Che Library
of the
Cniversity of Morth Carolina
Endowed by Che Dialectic
and
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SITe9I
K 59
| SITY OF N.C. AT CHAP
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00024475863
This BOOK may be kept out TWO WEEKS
ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE
CENTS a day thereafter. It was taken out on
the day indicated below:
TA FLAG FOR CUBA
PeNesKELCHES OF A RECENT TRIP ACROSS
RierGere OFaMEXICOCTO) FALE
ISEAND QF CUBA
BY
ADELAIDE ROSALIND KIRCHNER
IME MAUS TIKAN MIB IO)
WITH SNAP-SHOT VIEWS
NEW YORK
THE MERSHON COMPANY ~~
PUBLISHERS
UNIVERGITY LIBRARY
UMENERGITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
AT CHAPEL HILL
COPYRIGHT, 1897,
BY
ADELAIDE KIRCHNER DUTTON.
le
THE MERSHON COMPANY PRESS,
RAHWAY, N. J.
CONT BINS:
AvTHOR’s Note
’
LetTrers En Roure to Cusa,
LETTERS FROM Havana, ‘ : ; ‘ :
A PARTING VIEw,
THE IsLAND oF CuBa,
Pee) os]
EARLY SETTLEMENT,
THE LOPEZ AND Critv?tENDEN EXPEDITION,
THE ‘“ ViRGINIUS ” MAssACcrE,
THE CASE OF THE ‘‘ COMPETITOR,” AND TREATY
RIGHTS, ;
THE Tren YEARS’ War,
THE NATIVES,
NAWNIGOs, THE OUTLAWS OF CUBA,
THE PRESENT STRUGGLE, AND METHODS OF War,
THE SPANISH ARMY IN CUBA,
THE CUBAN ARMY,
CONSUL GENERAL FirzHuGH LEE,
THE NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS,
SPAIN’s DOMINATION, : , 4 : é
1
103
107
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2022 with funding from
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
https://archive.org/details/flagforcubapenskOOkirc
ist ORO LEEUSTRATIONS:
Tur Fortress oF Morro CASTLE, AT THE ENTRANCE
TO THE HarBor OF HAVANA,
THe HricHts or LA CapaANa, ADJOINING Morro
CASTLE; : , ; -
Tur Famous BANYAN TREE, Key WEs?7, FLA.,
A PatM-SHADED HomE IN Kry WEST?T,
Just Berore Dawn, Havana Bay,
THE OLp STone-STEP LANDING, HAVANA,
In tHE OLp BusINEss QUARTER, HAVANA,
CountRY FREIGHT TRAINS, .
ALONG THE SUBURBS OF HAVANA,
THE OLD CATHEDRAL, HAVANA,
Cotumsus MemoriAL CHAPEL, HAVANA,
Tur CApraiIN GENERAL’S WINTER PALACE, HAVANA,
—GENERAL WEYLER ENTERING,
Dr. Burcess, Untrep STaTEs SANITARY INSPECTOR AT
HAVANA,
FAREWELL TO CUBA,
Map or THE Wesv Inp1A ISLANDs,
Cocoanut PALMS, : : : .
SPANISH Coa'tr OF ARMS, ; : :
Tospacco PLANTATION,
PAGE
(3
S
61
66
69
75
8I
85
a
/
vi DES TOO he PEL CO SUL LMELON SS.
PAGE
A LIGHTER WITH CARGO, ‘ : ; ’ ; : gl
Tue Custom House at THE LANDING, HAvaNna, PaO
IN THE VICINITY OF THE COLUMBUS MEMORIAL, See OFF
SPANISH SOLDIERS AT THE MAIN BARRACKS IN HAVANA, Iog
THREE SPANISH MEN-oF-WaAR, HARBoR OF HAVANA,
BEFORE SUNRISE, , : : : : alas
A RESIDENT AVENUE IN HAVANA, ; ; ; ee 20
‘THE THREE FRIENDS,” : ; : : pes!
A PassENGER Boat, HAVANA Bay, : 2 : SI 20
CALLE OBISPO, THE PRINCIPAL SHOPPING STREET IN
HAVANA, AP tie : : s 2 : ee RLSS
A PINEAPPLE FIELD, 139
LEADING TO THE CIty GATES, HAVANA, , ; - 145
ENTRANCE TO ‘THE CAPTAIN GENERAL'S SUMMER
PaLace, HAVANA SUBURBS, : ; A : wees
A Native Fruir CARRIER, ! : : ; eG
CHES WOmH RIB NDS. os: : ; 3 L : 1G.
