The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-03-11
thing is quoted in both American

erican or seven cents Spanish, and
everything else in about the same
proportion. We were much surpris
ed at the limited number of people
who could speak or understand oul
language. Not single street cal
conductor did we find who could dc
SO, but by carefully studying oul
guide books we experienced very lit.
tie difficulty in reaching the place.
we started for. We visited Camp
Columbia, where 90 companies Of
our soldiers are now stationed, on
a plateau in the western suburbs oil
the city: a beautiful site overlooking
the gulf.
The Principe cars took us to the
Botanical Gardens, which are filled
with all the choice specimens of Gu
ba's fora. Near this place we climb
on foot to the summit of a high hill,
stopping at intervals to rest and en-
Joy the magnificent view of the city
and the country on the south, show
ing long rows of stately palms which
are prominent feature OF all Gu
ban landscape. On the crest of this
hill is Fort FL Principe, now used
as prison for the criminals of the
island, and we were told that 1900
prisoners are confined there now.
After leaving here another car car
ries us to the Colon cemetery. 1t
! is very large one and contains a
great many handsome monuments
Just inside the gate is the tomb Of
Major-General Garcia, a monument
to his memory being erected by pop
ular subscriptions. One of the
strange and curious customs of this
place prevails here. Among the poor
er classes the graves are hired for
a period of three years, at the end
of which time, if the rent is not
again paid by the relatives, the bones
are taken up and thrown into a
trench, which, when filled, is COW
cred and new one dug. The grave
is then rented again and used for
another occupant.
Monday morning, having engaged
guide, we started on an exploring
tour of Moro and Cabanas castles.
We were rowed across the harbor
and landed at the foot of the cliff
under Moro. We reached the en-
trance up steep roadway paved
with stone, entering near the tower.
Here the lighthouse and signal sta
ton are maintained, also a wireless
telegraph station. The fort itself is
practically abandoned, only few
men in charge at different parts. In
entering the fort we cross the deep
moat over drawbridge into the Sal
lypost and hall between dark rooms
to the central court. All around US
are prison-like rooms and dungeons.
We climb to the ramparts, from
which we obtain an excellent view Of
the harbor, with its countless num-
Der of crafts OF all kinds, the city,
and the gulf of Mexico spreading out
before us, vast sea of blue and
green, dotted here and there with a
sail, making picture ever to be re-
membered. We then descend by
winding and intricate passages, down
into the lower depths, through tun-
nels cut out of solid rocks for hun
dreds of feet, entering scores and
scores of cells and magazine store
rooms containing lsrge quantities of
rusty shells and balls.
The original Fort MORO, which
has since been remodeled, was built
by Spain from 1887 to 1897. 1t
stands on bold headland jutting
out into the gulf, 120 feet above the
sea. Its commanding site, and its
| formidable looking walls of stone,
looks capable of protecting this har-
Dor against any invading fleet.
Convicts and slaves were used in
quarrying the coral rock for the
meats, which are 20 feet deep, sur
rounding the fortress. On the sea-
ward side is a perpendicular wall,
where one can look down into the
clear water, 40 feet below.
After three hours of constant
climbing, up and down, in and out,
of dark and musty dungeons, we
emerge through a smaller door at
east end, over another drawbridge
spanning the moat and out on the
summit of the hill leading to Caban-
as, bout quarter of >ile distant
The Notifications of Cabanas, built
along the edge OF the same precipi-
tous cliff as Moro, extends mile
or more overlooking the harbor and
city. The landward side is protected
by ditch or moat 40 feet deep cut
out of the solid coral rock, and. like