Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-23

There are caves scattered here and there
over the island. Those Of Bellamar, near
MatanZas consist of series of under
ground chambers and halls about three
miles in length, walled and hung with
staIactte and stalagmite formations. one
of the halls is $50 feet long and eighty feet
wide, Its roof being upheld by immense col
umns. 1t is known as the Gothic Temple
There are wonderful caves in the mountains
near Camaguey, and natural bridges and
tunnels and subterranean rivers throughout
tie island. The CuZco river, In eastern
Cuba, borcs its way through lofty ridge
and comes out on the other side, three
miles distant.
The Virgin of Cobre.
Cuba has some shrines which worth
visiting. One may tramp about here IN the
footprints of Columbus and If he has that
faith which moves mountains lie may go
to the shrine of the Virgin OF Cobre, not
far from Santiago, and have all his all
ments cured. l visited this place during
my exploration of the copper mines. The
chapel of the Virgin is right on the top of
the mountain. with the village OF Cobre
perhaps a quarter of a mile below II. There
are steps leading from the town to the
chapel, and pilgrims come here at certain
times of the year and go up these steps on
their knees to pray to the virgin and BIO
cured 1t is the custom in Cuba when
ones prayers regarding a special ailment
have been answered to give silver model
of the diseased member to the church In
the glass cases back of the altar l saw 500
little solid silver legs which the priest told
me had been given by the lame who had
been made to walk. and hundreds OF silver
and gold hands, and even golden lungs.
lvers and lights. There were gold and
silver eyes donated by the blind who had
been made to see. and cord or OF
clutches which had aided the lame to the
chapel, but which, being cured, they needed
no longer. AS l examined these evidences
of the Virgins curative properties the priest
4
Yer images stored away in the vaults of the
church. and he retailed many stories OF
the Virgin and her wonderful cures.
How the Virgin Looks.
Tbs Virgin is the patron saint OF Cuba.
She has much the same place here as that
of Saint Anne de Beaupre in Canada, or
that of the spring blessed by the Virgin at
Lcurdes. The priest opened the glass case
in which she is kept and allowed ME TO eX-
anime her Her figure is about big as
two-dollar doll. 1t is of wood beautifully
painted and clad IN satin, embroidered with
flowers, and decorated with emeralds, dia-
monds and other jewels There is said 10
be about forty thousand dollars worth OF
diamonds and emeralds upon 1t, and this,
Notwithstanding a robbery of about six
years ago. when thieves broke into the
chapel and carried away treasures worth
twenty-five thousand dollars.
Dates Back to Columbus.
The story of this Virgin dates back to the
days of Columbus. l have ii from the
| mouth of the priest. Her first appearance
was in the hands of AlonZo Oteda, who
gave her to an Indian chief in whose tribe
she worshped. Las Casas, the Span
ish historian, describes this Virgin, and
tells how She helped the Indians who had
her in their contests with neighboring
tribes. At one time two armies were fac
| ing each other. One possessed the image
o. the Virgin and the other had their ma
tive idols. The contest was to see whose
god was the stronger. AS the contestants
| came together the Indians who owned the
Virgin repeated an Ave Maria, whereupon
the Virgin herself came down in cloud
and gave victory to that army.
a short time after this the Virgin disap-
peared and she was not seen again until
just about eight years after cur Pilgrim
fCrefathers landed on Plymouth Rock. she
was then discovered by two fishermen float
ing upon thin board upon Nipe bay. The
winds were strong but the sea did not
overturn the board nor wet the garments
of the Virgin standing upon IT. The hshef-
men first thought the little image was q
sea bird, but when they came up TO her
and took up the board they read these
| words. which had been engraved upon IL:
II am the Virgin of Charity.
The records show that they took the I'M
age away and made a chapel for IT, Inc
natives worshiped it. but one night 1t dis
appeared and only after long hunting was
IL discovered where its chapel now STANDS.
1t was carried back, but 1t again disap-
peared and was found on this same spot
The people then realized that this was the
chosen home of the Virgin and they erected
q church on the site.
That church was built at just about the
time that Boston was founded. 1t was af-
terward succeeded by the church of today
1t stands on the top of copper flied
mountain. What were once the richest cop
per mines of the world lie all about 1t and
there might be mines underneath II were 1t
no. that the natives would consider such
excavations saeriiege.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.