THe GATES TO THE CITY OF HAVANA, F : eeeelOy
Oe UE ORE Se IN.© TE.
SYMPATHY opens the door of all hearts ;
it awakens interest ; interest begets a desire
for knowledge.
Two months ago I visited Havana, Cuba,
armed with my usual traveling companions
—a notebook and a kodak, with not the
slightest intention of exhibiting the contents
of either to any but my circle of friends,
who always expect full accounts of my
wanderings.
Hearing on all sides discussions of Cuba's
fate, her present and past wars, with
many references to incidents and facts
which I never knew, or which had escaped
my memory, I satisfied the questions in my
own mind by poring over page after page
of her history since her discovery by
Columbus up to the present strife ; through
all her unsuccessful struggles in the past
Vil
Vill AUTHOR S: NOTE,
against Spanish tyranny and oppression.
This resulted in my making the following
sketch of my garnered information, to help
those who had not time for research to an
understanding of the present conditions in
the once luxuriant, but now the ill-starred,
Cuba, Queen of Islands.
very true-spirited American is in sym-
pathy with oppressed Cuba, and anxious
for this last struggle against Spanish rule
to end in victory.
For over two years this insurrection has
continued ; the island is seared and blighted
from the torch, and its ashes are wet with
martyrs’ blood. The insurgents are fight-
ing with the powerful spirit of true convic-
tion right eipemichtewandatheimniottous,
liberty or death!
The fate of Cuba is the topic of the day
and hour; American sympathy stretches
across the short eighty miles of water
which separates her from Florida; she
looks to us for help because long years ago
we suffered and won, though at the sacrifice
of countless lives.
Are the heights of liberty built only upon
AUTHOR SINOTE: ix
the bodies of wounded, dying, and dead ?
Is civilization only a mocking name ?
The atrocious cruelties of the Spanish
toward such innocent victims as the unpro-
tected women and children are enough to
excite national interference for humanity’s
sake alone.
Let interference come! let strife cease!
empeacemrcion! let freedom: rule! That
glorious freedom which unbars the gates
of darkness, breaks the galling chains
of serfdom, lifts the yoke of bondage, and
brings streneth to life, hope to the heart,
faith to the soul, peace and prosperity to
the warring, devasted lands, and is the
searchlight of progress.
It is said that Maximo Gomez, the grand
old general of the Insurgent Army of Cuba,
wears over his heart a silken flag of Cuba
libre which is not to be unfurled until it
floats over Morro Castle.
I gazed upon that picturesque old
fortress of Morro Castle, commanding the
entrance to the beautiful harbor of Havana,
when the breeze was flaunting the Spanish
colors on high, and I secretly prayed (not
x AUTHOR'S NOTE.
daring to give expression to a rebellious
thought in the presence of Spanish officials)
that before many more months _ passed
General Gomez would be able to carry out,
not alone his own heart’s desire, but the
desire of every liberty-loving heart in God's
universe.
ADELAIDE ROSALIND KIRCHNER.
June 4, 1897.
pee AG POR CUBA:
PerieRs EN ROUTE TO CUBA.
On Boarp THE S. 5S. Whitney,
GuLF oF Mexico, March 6, 1897.
CAN you realize, my dear, that we are
actually en route to Cuba, where smallpox
and yellow fever are fighting for supremacy
with the cruel murderous warfare of Wey-
ler? But I do not allow myself to dwell
upon these very appalling features, trust-
ing to fate as usual, and determined to
make this trip, because nobody else dares—
sister and I being the only passengers for
Cuba, and I have talked her out of reason-
ing for herself ; so away we go over these
deep blue waters of the Gulf with happy and
hopeful hearts.
What an interminable length of time it
seems since we left the icy shores of Lake
Erie two short months ago! A quarto
2 ASE UAGShOR CW BAS
volume, even two quarto volumes, could not
hold the itinerary of the intervening days,
including wom course, dl levthemcxpericnccs
prosaic and romantic. ‘The latter are richly
rare in flavor, but, being of the present, are
a little flat and tasteless; they need age to
give them sparkle and quality, as do the
rare vintages, so I have bottled and sealed
them for future use, and if the fates are pro-
pitious to this aspirant for literary honors,
then shall the whole world drink deep, and
revel vavwny teashw bis mtnesareammnc cmon
my German ancestors which predominates
this morning; but hopes are dreams with
butterfly wings!
