Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-05-30
NOTES AND INCIDENTS.
SIDE LIGHTS AND SIDE TRACKS
IN CUBA.
Gasoline a Precious Commodity in
Havana.

shall have finished. There yet remains
n trip TO MatanKaS, the return trip ON
the Army transport Sumner tit was
anything but pleasant sailingl and the
Inspection Of baggage. which is a
delusion and snare.
There has been such long interval
between our last letter. and this, be-
cause OF commencementS and the rush
OF : copy. THAT we might be induced
TO say what the Governor OF North Caro-
li0a said 10 the Governor OF South
Carolina--'sIt's long time, etc, = but
now that both Governors are total alb
StainerS il is impossible TO quote them
n this liquid manner.
our last letter referred to Camp Co
lumbia and the serious matter con-
fronting the Army since the failure of
its men TO re.enlist and the dearth Of
recruits. life at an Army post is
not at all monotonons, for there is
plenty of change OF scene and varia-
tion in everyday life, aside from the
regular military routine and Army
discipline. The men at Camp Colum-
hia-which, by the way,is now term
ed an Army post find much pleasure
in exploring the Island when OF
duty. IL is said that the reservation
lt NaAtlln NOlOllnAN IL ONNl - NANN'N NtA0
some OF the enlisted men ATTEMPTED
10 explore it during our visit.
Sunday was q favorite day for these
trims, as there was less guard duty
and other regulations ct Camp on this
day to occupy the men. One sun
dav a party OF sixteen enlisted men
armed with piekaxes, lanterns and
othsr paraphornalia, attempted TO eN-
pl0ro the cave, said TO he under
Camp Columbia. They spent the great
er part of the day and reported that
the cave did exist and apparently ex-
tended for miles under the reserva-
ton, The account of the exploring
trip OF the men was published at
length in two Havana papers and the
cave was said 20 contain various cham
herS and the stalactite and stalagmite
formations that caves usually contain.
Ii is said that the way the cave was
discovered was that soldiers working
at Camp Columbia with the Engineer
and Signal Corps noticed n sound from
portion of the earth that only is
omitted when crust or surface cover
ing a hollowness is struck.
Tho mon further than this discovered
large holes in the ground which SEEM
ed 10 have no end, ana as the Island
has many caves, they began their
trips OF exploration with satisfactory
results. The quarters at Camp Column
hia are very comfortable. Zach Off
Ger is allowed two tents and bath.
The tents are of kahki and the nos.
nital tents are especially large and
comfortable. The bath contains a
shower and is equipped with sanitar Y
plumbing. Great care is taken to
prevent mosquitoes and all water in
exposed places is covered with petrol
cum, and no sulface drainage or stag
nant pools exist at Camp Columbia.
Each officers and every enlisted mans
cot is covered with mosquito can
opy, and any man caught sleeping
without the netting over his bed is
punised and put in the guardhouse.
As yellow fever is said to have its i'm
ception in the bite of the mosquito,
every care is taken to avoid contact
with the pest.
In Cuba gasoline is luxury. Own
ers of automobiles whose motor power
is gasoline find them expensive vehi-
cles of locomotion. Gasoline costs
90 cents a gallon in Cuba, and only the
rich can indulge in this commodity.
A man in Annapolis owning launch
or motor boat propelled by gasoline
engine might figure out how much a
days run up the Severn or TO Round
Bay and return would cost him at
the rate OF 20 cents. per gallon for his
gasoline. The Army people fare a
little better than the native Cubans
in the purchase of gasoline, as it is
brought from the States in large guam
titles ON the Army transport and it
sells to them at about 10 cents a gal
Ion.