The Irish standard., 1899-04-08
Jerry Coughlin Abroad.
Havana, March 20, 1899.

Editor OF The Irish Standards
l arrived at Havana today by the
steamer Segurancia. l found city OF
$4,000 people, much larger and
much handsomer city than expected
to see. AS soon as went ashore. it
was OF course my desire to see all that
| could and learn all could about the
city in the time allowed by my stay.
The first thing did was to hunt up
Captain Philip Reade, OF the United
States regulars. who was formerly sta.
toned at Fort Smelling and who has
since taken glorious part in the Span
isll-American war, being promoted from
the rank OF captain to that OF lieutenant
colonel for signal bravery in battles at
Santiago This courteous officer showed
me every civility and secured HE passes
permitting me to enter Moro castle and
the Cabanas fortress. l also visited the
chief cemetery of the city, which is as
fine. if not finer. one than l have
ever seen. More beautiful than any OF
the great cemeteries Of the United
States. also visited the spot at which
they say that Columbus landed on his
first visit to the island OF Cuba. OF
course every tourist who has stood on a
historic spot knows the sensation. Here
Columbus stood, the man who gave
Cuba to Spain, and only Jew weeks
since Spain's last official representative
departed from the island at point only
short distance from the spot where
Columbus first raised the flag Of Spain
in Cuba. visited the old palace OF the
captains-general of Spain. 1t is near
the entrance to the harbor, a little back
of the piers which fringe the har-
Dor. 1t is a large, square build
ing and is now being renovated by
the Americans and will be the official
headquarters OF General Brooke. This
building has great many historic asso-
Citations. Among others who have re-
sided in it are Captains-General Cam
pos, Weyler and Blanco. Under Span
ish rule it was the center OF power in
Cuba. From its upper windows Moro
castle and Cabanas are to be seen across
the narrow entrance to the larbor. One
OF the first things to be seen by the
traveller as he enters the harbor and
looks over it at the ships at anchor,
is the wreck of the Maine, which lies in
an almost central location The ships
iron sheathing and other iron parts OF
the ill-fated warship which are above
the water are corroded with rust and al
together, with the sad recollections that
come into mind, it is silent reminder
OF what in my opinion was the real
cause OF the war between the United
States and Spain An American flag
flies over it and buoy is there to indi-
cate that curious people or relic hunters
must not touch any part OF it. l notice
everywhere l go through this city that
the Americans and the Spaniards here
intermingle much more easily and in
freer way socially than do the
Americans and Cubans. There are rea-
sons for this. The Spaniard is usually
man OF more intelligence and sense than
the Cuban. Those in business appear
to be good business men, and the pro-
fessional men are of high order OF
intelligence. With, OF course. many ex-
captions, the Cuban is OF different
character. AS rule his blood is not as
unmixed as that of Spaniard, and he
has no stability of character or fixed
sentiments. Without using any further
space on this point OF difference between
the Spaniard and the Cuban, will ex-
press the opinion that, if the Americans
had known the whole truth, there would
have been no war. The trip 1 have
taken has been delightful and instruc-