Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-11-09

- INC cohLAcuCcmeHt OF the pres
ent year was engaged by a publishing
company to visit the West Indies for
the purpose of securing photographs
for forthcoming history of our new
ly acquired islands. | was not long
In finding out that in Cuba time is
estimated at only about one-third its
relative value in the United States. In
other words, If | wanted anything to-
day, | could reasonably depend upon
getting 1t the day after the morrow.
Consequently I began by reluctantly
reducing my six months of actual time
on hand to three score days as reck-
oned from standpoint of things ac-
tually to be accomplished within that
period. One of the most trying insti-
tutions with which | became involved
at various intervals was the railroad.
And just here l wish to counsel the
traveller who desires to do Cuba with
In limited period to beware OF the
railroads and from an all-around
standpoint of economy invest in
mule. BY so doing he'll save time in
the long run, to say nothing of ex-
pense and mental friction.
When l left Havana my first object
i've point was the Isle of Pines, to the
southwark of Cuba. In order to reach
this destination 1t was first necessary
to cross the island to Bataba1o, the
southern seaport. The distance was
thirty miles, which, at the rate OF 10
yt.fIa ID 10 %
was bad enough, l thought, until
found that the tariff placed on my
photographing outfit and trunk
amounted to just twice that figure,
making the thirty-mile trip to cost me
exactly 50. However, it was largely
led me into such extortionate pitfalls.
The payment of that extra Sc on my
dunnage was quite uncalled for, as,
Notwithstanding the rules to the con-
trary. passengers are allowed u carry
all manner of truck in the cars with
them without additional expense. One
native who sat opposite me in the first
class coach had with him dog, a
goat. two poll parrots and hundred
weight or so of mixed vegetables in
the section he occupied.
After leaving Havana experienced
not a little difficulty through not I'M
Outstanding the Spanish language. On
the train there was not soul who
could speak a word of English, while
my command of Spanish was limited
to "Quanto vale?" or How much -
and "Mucho gracias," or Much
obliged" Before left Cuba, however,
I had added to the foregoing vocabu-
larry dozen or SO native calculations
of doubtful significance but indubita-
BILE potency in various cases Of emer-
gency. At Batabano learned that a
steamer had but few hours previous
| ly left for the Isle of Pines and that
| two days would elapse before the de-
parture Of another l thereupon de-
cided to spend the interval with the
Greek sponge fishers at that point.
found number of picturesque sub
jects in the community. and on the
whole succeeded in employing the two
days to very good advantage.
While at Batabano | picked UP a
mascot in the person OF small black
boy about 10 years of age. He was a
bright little fellow and had quite a
remarkable history. During the Gu
ban-Spanish war he was rounded up,
together with several thousand recon-
centrados, and confined TO the limits
Of the town. During the terrible suf-
fering which followed this boy was Sc
lected by DR.. Fernandez, native doc
tor, to go to Havana in quest of medi-
cine for the dying people. The trip
was a most hazardous one. but the lit
tie emissary did not for a moment hes