[ have touched upon the trip by steamer
down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers—those
café-au-lait waters which were so muddy
and sluggish in January, yet to-day are
wreaking such fearful results, making an
inland sea of some of the richest farming
lands in the country, and what loss of life as
well as property! It is harrowing to think
of ; what a combination of the furies they
must hold in every drop of their waters to
spread such wholesale devastation !
THE FORTRESS OF MORRO CASTLE, AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE
HARBOR OF HAVANA.
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 5
Three weeks of pleasurable rest at Pass
Christian, that charming Gulf resort for
winter, where one can wheel, ride, or drive,
and sail and fish to his heart’s content.
Then came the wonderful Mardi Gras fes-
tivities in the Crescent City, and the conse-
quent dissipation and royal good times
never to be forgotten !
Ash Wednesday dawned and spread a
pall over all, and we retreated to foreign
shores in sack-cloth and ashes! and oh!
what a rest to be on these waters away
from the giddy whirl of social life in that
old French city, where during the Mardi
Gras season one is impressed that life holds
nothing but the wine cup of pleasure, and
the most serious duty is to attend only
those functions that bring one most enjoy-
ment; from the atmosphere filled with
music and gay laughter you cannot escape
if you try, and there is untold pleasure in
experiencing, for once in your days, that life
is but a dream of joy!
It seems but natural, after following the
Mississippi almost its entire length from
North to South, that we should continue
6 ACEEAGSHO REC UBAS
with its flow into the Gulf of Mexico, the
Mediterranean of 7\meticas andr croccm ts
multi-colored surface to the very mouth
where stands in queenly command the gem
of the American seas, the island of Cuba.
Taking the steamer from New Orleans,
ourescourse lieS) oz2 > Ports Pantpaganae ey,
West, Fla, to Havana shes -topeaueiom
Tampa was of several hours, which was
spent in=sightsecingi) Ble inny nearerie
dock is built right over the waters of the
bay; the dining room is most beautifully
situated, long open windows framing the
vast expanse of waters beyond—convenient
for the amusement of the guests, who feed
the fishes with various articles of diet ; and
where it is possible in a few moments to
Catchwastrino mol ecaticimimvtemcn(anaiarc
Vienna roll—subject to no disappointment,
such as some fishermen experience, with the
subsequent humiliation of buying a string.
Vhe fish are so tame, they do all but walk
inves) THe aye ovis |) WKS Gime clic yoke
of Sir Izaak Walton would naturally scoff
at such angling—preferring, of course, the
gamy silver tarpon or the wily speckled
A FLAG FOR. CUBA. z
trout. Having indugled in the latter sports,
I must confess that where success is uncer-
tain it gives zest to the enjoyment, and to
conquer difficulties makes one a greater
hero,
Key West, March 7.
One half day and night’s sail from Port
Tampa through the ten thousand island
keys, which, green with verdure, stretch
irregularly in every direction to the horizon,
brought us to Key West, the most southern
Stiyeomurcmunited states, (lhe word key
is from the Spanish cayo, meaning island. )
No imagination can picture the varying
shades, changing momentarily, of those
waters surrounding this island city, due in
part to the limestone reefs and coral forma-
tions. For twenty and thirty feet one can
see below the surface the most beautifully
colored fish darting back and forth among
the growing coral. From the bastion of
Fort Taylor—not yet completed, although
started in 1845—we studied the gamut of
shades on the water’s surface,
“ Lulled by the coil of its crystalline streams.”
8 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
Touching the horizon, where the sky was
intensely blue, flowed a stream of rich tur-
quoise, melting in a zigzag course into a
rare dark green, joined to another stream
of deeper blue, offset again by the palest
tint, while near the shore stretched a
milky border of opalescent hues. The city
itself appeared like a pure white pearl float-
ing in a sea of gems, from the glistening
emeralds, amethysts, and liquid sapphires, to
the burning opals.
Before leaving the Fort I took a snap-
shot of the island city, seven miles long by
two miles wide, with its eighteen thousand
inhabitants. Of course they were not con-
scious of having their “ pictures took,” or |
Never WoUldeNavemescapec mil Nemmel iy aan.
picturesque, with its pretty frame dwellings
surrounded by date and cocoanut palms,
waving their graceful fronds in the cooling
breeze, while the thermometer registered
70° in the shade. Men looked immaculate
in white linen suits, and ladies were daintily
gvowned in organdies and mulls—a decided
contrast to the frigid weather reports in our
letters from the north. The atmosphere
THE HEIGHTS OF LA CABANA, ADJOINING MORRO CASTLE.
