The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26
cUBA,s
A Volunteer Observations in n Trip from
Havana to Sancti Spiritus.

morning OF req. L Nn6 bBCOnu HlRnhl IOm-
pany. u. s.. ". struck their tents ut Camp CO.
lumbia. loaded the wagons. rode to the freight
yards in Havana, and speedily marched on
board q third class coach. This. In company
with one other coach, loaded with passengers.
was switched around the yards by a hay
burning switch engine. which. led by one en-
gineer and goaded by another. finally coupled
the cars to the tender OF n Rogers engine tpat-
tern OF 800 or thereabouts). q proceeding
which appeared the most natural thing IN the
world In this go-aheod capital. The railroad
runs through some OF the poorest streets in
Havana. and as we pulled out we received n
greeting from the mixed population which
lined the tracks and yelled and waved SOM
breros and fans until we we're out cf sight.
We were soon passing the: Cristobal Colon
Cemetery. where there is a pile of human
bones 300 feet square and on an average forty
feet deep. These bones have been eXhumed
from graves. the rent OF which IL unpaid. The
result OF this practice OF post. norton eviction
presents a grlesome sight, awe-inspirinG to
any thinking mortal. Before night fell we
had passed two lines OF circular blockhouses,
built OF brick, which we suppose form portions
OF trochas built during Weyler's time.
We arrived at Batabano. Just across the ISL
and from Havana, at - p. NJ, to find that our
steamer. which had been expected to sail on the
hIOliOM NouNu uOt leuNe lOT u uUp anu u nill.
After satisfying the curiosity OF the natives in
regard TO American soldiers. we lay Town upon
the station platform In order to obtain some
rest. Presently an invincible swarm of mos
ouitoes discovered our whereabouts. and be-
Ing OF one mind with the rest Of the native
population, proceeded to make our closer ac-
ouaintance. They evidently found us greatly
to their taste or-they stayed by us till morn
lug. adding greatly to our discomfort and stock
OF profanity. although the latter was already
large enough for all ordinary uses. In the
morning. the present Cuban Army
wished to ascertain the chances Of their being
paid by the United States Government. We
told them that Uncle Sam would undoubtedly
pension them all in return for their brilliant
services as soon az ever he could get around to
1t, and they said "Bueno." and we're satisfied.
We became engaged in conversation with q
Cuban Captain later on. He was a small. coal
black fellow, wearing u very ragged coat. on
which three white metal stars proclaimed his
rank. We used ragged Spanish and papto-
mime to talk with. and soon a crowd Of street
urchins had collected coming ever closer and
listening eagerly to every word uttered. They
came too close. and. with a side glance to fix our
attention. the CAPTAIN turned and stared hard
around the circle. 1t simply faded away! Some
Of the boys in their eager attempts at %self-ef-
iacement. fell backward Off the platform, and in
less time than il, takes to, tell the GRO I'd had
S SanIsn and y s smfia w Rs turned sssam TO us ts with . i2Ided
do you think Of that" We told him it was
W9nddertnl; and in great Joy he invited usto
proudly insisted and we accompanied him TO
the almacen and drank sour wine. AT n penny
perity; We were duly para1ed before his ac-
aulanfapees. al ragged as himself. and lnally,
sood fea af2% ri The s' Boys T fsIioG de Tith %T Wi.h
the Gonedy Of the incident and christened him
the BLACK Svengali" on the spot. Some of
ton agent here by working the'old knobby key
at a rate SO fast that he couldn't begin TO fol
wise and saving "Bueno! bueno!'
On the second day we put the stock aboard
the steamer and sailed away over blue seas and
between coral islands to Cienfuegos. where we
arrived at and stayed until II A. NJ, Here
streamed into the town. We found II full OF
Spanish soldiers awaiting TRANSFORMATION back
able enough in their dingy overall suits
crowned by straw sombreros. each bearing the
red and y wiIiIN, r % sra Of 81 Spain ana They were
eonvincinRly OF the hardships they endured at
SSantiago and elsewhere throughout the island.
the hardest kinds Of manual labor during long
sEeltering days on fortitications. &c. and that
them alive. They, did an inordlnate amount
OF drilling through the limestone formation
by reason Of the se9nty supplies Of blasting
70 two years In arrears. they were overyoyed at
the success OF the American arms. which
less: they did not seem anxious to return to
Spain. Indeed. two of them were at great
pains to stow themselves away aboard our
steamer Just before starting time. being salts
fled to take chances with our outfit. Some
one bestowed a peseta apiece upon hem and
harb9r,, This latter is iandiocked, and is sup:
insieniacant adobe tort at its entrance. ~
NJ. and there were no regrets among her crew
when When they saw us going, The bad feeling
I S"!En e eirc9ms SsSwssn u on T boaT Hie the TO J fns g At.
and amiable family consisting Of a mother and
always in perfect happiness. their relations
with the crew, being tender. and the mother
Judging by the consideration shown her by all
on board. Between Trinidad and Tunas the
F %neees ef hea rdp0 WSer nea e e5pty of bi feIf fe i the
lows were happily imbibing the wine OF Spain.
In doing this she. unhappily for herself and
the dinner, table ,rhe had attempted TO find
places for the family in the midst Of those oc.
coure,t they might not resent such action then
and there. they had remembered the occur
yenge, In an Instant. as her nosing brought
her ,near, the rail. one of them assisted her
fSe yossSts and w Shsrs g gss AZ is "rnasn on board b.i
'ah~N Sh bAFal e bllNC &c
came know n the crew showed their suspicious
in various ways. but as-nothing could be
proved the pence remained unbEoken and We
wore allowed to land in safety.
After unloading. We turned in on the pier at
j In the morning.
After dinner the next day we received orders
to pack up. and the residue OF the meal being
thus rendered useless to us. we decided to have
a ration issue at once. The Cuban soldiers
and other natives we're accordingly called no
and we gave them the remains. in return for
which all our, work was done for US. To SEQ
the way In which one monstrous black fellow
placed his back:against a tree.lnd. surrounded
By, nm %envious crew. proceeded to sort over his
edible treasures was both laughable and pitt
full. To note his sigh Of content as he tied up
the mouth OF the gunny suck which finally
contained them all. gave one an insight, into
the depths of his poverty. He considered him
self rich with a few onions and potatoes.
We pulled out for the CITY OF the sanctiAed
spirits C'rectified %spirits." one Joker called IT.
a. A about . in the afternoon; over the "Ferro
Carril de Tunas Il Sancti Spiritus." About
four miles out. as we we're passing n station,
one Cuban gentleman OH the platform handed
to a Cuban gentleman in u car q SINAI pack
age. The receipt SO delighted the latter that
he ATTEMPTED 10 embrace his friend, anu both
stretched out their arms: Al this moment the
train struck a Joint and they became separated
by several feet. This ntOward incident damn