Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-01-26

housetop was lined with people, throw
ing bouquets to and waving 'kerchiefs
at the boys as they moved along. 1t
was truly a touching sight to notice
this uncontrolled JOY Of these long out
ragged people.
Night was upon us when camp was
reached. After satisfying the appetite
with fried bacon, hard tack and coffee,
each man rolled himself in his blank
ct to spend the night in fond dreams
of the loved ones left behind. When
day had fairly dawned, the neighbor-
ing hills were alive with soldiers rap
idly surveying off camp lines and
pitching tents.
70 the west and north the ocean
spreads out before us. The steamers
and sailing crafts are seen each hour
of the day going in and out of Havana
The soil on which we are camped is of
reddish clay, very much like that in
the vicinity of Neenah, but owing to
the abundance Of lime rock and lay of
land. you may draw favorable COM
parison of this with the country on the
east shore of lake Winnebago in the
near locality of Clifton. Deep, narrow
valleys divide and subdivide in all di-
rectlons as you proceed towards the
| mountains in the interior. In many
of these valleys run quite large streams
of water with sufficient quantity and
force to propel the machinery of all
manufacturing industries that seek
future in this island. 1t will take
American capital and energy to take
advantage of opportunities and give
to the world new Cuba.
The paper industry is in its infancy.
A large field is open for the manufac-
turing of paper like those lining both
banks of the Fox river valley. Lum-
Der is very dear, but an eXhaustless
supply of raw material is accessible in
the interior.
The houses in villages are one story
high with flat roofs. They are gen
orally built of lime rock smoothed on
the exterior by cement. The doors are
large and, like the window casing,
painted sky blue, delicate pink or
orange. AS duty on glass is enormous,
iron frames are set in the masonry to
answer as windows. On the inside of
this are large shutters to keep the rain
and heat of sun out. The cities and
villages in Cuba have all the appear
ance of old Spanish towns of the south
. west.
Agriculture is carried on like that of
MEDIEVAL times The average Cuban
is lazy, and cares no more than to
make living: not even that much, if
it can be obtained without exertion.
! The better class of Cubans desire Amer.
!. lean control, for in them Cuba's pros
, perity and stability of homes are in
= sured; otherwise the rebellious dispo.
e sition and shiftless habits of the lower
9 classes will retard prosperity.
e We have duty to perform. Will it
: be done in the interest of civilization,
/ as we'll as to insure the future prosper
e ity and happiness of these outraged
p people:
e From the position of an eye witness
e | will briefly note some important
o scenes that happened in Havana Jan
Y uary /, 1899, the day American troops
e took formal possession of the city
e What transpired Oh this day will have
J, its space in history The boys knew
! it well, as perfect harmony prevailed
d in all that was done. Before II O'Clock
o ~, the hour set for the lowering o.
IS all Spanish flags on forts and public
r buildings, over $4,000 soldiers blocked
h the narrow streets for miles, awaiting
IS the principal event of the day Prompt
l. at the hour, the boom of cannon from
If our fleet that lay anchored in the bay
f. marked the last minutes of Spanish
o rule in the New World. Before the
k last report of the twenty-one salutes
y reached MORO, all the flags of the
o proud Castillians We're lowered annie
It the deafening yells and jeers from the
e thousands of Cubans gathered at al
d points where these elnblems ceased te
IS wave in the Cuban breeze. A moment
\ later and Old Glory was seen beamins
e III the light and kissing the breeze ovel
l. old Moro, surrounding forts and al
y public buildings. Words cannot pic
/ ture the enthusiasm of these pe0pl,
!. and the street scenes of that day. n.
e sosner had the echo from the twenty
: one salutes to Old Glory died away
e when the command "Marchw wa:
l. given to those in line. More thai,
twenty-five bands, each preceding q
d regiment, made sweet the air witt
d music. The parade was directed
d through the principal streets. The
s. buildings that walled either side were
: artistically decorated with flags and
Il bunting. The beautiful Senoritas
l from windows and housetops, shower
a cred the boys with flowers as the,
y marched along The whole scene was
t that of a grand celebration over the
o liberation of an enslaved people.
g Very respectfully,
I GILBERT D. MASON,
h Sergt. Co. B, lst Tex. Vols