AVELAG FOR CUBA. ims
of the city was filled with the perfume of
blossoms; a profusion of gorgeous flowers
prectea the eye at every turn. Tower-
ing oleanders were hanging low under a
burden of bloom, rare shades of rose-pink,
red, and white ; the brilliant orange-colored
flowers of the ganger tree were subdued by
the cool shadows and the dense foliage of
the Spanish laurel, or by the waxen-leaved
sapodilla with its russet fruit. Darky boys
were seen climbing the cocoanut palms, and
then disputing over the division of the
spoils, half the milk and meat being wasted
in the struggle.
Key West is a large naval station; in
the barracks grounds is a wonderful banyan
tree, the roots covering an area of fifty feet.
The most pretentious and conspicuous
buildings are the post office, and custom
house, marine hospital, and Fort Taylor.
La Brisa pavilion, on the beautiful waters of
the Gulf, is the rendezvous for pleasure.
Here one can see scores of pretty gazelle-
eyed maids tripping the light fantastic with
ease andgrace. Cigar factories (one of the
principal industries of Key West) are
12 ACH IA Gael O Rac UL BAP
mostly in the hands of Cubans. We saw
the silken golden leaf as shipped from
Havana, unpacked, assorted, stripped, and
made into all sizes of cigars; then assorted
as to size and quality, packed in boxes,
stamped, and labeled for shipping. The
many pretty Cuban girls, with their soft lan-
ouorous eyes and creamy skins, seemed
brimming over with merriment, although all
is carnage and ruin in their island home
eighty miles away; the older women, as
well as the men, were smoking cigarettes,
and in the center of the main room was a
raised platform where stood a man reading
aloud in Spanish to the busy workers, who
each pay a few cents a week for this sen-
sible diversion. He reads papers or books,
as thevesdesipewmas Osta excellent @planeeto
check the idle gossip in factories.
Sponge fishing 1s also one of the indus-
tries of Key West; the warehouses are
filled with millions of them in their un-
bleached state (suspended from the ceiling
asa curiosity was a peculiarly shaped sponge
the: size of a half bushel basket). Where
the men were cutting the cheaper sponges,
Aerie Guo R CUBA, i
and trimming to a uniform size, I saw
thousands of pieces that would supply and
gladden the hearts of all the little maidens
of the ‘“‘ North Countree,” who are begin-
ning the problem of life with pencils and
slates.
The reefs on which the sponges grow are
only six miles away, and cover an area of
thirty-five hundred miles. The men of a
sponging schooner search the bottom with
a sponge glass (a bucket with a glass bot-
tom), and bring up the sponges with a
hook; they are spread on deck, and ‘the
gelatinous matter which encases them
allowed to decay, then brought to land,
placed in crawls, where the ebb and flood
of the water wash them clean in a week;
then beaten free of sand and grit, and
assorted on the wharves in bunches and
sold at auction. We passed several spong-
ing fleets cruising on the reefs, and watched,
their operations; also witnessed the dis-
charge of their cargo at the docks. Ab-
sorbed in this interesting sight, our atten-
tion was called to a filibustering schooner a
short distance from shore, laden with sup-
I4 ADE LAGE ORSCU BAG
plies for Cuba and manned by insurgents,
while close to us stood several Cubans ex-
changing signs and signals with those on
board; and we learned: later that the
schooner had set out for Cuba the day
before, but being followed had to return,
and now assumed the business of fishing,
waiting to escape the vigilant eye of its
enemy, and make a more successful de-
parture. We continued to observe these
maneuverings at intervals during the day,
and finally the Cubans on shore went aboard
a sloop, and sailed away in an opposite
direction from the schooner, which after an
hour or more headed for the same point, and
wé all hoped the course was clear for a suc-
cessful issue.
The wharves at Key West are a veritable
side-show of surprises, and among the most
interesting are the pens of monstrous
turtles weighing three and four hundred
pounds, caught in nets and kept in these
crawls, until sold for shipment north at
twenty-five and thirty cents per pound.
There are several steamers lying at the
docks and the passengers are amusing
THE FAMOUS BANYAN TREE, KEY WEST, FLA.
AP RUNAGIEOR, CUBA: iy
themselves by tossing coins into the water
for which the little darky boys dive, catch-
ing them by mouth or hand; the various
contortions of their perfect bronze forms
are clearly visible in the depths below; they
swim like fish; the water is over twenty
feet deep. The sport is so fascinating to
the coin thrower that he quite forgets his
school table for the measure of values until
his pockets are empty, while the brown
faces beam with expectancy until the
change is exhausted.
