The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-05-12
WITH THE N. Z. A. CUBA.
tCoutinued from another page }

nike care Of us which was surely
done for not an accident happened
70 any member OF our party. oh,
4 was a gay and fast life we lived
Hose three days and nights In
Cuba but Il was the time Of our
Efe' and, while we have no desire
10 live il again. we would not have
missed Il at any cost within ~
xaeh. A ride over the city took
a. 10 all the old historic sites
which were extremely interesting.
We crossed the harbor. by launch.
and visited MORO castle. the forts.
ne lighthouse al the entrance to
the harbor and the various points
about the fortress. In our inspec-
ton OF the forts. we were shown
the prisons and dungeons where
The terrible oppression and persecu-
5on OF the Cubans by the Spanish
government took place. We were
told Of some OF the awful atrocities
and when we remember that those
things took place only twenty-three
years ago, II Is scarcely believable.
We saw where offenders had been
placed between huge vices and the
~ httidllg nIhtFkIh OhN VI Ai'tAs
httIe by little. the vice being turned
just a little tigher each round thus
p%rolonging the agony. We saw
where others had been orr limb
from limb. the upper trunk OF the
body being secured and the lower
trunk then stretched In the OPP
posite direction until the body was
severed. We sag where victims
49, .. -l.,al Fl,. .H.a.
bodies, face downward and toward
a small opening of light. Here they
were compelled to lie, facing the
light until their aso was gone.
We were told OF many. many such
awful punishments being inflicted
znd the horror of II all was greater
because the victims were far more
oftentimes innocent than they were
guilty. No wonder the United
States government interviewed and
no wonder the native Cubans feel
a gratitude for Americans which
they cannot express. We climbed
TO the top Of the lighthouse and
thereby were afforded a wonderful
view out to sea. The inspection of
She gigantic light was most interest
ing and the keeper explained II
all I'm detail. The lighthouse stands
on a high promontory at the en-
trance of the harbor. We were
told hat during the storm season.
which is September. the waves Of
zen dashed entirely over the light
house obscuring the light and that
ships caught at sea. struggle for
aours to gain the harbor. We
could just picture ourself in such
. perilous sea and were mighty
thankful we had visited Cuba in
March and not September. Cross
ing the Gluf Stream against the
current was sea" enough for us.
Speaking of the Gulf Stream II
might be interesting to some "a
know that the waters OF the Stream
are of a distinctly different hue
Than that of the adjacent waters.
The difference is so striking that
on reaching the Stream In mid.
onsan. II is just as observable as
though one were travelling on land
and suddenly came upon a mighty
river. The waters of the Gull
Stream are of a deep indigo blue
while that Of the Atlantic are
green. Before leaving Miami
Florida, we were taken to the tor
OF a tall building and the Gull
Stream was pointed out TO us. II
hooked just like a river In the
infdst OF the ocean and that Is In
reality what IL Is. The waters ol
the Gulf Stream flow north. II
certainly is a most wonderful
phenomenon. A trip into the coun.
try from Havana showed us typical
Cuban native life. At the little
towns we passed through, Easter fes
~tiVities were being celebrated and
81 was a most gala occasion. II
was similar TO street fair demon.
STATIONS. The natives were having
a great time but everything was
very orderly. The native huts
with matched roofs, made from the
leaves Of the palm, housed good old
Roosevelt" families. No race sui
eide there. Young members OF the
family were clothed in their bare.
skins" The sun provided warmth
There was no need for protection
from the cold. Great sugar, coffe,
aRd tobacco plantations were Wis
tied, the greatest OF which were tn,
sugar and tobacco fields, Sugar
cane was being marketed. We me-
many strings of OK carts along tn,
way hauling sugar cane to tn,
mills and visited the mills where
The process OF refining took place
we also visited the cigar factories
Rural life in Cuba is not greatly
advanced. The planters are makinf
he money. The natives are doinI
me work but they seem a happy
set. They conduct their small towr
gaming and so long as they have
a few centavos (%cents) or perchanct
peso, dollar or two, 10 get In