West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-01-18
FAIR CUBA.s ISLE.
Interesting Letter From Kingwood
Lady in Haysna
Special correspondence OF The Argus.
GpANrn Inrpt Do -.

uouot III i can write leglOle hand
We left Washington at 11:15 a.
m. Saturday, the both, over the
Southern Railroad, and / want to
say right here. that il is the finest.
smoothest and has the best service
OF any road that | have ever tray
eled on. We reached Savannah.
Sunday morning at 5:15, and went
to he Hotel Pulaski, where we
were elegantly entertained. We
remained there until Monday after
noon, when we left for Jackson
vile. While in Savannah we drove
to the Bona Ventura Cemetery.
and found it to be all that you
SAID, aud more. 1t certainly is
quaint and odd. We drove over
the interesting parts of the place.
and were most favorably impressed
with this pretty Southern city. We
came to Jacksonville, and found it
even colder than we left it in Sa.
vannah, but we thought it great
improvement over West Virginia.
However, not being satisfied with
the frosty breezes, we concluded to
cut our stay there short and 90 to
Tampa. Upon our arrival there.
we found it still cool, so to be sure
OF warm and balmy weather, we
took passage on the steamer
"Olivette" for Havana, and here
we are.
wish could tell You of the
many sights of this wonderful city,
but words fail me. 1t is so entirely
unlike anything have ever seen or
dreamed of, that 1 do not know
how to begin to tell you of it. /
weuld like to describe the beauties
of Port Tampa and the beautiful
little Inn built in the bay, sur
rounded on all sides by water, but
Il cannot do that justice.
We went aboard the steamer at
300 p. m, and got comfortably
settled before she sailed at HOO
Daylight found us sick, oh so sick.
Every passenger on board. except.
ing Mr.. Fortney, was sick enough
to die, but he did not feel any Ill
effects at all, and made life more
miserable for us by his thorough
enjoyment of our misfortunes. We
landed at Key West at one O'Clock
Friday afternoon, and renamed
there until nine that evening. We
took carriage and drove over the
city. and to me it is the last place
on earth, and no mistake. We re
turned to our steamer IN time for
supper-the first meal that day for
most of us-and immediately pre-
pared to retire, thinking that If we
got asleep before we started again
we would not get sick, and am
glad TO state it turned out ~ We
hoped, and we all escaped any
further trouble. We had what the
crew call u very smooth trip, but
excuse me, l don't care for rough
one If that was smooth.
At day break we were passing
Moro Castle, and the sight was one
| shall never forget no words can
describe the beauty Of the scene.
We hastened on deck to more fully
enjoy the grandeur of the sunrise
on the bay, when we found we had
just passed the wreck Of the Maine.
which was only few Yards from
us. Then we were at once sur.
rounded by "criers" from the diff
ferent hotels in Havana, who ere
ated such din that we were beside
ourselves. We learned from some
persons who had been here before.
that this, the "Pasaje Grand" was
the best and nearest American
hotel in the city, so we came here.
The meals are served in court.
separated from the pavement by an
iron railing. Here we are gazed at
by all passersby and in turn we
gaze at them. Our bedrooms are
about twenty feet square and thirty
feet high, with marble floors and
iron beds, curtainsd and canopied.
TWO single beds in a room-no
double beds ut all. The furniture
is wonderful. The wardrobe il
fully Fifteen feet high and is OF
mahogany.
The milk here is obfained from
donkcys, and we see them driven
from door to door aud MIXED twice
q day. or course there are few
COWS and goats but tho donkoys
furnish tho greater part Of il.
This evening we took the car and
went to Gen. Lees Palace. and we
were given warm welcome and
shown through the palace and
garden.
Moudav u1orpfn0 W. hoe g..