The Natchitoches enterprise., 1922-06-22
Made-t0-0rder Trip Of Tour
lists During Cold Months
Of Winter
From New Orleans to Cuba
and Back by Way of Florida

From New Orleans to Cuba
and Back by Way of Florida
Louisianian Writes of His Experience:
on Winter Trip for Benefit of Tour!
lists Of Future-Struck by Numbef Of
| Black Soldiers, Policemen and Bar
tenders in Barrooms Line
Streets and All Sorts of Drinks Are
Easily Obtainable.
BY MATHEW CHOPIN
So many of my friends have asked
me about my recent trip from New
Orleans to Havana and back to New
Orleans by way of the East Coast Of
Florida that have written an account
of it in the hope that it will be Of in
terest to future tourists.
On my arrival in New Orleans from
my home in Derry, La, found there
were two steamship lines operating
from New Orleans to Havana, the
Morgan Line and the United Fruit
Company both of which are perfectly
equipped to handle passengers. Or
my trip l took the Morgan Line steam
ship Excelsior the morning of Jan
uary 81. This is about the best time
to sail as one will find the resorts filled
to capacity with tourists from al
countries. Steaming down the Miss
issippi river we passed betweed mum.
erous ships flying the flags of every
nation. Soon we reach the American
Sugar Refinery at Chalmette, the lar.
gest sugas refinery in the world, and
then we passed the historic jackson
Barracks with the American flag fly
ing lightly in the breeze. On each
side of the rivor. may be seen large
dry docks-the government loading
docks On the right bank are large
wireless towers.
Then we go steaming past the rug
ged levees for several hours and come
is lowered over the side of the big
ship into a small motor boat. This is
at the mouth of the Mississippi and
we follow on down one of the fanshape
channels that lead from the river ia
the Gulf: 1t is along here Eads built
}the jetties, massive project to make
navigation on the river possible at all
times. we passed bell signals, light
houses and q huge fog horn. Very
soon we encountered dense fog and
could see nothing around us. The fog
horn and the siren lightship were Gre
atiDg an awful noise which mingled
with that of our own ships big fire
siren that was blowing ut five minute
intervals. We were then dipping into
the 600 miles of deep blue Gulf water
to Havana.
We soon passed through the fog,
however, and on the next day our trip
became very interesting, sitting on
deck watching the whitecaps breaking
all around Us and overhead the gulIs
following the big ship. Occasionally
could be sighted porpQises and there
were lots of flying fish. The passen-
gers louDged in deck chairs or in the
spacious saloons or cabins and breath
in5 the healthy salty atmosphere Gre
ates q wonderful appetite.
Monday morning at daybreak could
be seen the distant shores Of Cuba.
Enchanting in the rising sun lay the
beautiful harbor of Havana, the capi-
tai city of Cuba. On the left still and
stern rises the bulk Of Moro Castle.
On the right lies the ancient fort of
La Punta Running from this fort,
alonf the shore, in the Malecon, fash
ionable sea drive, most of which was
built during the American occupation
qy General Wood. Extending back
towards the south is the beautiful
avenue of wealth and fashion known
% the Prado.
Entering the harber we passed the
historic spot where the battleship
Maine was sunk. We anchored in the
center of the harbor and after a bag
gage inspection were landed on shore.
In q gorgeous panorama spread be-
fore US was Havana, the city of ro-
nance and q city Of past tragedy. We
walked down the quaint narrow streets
with the street cars running so close
to the sidewalks, which are only about
two feet wide that there is barely
room to stand while the cars go by.
Automobiles, mostly leather. decorated
divvers, whiz by, cutting corners so
that one has to be very careful: 1t is
a strange law that if q pedestrian is
struck by an automobile he is imme-
diately arrested for impeding traffic.
But this is wonderful help towards
safety first when eros sing streets.
The weather was very worm, and
we were soon quenching our thirst not
with ice cream soda. but in the numer-
Gus bars lining the streets where one
con obtain any kind Of known drink,
both foreign and domestic. Here one
can occasionally find familiar face IN
that Of an old bartender. of anti-prohi-
bition days.
Havana is filled with policemen in
blue uniforms and leggins with their
polished service revolvers strapped
exposed by their side. There are also
huCdreds of soldiers scattered through
Qua the city and over the different pro-
vinces of the island, and on all trains
running to and from the city. All
the signs one sees are in Spanish as
that 10 the popular language on the is
land. The Cubans range in color from
white to . dark black, although the
real natives are of pure Spanish des-
cent and in some families have not
married into other races. The whites
and blacks have an eqsSl social and
business standing. It is strange to
see policemen, soldiers, bartenders,
ETC., that re just as black as our own
native negroes of the South.
Havana boasts of several larg e
American-managed hotels, the S.vilie |
being the most fashionable Here
rooms mag be had with bath at S25
ger day. This hotel is operated under
the supervision of the Biltmore man
agement Of New York. One may see
American photoplays with English |
titles, and nearby are Spanish opera |
houses and picture shows. Gasoline !
when was on the island was very
costlo, selling at 43 cents per gallon. |
The island is recognized for its won
derful production of sugar cane and
its larger sugar milf. The climate is
mild during the winter months and |
is even pleasant in sum
mer. Linen suits and straw hats were !
in vogue while was there, and hap