The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-03-10
HOW RHOADES
GOT OUT
OF CUBA
Interesting Account of His
Departure From Island.
HIS VACCINATION MARX
Acquired Long Ago Serves
Him Well.
Special Correspondence to Eagie)


Havana March 2.-I never before real-
lied The truth Of the saying that Havana
is Cuba. After the quiet of the other
places where have been Ior the last
year and a half, dnd the noise OF traf-
fc here fairly defeaning. The streets
are paved with cobble stones over which
the heavily laden springless carts jolt and
the carriages rattle. The streets are 50
narrow that the volume of sound IS fore
ca into the buildings and when a vehicle
is passing the noise is sufficient TO drown
all conversation. The city is fairly alive
with carriages. owing to it being carnival
week and as the sidewalks are too mar
row to walk upon, it keeps one busy to
keep from being run down. Many Of the
walks are only twelve inches wide and
undoubtedly built more 70 protect the
houses from the great hubs Of the heavy
carts than for use by pedestrians.
The city is fun OF visitors, an anxious
to see and learn everything possible but
fearfully Handicapped By their lack Of
the language and the inenciency of in
terpreter. AS introductions are dispensed
with between countrymen in a foreign
land, Z early became acquainted with
many Of them who gave me warm vel
come. because Of my knowledge of the
language With q party of four men
and eight ladies' I went over the city
Sunday and saw the most interesting
places. Moro Castle is closed to the
public. but we visited Cabanos and Prin-
cipe. Cubanos has lot Of dark foul
smelling dungeons cur into the solid rock
and fastened with great iron doors. the
keys to which are many Of them. twelve
inches long and IS thick as ones fore
finger It is situated across the BAY
from the city and behind Moro. Al
though q strong place mounting many
guns it was evidently intended more as
a prison than a fort
Principe is situated at the opposite en-
trance Of the harbor from Morro upon a.
hill and is perhaps the stronger place Of
the two. 1t is a crater-like place. cut
into the top Of limestone hill and IS q
natural fertilization that If protected bv
disappearing guns simply could not he
taken EXCEPT by starvation as bafterine
It's defenses down is impossible. To effect
it would mean the battering away Of a
hill the disappearing guns would only
lift their ugly muzzles for the discharge
the recoii sending them hack out of sight.
Havana has such natural fortifcauons
ON all sides that manned by American
guns and marksmen it could hold out
against the combined armies and navies
Of the world.
Principe has a historical interest TO
Americans, owing to its being captured
in 1872 by American colonial troops IN
der General Putnam. The British had
been besieging the city for months and
We're about to retire, owing to the ravag-
es Of yellow fever. the deaths being SO
many that it was necessary 20 cast tho
bodies into the sea. At this junctura
Putnam and his 2oo0 riaemen arrived.
landed In the surf. swept up the hill.
shooting down the gunners and before the
Spaniards We're aware Of his arrival had
the city at his mercy by turning the cap
tured guns upon the former owners.
Flags of truce were raised and negotia-
tons began which ended in the surrender
of the city TO the British. The English
commander went back to England where
ne was made q duke for bis magnificent
achievement while the Americans to
whom all credit is due. received no notice.
sun guess that their experience help
ed them many a time after during the
revolution and gave the British care TO
remember If not praise them.
The British thought so little II Cuba
that they traded II back 10 spain f0r
Florida Then sold Florida back to the
spaniards it was a stupid olundsr in
statecraft as can wei be imagined and
yet we are moving on 10 the same blan-