Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-02-07
lCommunicated.l
THE WEST INDIES.
CuRA AND HAyANI


The Island of Cuba, called by the
Spaniards the sPearl of the Antilles" /"
is the most western and largest of
the greater Antilles, as it is the
fairest and most fertile. 1t was dis
covered by Columbus on his first
voyage on October 20, 1892. It's
present name is that by which it was
then known by the natives.
The area, including adjacent Keys
is $4,000 square miles and is 730
miles long. The east end is noun
famous. The middle portion con-
tains the level sugar plantations,
while the west end is a picturesque
region of mountainous tobacco lands.
The highest mountain is the Pico
del Turquino, 5000 feet, at the base
OF which lies the wreck of the Spanish
Cruiser, the Cristobal Colon. A CEN
tury before the Anglo-Saxon found
a foot hold in the New World the
Spaniards, led by velasquez and
Diego, the son of Columbus, built
the city of Baracoa in 1912, and
shortly after Santiago and Havana.
Cuba was taken by the British in
1762, but the island was restored to
Spain the following year.
The first uprising of the oppressed
Oubans against Spain was in 1929.
In 1886 petition for just share of
liberties was refused by Tacon. the
Spanish Govsruor-Generai. A few
years Iarer o,Uoo persons under sus-
picion of plotting against the Span
iards were imprisoned or banished.
This caused the first revolution. In
1868 great insurrection began and
continued for ten years, during which
time over 10000 Cuban men, women
and children were executed. The
Spaniards lost 20S,000 soldiers and
the Cabans $4,000. Everyone is
familiar with the history of the last
insurrection which hogan in 1895.
Since the "Stars and Stripes" were
first hoisted on Cuban soil great
wave of prosperity has swept over
this beautiful land. When the
United States took possession of
Cuba we found everywhere distress,
starvation, disease, filth, discomfort
and idleness. Today it is quite diff
ferent. The great majority of the
population is prosperous and content
Where one could see one hundred
loafers three years ago, he will see
ninety-nine men at work today.
The capital of Cuba, Havana,
called "the Key to the New World -
was founded in 1919. In 1888
and in 1854 the city was burned by
the French. In 1862, after a siege
of two months, Havana surrendered
to Lord Albemarle, who was in COM
mand of 200 vessels and l 400 British
and American colonist soldiers.
There stands today within the walls
of Cabanas fortress q marble nionu-
ment erected to the memory of five
Spanish soldiers who remained ard
of course died at their post when all
of their comrades fed during the
bombaidment by Lord Albermarle's
fleet. In 1853 the whole island wal
returned to Spain in exchange for tht
Floridas.
The entrance to Havana harbor ii
a narrow indentation into straight
shore line. On the right of tn,
entrance is the picturesque Morr,
Castle and lighthouse. This is ,
wonderful fortifcation and if it wa
furnished with modern guns it would
be impossible to capture it. It i
said that the building of the princi
pal or main part of Moro was begun
in 1919 and completed in 1860. /
is well worth a trip to Cuba, t.
visit this old fortress with its Ion,
dark passages, dungeons, prisons ant
rooms, some of which are equippe,
with every imaginable instrumen
for torture. There are passage
and dungeons in this castle througl
which no American has ever passed
for after once entering them it woul
be impossible to find the way on
again.
The guns are very ancient looking
Some being manufactured durin
the reign of Ferdinand and Isabel
and others during the reign of Kin
Philip v.
The lighthouse at MORO CAST
was built in 1847 by Donnelly, a
|. Irishman, who was not allowed
: leave the Castle while engaged in tt
construction of this lighthouse an
on the day of its completion he WI
shot by the Spaniards as it wa