The Madison journal., 1919-04-05
Native Homestead in Isle OF Pines.

gardcd aS the "TrcaSurr Island" q,
>trvun~un'S tale.
As recently as some thirty voo,,
ago - Spuuiurd who had lived 4 Ian,
time on the Isle of Pines. as noor ne
tn" proycrhial church mouse. Suddenlv
hlo>>"mcd out - Il gentleman ~
great atllucucr. He moved with his
family to Havana. the Paris of the
West Indies and to him was traced
~ the source of circulation. a lorua
amount of old Spanish douhloonS
pieces of eight" and other gold coins
of the pirate days. II was generally
believed he had discovered the cache
of the hidden treasures of some pirate
crew who We're unable to return and
claim their ill-gotten wealth. Even
now there j. more or less drSultory
search made from time to time by
some of the natives for pirate treas
urrS supposed tO be buried in the
caves and along the shores of the
island.
In 1876 the Spanish crown made al
grant of the entire isle tu retired
Spanish naval officer. who ut his
death left seven sons. among whOm|
the Isle of Pines WAS divided From
the original grant down Ia the Span
| iSh-AmcriCaa war the isle was the
home of Spanish ariStocratS who had
large interests in Cuba. When Cuba
and Porto Rico were lost tn Spain. tie
leading inhabitants Of the Isle oil
Pines, being pure Spanish, regardin:
| the CubanS a. interiors, were very de-
| SirouS. as the lesser of TWO evils, that
| the sovereignty of the isle pass to The
United States. There was inserted IN
the treaty of Paris, negotiated with
Spain, a clause which President Nc
! Kinlcy Interpreted as ceding the Isle
| of Pines to the United States.
Sent Many Men to the War.
The Isle of Pines is extremely pa
| triotic. and has done its full share
toward winning the war. While the
American population Is less than tvs
| thousand, and the percentage OF the
| men who are over the draft age has
been above normal, owing 10 the fact
that many were originally ATTRACTED
by its climatic and health advantages
nevertheless il boasts service flag
of over two hundred stars. Many
bright young men have enlisted in va
| riOuS branches of the service. 1he
women of the isle in their Red CroS
work have raised thousands OF dollars
In fact. more actual money TO date
has been raised here than has beei
secured and contributed by the Amer
lean women in all Cuba.
While all the wealthy Spanards
originally inhabiting the isle ha"
sold their properties 10 the Amer
cans and returned to Spain or CuDa
the working natives, "pineros' u
they are termed, remain to the mum
, | DER Ol pTbDdDly lN'h'y NV ""A
three thousand. These pineros sr
pure Spanish. They are industrious
working faithfully ten or twelve noun
a day for the small wage OF u y
S1.5O per day and boarding thes
selves. As workers they are regaru"
> as superior to the Mexican peopA
; Cubans or jamaican negroes. ip
are quiet, inOffensive people lonu =
: the Americans, and cases OF thell
bodily assault are rare. They are v
n domestic temperament. narr'"
early and rearing large families
There are diversified amusemeH,
for tourists. AutOmObiIing over go"
roads to all parts Of the isle oeer
sea fishing, tennis, golf ana horseo'',
riding are especial favOrites, as We
as sea bathing in the warm sal' W.
terS of the Caribbean. As 10 tne "
mate. | will not attempt ueST
tion. as | found it perfect.