Then what a subject for an artist!
~Serambling out of the water on the docks,
they stand emptying the contents of their
temporary bank—the mouth—to count the
“shiners,” surrounded by a score of boys
picturesque in their scanty and ragged
clothes, participating in the fun and frolic
but not the gains, for to the divers alone
belong the coins.
The last glimpse of Fort Taylor and the
Marine Hospital, and the whole picturesque
island, faded with the closing in of the last
brilliant rays of a superb sunset as we sped
18 ATFUAG FORIGURA.
along the buoy-marked channel southwest
toward Havana on the Cuban shore, only
ninety-four miles away. The government
light on Sand Key, seven miles south-south-
west of Key West, marks the southernmost
point of the United States” “Between the
line-oi keyssand the Cuban shoresareythe
straits of Florida, through which flow ina
steady current the warm waters of the Gulf
Stream, |) Ehescrossing vor thesesstraits ais
dreaded as much as that of the Enelish
Channel, because so fearfully rough, but
we suffer no qualms, having already proved
our sterling qualities for seamanship—
through a number of storms, laughing at
the angry waves, and gaining the epithet
of cenuine salt, tars,”
Saihevday isidones er Anestesimultane
ously with the last faint lingering shadow of
sunset night burst forth in all its glory of
starlight; and what brilliant stars! These
southern heavens are so clear and trans-
parent that the eye can almost penetrate
beyond the limits of illimitable space.
A few short hours in our cozy berths,
with windows wide open, for the millions of
A PALM-SHADED HOME IN KEY WEST.
7 4 ry a ~ ‘ 4s i,
ti a : Ue aha u pee Aw
Apr oAGY FOR CUBA, 21
distinct stars to shed their silver light on
the pathway of our dreamy rest, and dawn
will break ; and with it, our first glimpse of
the shores of Cuba. Axuenas Noches (Good-
night)! The soft Castilian tongue, with its
liquid vowels and consonants, which we
have heard more or less on the ship and in
Key West, seems the only one appropriate
in this tropical stretch where the breezes
are soothingly languorous and nature 1s
surpassingly rich and mellow.
ADE MEARS J COIE an bay NIN aN.
In THE City oF Havana,
ISLAND OF CUBA,
March 9, 1897.
Vent! Vide! Veet’ we may exclaim like
Czesar, for the Rubicon is crossed! We
are on Cuban soil, damp with the bloody
domination of Sparish cruelity, and under
the vigilant eyes of the Spanish police !
But I am rushing headlong into the
strife. backward@stucheeebackwardasrol.
thoughts, in your trend, and let me recount
our early morning arrival! Would that I
had the gift of Shelley—lover of the sea
to pen you an artistic picture of that sun-
rise on the bay of Havana!
It was barely five o’clock in the morning
when with the captain we stood on deck,
looking south, and in the somber shadow
of winged night we could trace the stretch
of hilly coast, extending east and west for
22
ATTA G HOR CUBA, 23
miles in a broken Sine, and set with glis-
tening stars of electricity, resembling a
jeweled coronet, while rising above the
shore in brilliant illumination beamed, mini-
ature-like, in the distance, the quaint old
city of Havana, capital of Cuba.
When about two miles from Morro Castle
light we distinguished several small boats
approaching our steamer; in fact we had
slowed up to take the occupants on board.
One was the Spanish pilot, who took com-
mand of the wheel, and the others, about
six, were the Board of Health and Custom
House officials and police, all uniformed in
cadet blue linen suits with white trimmings.
Somenotmethese officers are detailed *to
B2vomure steamer as long. as she lies:in
port.
At first we resented the rude staring and
prying officiousness of these Spaniards with
their snappy black eyes and closely trimmed
Van Dyke beards, for no matter which way
we turned their attention was riveted upon
us; now, we would feel quite lost without
this distinguished bodyguard. The most
humble American citizen is at present of'
24 ALELAGTPORECU BAT
great importance in Cuba, because Spain ts
most suspicious of her American neighbors.
