body
of a negro boy. While there two
negroes came up with two wheel
push cart, loaded the three bodies
on and went out to the grave, [ fol
! lowing. The grave was feet deep,
7 feet long and feet wide. Two of
the bodies were dumped in and one
of the negroes Strengthened them a
! little, covered them with about six
inches of dirt, threw in the other
| body and went back to the dead
| house for three more. [ went over
to where there were four grave dig
gers, digging up bones and piling
them Up on the side of the grave.
The diggers scratch in the dirt for
finger rings, ear rings, etc. | saw
one prize mouth open and pick out
a gold filling. They call it "orO."
From what could learn they find a
great many rings.
From the grave digging we went
to the wealthy part of the cemetery,
which is beautiful. There were
many costly monuments.
We were very shortly at the last
resting place of the Maine victims
and found a square 30X30 feet with
nothing to mark the graves except a
small wooden cross. | took picture
of the graves.
From there we went to the Chapel
which is situated in the center Of
the grounds. The building is very
fine. We were not allowed to enter
but peeped through an open window
and the inside was magnificent
The walls were decorated with
costly oil paintings.
We next visited the Havana
Fireman's Monument which was
erected by the citizens of that city
to thirty tlremen who were killed
here in the largest fire of Havana's
history. This monument is of white
marble, 90 feet high and is the pref
ties l ever saw. The top of it is d
life sized angel holding IA dead fi"e'
man in her arms.
Next, we went to the bone yard
which is about 70 feet square with q
~ foot wall surrounding it, and only
one entrance on the south side. II
nearly took my breath away when
saw the skulls and skeletons of hu'
man beings there by the tens ni
thousands. On the inside of the
wall, the ground is dug out like q
cellar ~ or 10 feet deep and is pretty
Well filled up. took fine picture
of monmouth pile of bones
These people don't seem to care fol
their dead. From the bone-yard, we
went through the big CatacOmbs. '