The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-18
A LETTER FROM HAVANA.

N"h7cHueHSe tue sAlheitNan sanitary OH
Gals are prouder than the AVERAGE hu-
man being. They have killed the germs
In this city of pestilence and have made
thoroushly, good Job Of it, The Lac, case
was discharged from the hospital last
week spaniard dwho lately arrived from
Spain was the victim. To feel tsat Ha-
vana is free from this so much dreaded
disease is welcome news to the tours:
who is arriving in large numbers daily.
When a stranger visits foreign country
and Is informed that violent disease Is
travelling around promiscuously and is
liable to take him suddenly at any time
Is not very conducive 10 the enjoyment
Of the visit. Too much praise can no. DO
given TO Colonel Black and his efficient
corps of assistants for their good work Ia
face OF the terrible odds they have had
TO contend with.
The s.andsring OF General Ludlow, the
military governor of Havana, by the Gu
ban organ, the La Lucha, mas been
stepped, although the comments still Goa.
tinuG to be the taak OF the town. During
last week the editor sent personal caal-
lenge TO General Ludlow, which, Of cou Sc,
cCu.d not be noticed. As soon as General
Wood arrived back from hi yst arlunt
tde island one OF his Asst on IN a t
was 10 send Tor this fisry editor an eye
h. III q severe lecture fe2aiGins tn II peuu
arsieies that had heeu puolis re-! 10 H.
paper AID also warned aim tlal /. a G
satlon Of hostilities WAS MOI co.Gplie 81 h
at once the paper would be suppress d
no a | has uDt M al
ject lately.
would like to give the readers OF TIL
Post little account OF the pom eros
of Havana, This is VIVA volunteer fire.
man Of Havana is called. TAe la ana
fireman entertains an idea Of bravery
quite different from the int srpretat on
paced on herolsm by an Am ri an In
their efforts to be distlngu sh d from the
everyday individual at fire they over
step the limits OF human ea.ety to such
an extent that they actually appear 10 "a
observer foolhardy to the very extreme.
At fire in Havana unless here a.e sew
eral deaths or many wounded victims
things are considered SOW. The p3pulaea
want and crave for the killing OF some
hero who has made an exhibition OF hrav-
cry so that they can be afforded the privi-
lege of giving him grand funeral pro-
NNsolpu titNAIus monument III us
honor. There is hardly all alarm of fire
sounded in this city that does not record
the woundlng of several people and the
killing of others. fire occurred in the
lower limits of the city Thursday, little
outside OF the line az water mains. Ssv-
eral buildings adjoining were DESTROYED
before the flames were put under ,oltr-l
In going to the fire an engine was over
turned in rounding corner, the DIR yer
killed and the two plpemca injured e
vercly. At the scene of the coIlia rat on
twenty three fremsn were hurt. This IN
stance is but ons case on record. but the
same things happen all the time. soma
Of the freme1 hurt al the ii Q we're SIM
ply overcome by smoke causei from %
free an inquiry into the burning building.
Others from overlooking la iar taue-
ing same to break and prec pitatilg its
occupants to the ground. Others fron
falling walls, flying br cks and stone.
When the Havana "bombero" rea hes a
fire Of any magnitude his heart beats WITH
thrilling emotions, for he pictures TO him
self the wonderful deeds that he will ac-
complish and the lives that he Will save.
He sees before him thousands of bsings in
that vast crowd who will shout ard che9r
when he enters that burning structure.
His natural vanity is aroused and hi
plunges into dsath-t traps that an American
fie chief would no more allow his map
to enter than fly. Then starts the habling
tongues Of the many thousand spectators,
who wonder at the dare devil who 81
bravely faces death. A stud OF tneii
character reveals the iact ron " APP
par Mt that +; IS but o tie pllp th-
or y ,'at hey stag In lIH14 fa (
oy f ry. Like all d -at5 a )
.hs
paud.ts o the mul ltude an ha =
bait is won, This is exc uplilc m :
lo.tihly by their great lcv o. e m ! =
tary Uniform and to pose a an officer H.
the Cuban army, who 50 brayely ended
their flag from the Spanish tbehind he
bushts) is the ambition of the av rage
res dent of this island. When a hre
breaks out In Havana, no matter n what
district, every policeman Is eXpec ed o.
blow his police whistle as a signal tina
danger turks in the air. The a cnan, upo a
hearing the whistling, grasps his Shirt and
fire cap, and with his bugle in his hand
he runs out of his home blowing the sarill
fire call as a signal to his brother mem
bers to follow. II he has "pese;a' In
his pocket he generally hires coach "a
take him to the Are. His following. which
consists principally OF the small boy, 70
possible. One thing must be understood
the rising generation of the is and Of Cuba
are being taught through the silly actions
CT these f3olhardy "bomberos" that 70 i'm
itate them ia their chief ambition Ia life
The fire companies OF Havana are vel
organized lot and have their benevolent
societies attached There are two dis
tinct factions The municipal and the
commercial Each organization trirs to
outrival the other, and il Is in this rivalry
that attempts are made 10 reach fir.
frst that endangers one's life If In the
way Of an engine running you down. The
commercial wear very pretty uniform
consisting OF fiery red shirts, dark trous-
ers, high rubber boots, which reach jus
above the knees, finished off with the
regulation fire hat. The municipal weal
the game uniform, only their shirts are .
very snowy shade of light blue. Bat wleC
you come 10 Cuba, II you ever happen I:
come, the first word you say to resi-
dent is some ching in praise Of their won
der(ul fire department, ! give this as I
little friendly pieoe OF advice. You WI
not regret 1t. The fireman N 'r Sc M
form makes quito a she Wig ana or 1l
r,sson he is rnllcd upon 20 ovh'b! nip
sslr every time there r ans mantle tai 20
~ wh4tfve- naJpre % tak" pla e. Ol'
thing, the foreman and assistant orcmi.
OF the department here ar the 1rea ~
mon IN b. CRY They ar lo'kfi lp7i
With rapc1re. They are fs-e! au fst
vqaa az one time. They tan run ANT rs
from q rayfr rGteDt dawn to srfH1 sat
ulday niEhr ''b4llc' When Ne D. ~ g
a O. thpv r. irrv thfir w-l hr ~ -t