I shall never forget what difficulties our
kind and courteous captain and purser
passed through for our sakes. And judg-
ing from the latter's gymnastic conversa-
tion with the Spanish officers, who were
equally demonstrative, the officers either
did not want to understand the purser’s
Spanish, or were too obtuse to comprehend
the condition of affairs, viz., two women
without passports or certificates of health,
and without escorts, in the face of war and
smallpox, for the sake of sight-seeing under
such. adverse conditions, to venture across
the water and risk possible detention,
It seemed: hopelessly - beyond them-;
they would separate, shaking their heads,
and then return to go through more gyrat-
ing and layrng down the law. We, being
the cynosure, of allveyes felt themleast bit
conscience-stricken that our willfulness
and daring might entangle our beloved
country in such a series of intricate compli-
cations as would result in a case of “ Spain
vs. America,” and possibly bring ruin and
JUST BEFORE DAWN, HAVANA BAY.
A FLAG FOR’ CUBA. 27
disgrace to the very officers to whom we
were so deeply indebted. (And right here
in Havana let me pay a tribute to those of
our American men who never fail in all the
demands of unselfishness, often at the loss
of personal comfort and inconvenience, to
extend to the unescorted women, when
traveling, that grace of courteous attention
which stamps them true-born gentlemen,
and of whom every American woman 1s
proud. )
To this hour I am ignorant of how those
officers adjusted their differences, but what
looked ominous at first dissipated with the
faint flush of dawn, and our spirits rose as
we neared the picturesque fortress of Morro
Castle, which guards the entrance of that
magnificent harbor, ‘‘the finest in the
world, with but one exception, that of Mel-
bourne, Australia,” our captain declared,
who had touched at every foreign port.
As the course of the steamer lies a little
east of Morro Castle, the narrow entrance to
the bay and the bay itself, or the harbor, are
not visible until the steamer turns her nose
around the rocky fortress point, and be-
28 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
hold! a hill-crowned bay with a thousand
SlipsmatyranchorsOneae smilie cactmoL
oreen waves in the peaceful light of early
dawn ; there were ships of all sizes and of all
nationalities—Spanish men-of-war, Spanish,
American, and European steamers, freight
lighters: passenger boats, ferries, setcrsatd
asewesentered {he sMOULN Ol mthenbaven te
lig¢nt of morning broke, revealing a most
beautiful sight.
At the left of the harbor is Morro Castle,
connected by a continuous fortification with
the Fort of La Cabafia, the strongest fortress
of Havana, crowning a high bluff on the
water front; the right entrance is guarded
by Fort La Punta, and then encircling the
bay rises in majestic whiteness the city itself.
Slowly and regally from behind the heights
of La Cabafia appeared a golden crescent
of roseate light, rising higher and filling
more rapidly, then bursting suddenly into a
globe of fire and giving a master’s touch of
color and light to the scene before us.
The king of day was in command; out-
lining with a golden halo the somber
tOWCrsmoOlw) | Oro, @actlcwleaw Galan led
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 209
Punta, and the other three forts of this
harbor; then tracing in gold the crescent
shore on the right, and touching up the
numerous spires, towers, domes, and _ col-
umns of the massive buildings and churches,
quaint in their Moorish style of architect-
ure, and bathing all in a flood of warm pink
and creamy lights, it was the most artisti-
cally beautiful picture I ever saw, and as if
fomicianuen the etlect, at the sun's rise
reveillé sounded from the men-of-war in the
harbor and from the forts simultaneously,
echoing afar among the hills note after
note, while the flags were hoisted and
floated out upon the tropical air.
The bay is three miles in circumference,
land-locked, and deep enough for the largest
vessels, and capacious enough for a navy.
The Spanish men-of-war in the full flood of
daylight were spotlessly white and all of a
shimmer of gold in their highly polished
mountings.
It did not seem possible that amid all
this beauty of scene, with nature’s smiling
peace, there could be discord and strife,
blood and war; the morning was so quiet
30 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
and refulgent that only tender and happy
thoughts could live.
In Spanish waters all foreign steamers
anchor at their respective buoys, unless
they wish to pay the enormous privilege
for docking, so while being piloted to our
anchorage we were followed by a raft of
small passenger boats and freight lighters,
the latter two-masted schooners: as soon
as the anchon was. cast, three oretoutson
these lighters were secured to the side of
the steamer and the discharging of freight
began. Each lighter had its own crew of
stevedores, mostly blacks, who carried their
noonday meal in a bright bandanna.
The freight this trip consisted of hun-
dreds of boxes of eggs, a large supply of
oats, molasses, and sugar.
Among the cargo of former trips were
a hundred horses and cattle, for which they
received twenty dollars a head, and no
GhaicemuOnwslnlOoa dino mmaCme Licmmstc anil
anchors at a wharf where they are simply
led off.
