Gilpin observer., 1899-05-18

Caybo San Antonio. and were running
along the northern shore Of Cuba.
was up early, by eight bells. or .
little after 4 a. M, and with deep in
terest 1 surveyed the coast Of that
beautiful island, the first and now the
last portion Of that vast empire be-
yond the seas which Columbus be-
queathed to CASTLE and Leon.
Dat is my country, senor," said An
tonic, who was at the wheel, and this
remark, with the repulsive aspect of
the Spaniard and his mysterious char
acter, served to dissipate by momen-
tary enthusiasm.
THAT is Caybo Buena Vista-and
the breakers on the weather-bow," he
continued; mark the Collorados, q
long reef of rocks. The blue sharks
are as thick there as the stars in the
sky"
We were now in the Gulf of Flor
ida.
The sky was cloudless and blue, and
now it seemed as if the welkin above
and the almost waveless sea below
were endeavoring to outvie each other
in calmness, in beauty and in the glory
of their azure depths. The wind was
off the land and rather ahead, but the
sails were trimmed to perfection, and
we ran through the gulf on taut bow
line.
| / have so much more to narrate than
my limited space permits me to give in
full detail that l must compress into
one chaptetr all that relates to my
visit to Matanzas.
Our run through the gulf was de-
| lightful, and on the goth OF January,
| just as rosy tint was stealing over
the sea and the rocky shore of Cuba,
after the sun mad set beyond the wa
| ters of the Gulf of Mexico, we saw Ha-
vana light, bearing south by west, and
distant about fourteen miles. So we
passed in the night the wealthy capi-
tai of Cuba, so famed in the annals OF
our victories-La Habana, or the har-
| bor-of which, from our being SO far to
seaward, we could see nothing but the
the great revolving light which burns
so brightly on the high rock OF the
Moro, or CASTILLO de los Santos
Reyes; and before dawn we deserted
the light of Santa Cruz on our water
| bow.
Weston drew my attention to it, add
ing, THAT is the beacon which so
scared me when it shone through the
stern windows of the empty polecca
brig"
Next day, after encountering a head
wind, against which we tackled fire.
quently between the Pan de Matanzas
and the wooded point Of Sumberella.
at 10 o'clock in the morning Span
ish mulatto pilot came on board and
took the brig in charge.
We ran safely into the harbor, and
by II o'clock came to anchor at a place
recommended by Antonio, half ca
ble's length from the castle Of st. Sew
erino. In half an hour after the sails
were all unbent and slowed below, and
preparations were made for breaking
bulk"-to unload the vessel, whose car
go, have stated consisted of steam
machinery and Goals for the sugar and
coffee mills.
| Gangs of Spanish mulattoes, negro
porters and jumpers, in red shirts and
white drawers, with broad straw hats,
and nearly all with rings, in their ears.
came on board in quest Of employment.
and then all was confusion, garlic.
dirt. jabbering in Spanish and Congo,
singing, swearing and smoking cigar
itos.
| l was now at liberty to go ashore,
and after the first hustle was over
Weston left Hislop in charge of the
brig and accompanied me. Matanzas
presented nothing new to him, but 1
surveyed with interest, not unmixed
with wonder. the new world In which 1
found myself.
| The city Of Don Carlos de Matanzas
occupies a gentle eminence between
the Rivers San Juan and Yumuri. which
roll into the bay from the mountain
Gus ridge that traverses all Cuba. Its
name. Matanzas. signifies the place Of
murder, because in that bay some OF
the Spaniards of Columbus were slain
by the native Indians.
| (To be continued.) IA