Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-16
VIEW OF MEXICO AND CUBA
David Anderson Writes Of His 0bserva-
tons While Travelling,
POINTS OF INTEREST IN OLD HAVANA
Ftrst Impressions nj h Capital
Are NnfsvorabIe, but MANY Beau-
tIes Are Revealed Later On
MORO Castle.

HAVANA. Cuba, 1sO2.-To the Editor Of
The Bee: Leaving Mckee February 20, We
travelled over the Southern Mexican rail-
road to Vera Cruz, a distance Of 2s0 miles:
the men and some Of the women passen-
gers persistiug In smoking in our first
fciass coaches all day long. much to the
annoyance and displeasure Of our Amer
lean women. A gradual descent OF 5000
feet was made between the summit and the
Gulf Of Mexico.
In all my travels throughout America, I
never beheld such a combination Of natural
picturesque grandeur; the eye was unable
10 scan and fully appreciate and the tongue
IL Infinitely at a loss to describe tone
continuous panorama Of mountain peaks,
enowclad, peering high into the clouds;
lovely valleys hundreds Of feet below our
moving train containing beautiful villas and
cities, snugly nestled therein; mountain
streams Of rushing water gurgling their
natural course toward the broad valley lead
Ing to the sea; dark tunnels and numerous
abrupt curves, all inspired one with feel
ings Of awe and delight, when suddenly
the train darts out speedily into an area Of
plain covered with banana, cocoanut, pine
apple and orange groves. with here and
there a large coffee plantation in view.
Vera Cruz 10 one Of the oldest towns on
the Mexican coast. with a population Of
$4,000; Il has q beautiful harbor. with long
stone piers. reaching far out toward break
water. The city is noted for it's Nth and
deplorable sanitary condition, much sick
ness prevailing here the year around. Buzz
yards are utilized as ~scavengers to carry
OF the filth. The family Of Mr.. Kennedy,
the American consul, visited our party en-
board the steamship before sailing. furnish
Ing us with an interesting and enjoyable
literary entertainment, which was highly
appreciated by all on board.
Vera Cruz to havana.
Our boat. Yucatan Of the Ward line,
left Vera Cruz, laden with seventy
hvo passengers, 800 fat cattle, 1000
crates OF bananas. etc. A norther
prevailed along the coast for several days,
creating a rough sea and causing much
s~easickness among the passengers. This
fact made vacant many seats at mealtime,
but your humble scribbler ate his three
meals per day regularly; all day Sunday
Washington's birthday, we could see the
territory Of Yucatan, twenty to thirty
miles OF. We touched at Progresso, the
only seaport town Of Yueatan. where some
thirty or forty Indians and Jamaica negroes
boarded our vessel for Havana. The mair
Na"~ Va % II CQllANdAhOu VI
hennaquan, a plant or fiber that Is balet
and shipped to the states to be manufac.
tured into binding twine and a variety o.
cheap rope.
Early Monday morning the captain spied
the west end Of the Isle OF Cuba: a few
hours later MORO Castle could be plainly
seen from the forward deck, and very soor
our vessel was entering the harbor Of
Havana. Opposite MORO Castle. at the
water front, and at the foot Of the Prada
were assembled about IL. 900 school chill
dren, who were being addressed by Gov.
ernor General Wood and some noted Cubar
orators, this being the Cuban Fourth o
July, or birthday of their emancipation
from the tyrannical government OF Spain
The sight Of Old Glory floating over MorrC
Castle. the Fort OF Princepa. pcstofice ant
other public buildings seemed to imbu'
everyone with renewed feelings Of patrio
tism and love Of country. but when W,
approached within q few feet Of the III
fated Maine. with its topmast and uppe
cabin only above water. we were struoi
with a feeling OF regret and reverence 70
the remnants Of that terrible calamity.
learned since arriving here that a contrac
has been made by the government with Chi
cage parties to remove the wreck and tina
II will be on exhibition at the st. Louis ex
position.
Personal Impressions and Opinions
One OF the FIRST Impressions of Havana
after running the gauntlet OF Cuban an
American customs officials. is anything blu
favorable. The streets are narrow. pave
with blocks Of stone and just wide enoug
for two vehicles to pass with dificulty. Tn
sidewalks are Of stone blocks and siabi
$3.50 81 49, 49, e. la
compelling pedestrians to walk Indian styl
or go into the street. Then you see every
where a substitute for drays and exprea
wagons. the noisy. unweildy, high. broad
wheel box cart, drawn by q small mule Q
. puny pony; sometimes q yoke OF cattl
are used and some are drawn by only on
Oh; these poor beasts OF burden are terribl
tortured in their work. having to hat
heavy loads with their horns and head, In
stead OF the more humane way Of DRAWN
with the neck and shoulders. The Qua qua
aubatffuta for Our Omnibuaen. are uro