After breakfast came the momentous
hour for going ashore. Innumerable com-
THE OLD STONE-STEP LANDING, HAVANA.
A PRAG FOR CUBA: 35
munications had passed between the
officers on ship-board and those on land.
Escorted by our ship’s officers we stepped
into a boat, a sort of yawl, with an arbor-
like curtained frame in the stern, protect-
ing us fromthe sun’s hot rays, for as the
day grew apace the heat increased ; still a
most delightful and refreshing breeze came
off the water. These yawls, or bombs, as
they are called, besides one or two pairs of
oars have a sail which that morning the
breeze filled, skimming us along over the
bay close by the men-of-war with their hun-
dreds of white uniformed sailors on duty.
In twenty minutes we had reached the
great stone steps of the landing, where,
after being again duly inspected at a re-
spectful distance, and witnessing more gym-
nastic discussions in Spanish, we stepped
foot on Cuban soil. Landed at that wharf
from which Cortez had sailed for the land
of the Aztecs to add Mexico to Spain, and
De Soto embarked for Florida, and dis-
covered the Mississippi! Can you imagine
the flood of thought that filled me for
a few moments? But ‘I was _ suddenly
34 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
brought out of past century reveries by a
loud squabble on the docks among the fish
dealers; a large consignment of dried fish
similar to cod was being bid for; soldiers
patrolled the landing on guard duty; idle
men in dilapidated clothes with sore, scabby
faces stood where a hundred of bombs
were moored, and in which the prisoners
are taken across the bay about half a
mile to the dungeons of Morro Castle.
The spacious old custom house on the
landing has been garrisoned with hundreds
of soldiers, Passing through the great
iron gates, which are closed at night, we
CNLLeieet ne aeity .Ol se llavanamb yalicuec (Lect
leading along the barracks on the right,
with the Columbus Memorial Chapel on
the left, facing the park square, which’ is
in front of the Captain General’s winter
palace. The latter is a massive colonnaded
marble structure and contains the offices of
the various government departments. Up
to General Weyler’s appointment to his
CXeCULiVesOllICe this pal kK mOGenlazametomimn>
called in Spanish, was a most refreshing
spotwhera creat laurelmttecswopreadmalcit
Meh VAG KOR CUBA. 35
thickly leaved branches for inviting shade,
but for some undivulged reason General
Weyler had these beautiful trees felled and
saplings put in their place, consequently
the plaza to-day is anything but attractive.
mocmeetniers marble, statue of Ferdinand
VII. stands in the center without the least
shade, the surroundings being unrelieved
stretches of white buildings. While we
were passing the entrance gate of the
bouriekcwmeviiich also. faces the Plaza, I
audaciously snapped my kodak on the
commandante anda group of soldiers, and
for which I expected instant decapitation, as
did the rest of the party with me, judging
from their surprised and shocked expres-
sions; but so far I have suffered no inter-
ference in that respect, except ominous
looks.
The soldiers’ uniform is of linen cadet
blue; coats banded in white, blue, or green,
according to the rank ; gray sombreros, or
white linen fatigue caps; the officers are
mostly of fine physique and military bear-
ing, but there are hundreds of young
soldiers who in their shambling gait off
36 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
duty remind one of schoolboys. Soldiers
are on guard at all the government build-
ings inside and out; also at certain points
throughout the city, while others pass back
and forth and mingle with the pedestrians.
Most of them have an untidy appearance,
their linen suits being mussed and out of
shape, and the trouser legs seeming loth to
comme in contact with Cuban soil, judging
from their elevation—reminding one of
“Mr. O’Reilly’s high-water pants.”
Havand Wlarch ro.
What first impresses one in Havana are
the very narrow streets in the old quarters.
Some of the business thoroughfares allow
passage for one team only, so there are cer-
tain streets to go up and certain Streets to
COM COWMirandh nN OMmsIden al lame xceptma
curbing one foot to two feet wide. If you
have the right of way the person coming
toward you steps down on one foot into
the street (almost a foot below) and waits
till the Indian-file procession passes, then
resumes his journey, this constant jumping
up and down reminding one of the old-
A FLAG FOR CUBA. ay
fashioned game of ‘‘hop-scotch.” Many
walk in the streets, and in one respect it is
more comfortable, but the rough stone
IN THE OLD BUSINESS QUARTER, HAVANA.
pavements are sure to produce a corn crop
on short notice.
The business streets are awninged across
—a protection from the sun; likewise span-
ning the way are gay banners flaunting 1n
38 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
the breeze, bedecked with merchants’
signs, so that “‘he who runs may read,” that
is, if he reads Spanish, for Cuba is Spanish
in all but the freedom-inspiring American
air she breathes.
