, 1899-03-14
HAVANA LETTER
d. A. JONES FORMERLY OF LARA
MIE WRITES FROM MA
TANZAS, CUBA.
on the Weather at Chica-
manga, Lexington, Americas, Geor-
gia, Charleston and Matanzas-
Charleston "Niggers'-Life in Ma
tanzas-Description of Natives.


annie and a clerk in the office of master
mechanic, but now a clerk in the I'm
tied States commissary department at
Matanzas, Cuba, writes the following
at Laramie:
Matanzas, Cuba, March 2, 1899.
Dear Friedn: Well here we are in
Cuba and | suppose a few items from
this benighted country might prove of
interest to you. While you have been
experiencing DRAMATICALLY weather
low temperature even for the Klondike
region, We have, with the exception Of
three or four days, been going about
with linen suits and straw hats. The
weather since our arrival here has been
generally very pleasant > indeed, and
while 1t gets quite warm under odd
Soils rays, there is always a refresh
ing breeze from the bay-without
which life would not be worth the liv-
ing-although the old timers here as
sert that it hardly ever climbs above
80 n 95 at any time of the year. This
may be however, like one former K
p%erience in the weather line since our
connection with the army and with
army life. While we were at Ohica-
manga the weather was either excess
sively warm and proportionately OPP
pressive or else the rain poured down
in torrents, and We were then told that
1t was the most remarkably unhealthy
weather that that portion of the coun-
try had experienced for a number OF
years. Upon arrival and until our de-
parture from Americus, Ga, 1t rained
almost necessarily and when we COM
pfained we were assured hat 1t was the
most remarkable weather that the por-
tion of the country had experienced for
"a number OF yenfs. Since our arrival
at this point We had three days when
the Thermometer run down as low as
60 degrees and with quite a cool rain
accompanying same and we were again
conscientiously assured that 1t was the
most remarkable weather that this por-
tton OF THE country had W. expert
enced within the memory of the Oldest
inhabitant. We are getting so that we
expect that sor of thing now wher-
ever we go and We laughed when we
received the Laramie Republican the
other day and read that you also had
some of the most remarkable weather
Within the memory Of the Oldest in
,habitant.
We left Lexington, KY, on Novem-
Der 9th, in the midst Of a blinding rain,
for Americas, Ga, where we arrived on
the evening of November 10th. Gold
en- was in charge of the conmissary de-
partment at that place until December
26th, when we again took our depart
ure-this time for Charleston, s. c., en-
route to Matanzas, Cuba. We arrived
in Charleston the morning of Decem-
Der Both, awaiting the loading Of the
United States transport, Manitoba"
which brought us to the land OF sun
shine and flowers and reconcentradoes
and-at that time-Spaniards, galore.
At Charleston, therefore, we had an
opportunity to view the city for a day
or two, which time we improved by
taking in every point OF interest.
Charleston is an old-style city and one
of the interesting sights to US was In
viewing the work of the earthquake,
which occurred in that city in the S0s.
Many large buildings bear plain evil
dence to this day OF the shaking up"
had at that time, leaving them in many
cases quite considerably "out of
plumb. Negroes seem to be the domi-
nan feature Ito a mere onlooker, as
there seems to be about three to every
white man and they are the regular
old-style plantation "niggers" at that,
which we used to read about-typical
darkies OF Dixie. Charleston is a tenn
perance city as far as open saloons are
concerned, but original packages are
sold by the regular authorized state
dispensaries. No liquor, however. Is
supposed to be sold by the drink, but
they do say that one can become a
member of a Club" by giving a few
moments notice Of their intentions and
by being properly vouohed for after
having asked for and accordingly hav-
ing received a membership certificate,
a person is then fully entitled to all
rights and privileges accorded to any
oid.timer. This Of course is only mere
hearsay as far as I am concerned. as
I eve made ar individua1 test Of the
merits of a certificate OF memberHhip.
Our trip to Cuba. from Charleston.
w1s uneventful. We had a smooth sea
and a gallant bark" with NO unpieas-
ant memories Of sea-sicanees to recall.
I confidently expected l would Get sick
Immediately after leaving Charleston
An1bor end wa expecting 1t all ~
way over but was happily and ssrss-
ably surprised In thak respect - ! en-.
5ogsd the trip imlnensefy. 0osdsn hAD
lnnraady written TO Iazamie dsDUtbsaU