In the newer quarters the broad avenues— .
in the center of which are stretches of green
parks with beautiful Indian laurel, palms
and evergreen trees—are lined with white,
Creal wandessOlte pine tintedmpalaces min...
jestic in their solid outlines, relieved only
by the lofty graceful porticos and arches
resting on substantial pillars. The build-
ings are of white marble and white lime.
stone, one or two stories and flat roofs; the
walls are of extreme thickness, the ceilings
very hieh, and themtloorsyare tiled.) [he
fronts of the houses have a formidable ap-
pearance; huge windows with iron bars and
shutters take the place of glass,\but the
ponderous doors once open reveal courts
or patios with beautiful trees, shrubs,
flowers, and running fountains. ‘The busi-
ness structures are similar; the apartments
above lead from a covered veranda which
surrounds the court. These are character-
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 39
istic features of the buildings in Mexico or
wherever the architecture has been in-
fluenced by Moorish Spain. This city
does not impress me as so strangely quaint,
because of my familiarity with old Mexico,
it is nevertheless impressive, differing in
the great variety of palms, which form one
of the graceful features of the landscape,
towering specimens waving their huge
fronds scepter-like on high.
We visited every quarter of the city and
the suburbs, but owing to the existing war
conditions were advised not to make any
excursions into the adjoining districts, it
being deemed hazardous. Old-fashioned
victorias, drawn by small horses in heavy
brass-trimmed harnesses, are stationed at
Piineousevery corer, and can) be ‘hired for
uemetes tritles (ii» you make; the bargain
Petorehancd)- wee. drive alone the Prado
past several park squares—plazas—contain-
ing magnificent statuary, and out several
miles on the splendid Charles III. Avenue
(Paseo Carlos) to the Captain General’s
casa, or summer palace, gave us a beautiful
view of the hilly stretches of verdure-cov-
40 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
ered country beyond, with their flag-topped
forts. Surrounding the palace is a park
filled with every variety of tropical flowers,
fruits, plants, and trees; playing fountains
and artificial waterfalls add their gurgling
COUNTRY FREIGHT TRAINS.
notes to those of bright feathered songsters,
The whole is inclosed by a white marble
wall, capped with an elaborate iron fence.
Small horses laden with saddle-baskets of
fruit are picturesque and familiar sights in
the suburbs, as are also the long trains of
ox teams, yoked by the horns and drawing
loads of freight.
Another drive out along the shore of the
A FLAG FOR CUBA. AI
Gult vot; Mexico, through the suburbs. of
~Carmello and Vendaba, gave us a sight
of the beautiful colonnaded homes encircled
by more beautiful gardens against the still
more beautiful background of the blue
materomotethe (rulf. This is the fashion-
able evening drive; along which are the
white marble éazos, or bath houses, slop-
iemdovwne to the edge of the water; the
CO eeOueaiotelS the casinos with. their
Meme active icatures, not the least of
pomenmecmine sexcellent. cuisine.’ hese
are the rendezvous places, at all seasons
of the year, for the é/zfe and fashionable of
the two hundred and fifty thousand tn-
habitants of Havana.
Along the highways bordering the Gulf
the Spaniards are constructing forts and
buildine fortifications, perhaps in antici-
pation of a foreign war! I wonder how
long it would take American warships to
Pet Llemticmsunvemacyvn Ol mpoOwel ii) Lliese
WaberotemeTOlmewiercmls writesl can. see
the heights of La Cabafia, adjoining Morro
Gastle = trome whichs) the British). and
Yankees, under General Putnam, stormed
42 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
the castle when they took the town in 1762,
and Lord Albemarle’s share of the booty
was one hundred thousand pounds in gold!
I have in mind a number of willing-to-be
lords ready for such substantial spoils!
Several visits to the Fondas of Havana
have initiatedwus intomthe: mystericssotma
Spanish fresco, an iced drink of a combi-
nation of crushed fruits most palatable
and refreshing these very warm days; as
are also the delicious home made iced
creams with dulces (cakes).
The -restaurantsom the: first floor. with
doors and windows wide open, are very
clean and invitingly cool, and the service
is excellent. We have had most delicious
pompino, the famous fish of the Gulf,
Spanish omelettes, and several unnamable
dishes~ the latter) quite’ too" Spanish= tor
OUliam iM ehiCalmelictes:
Most of the hotels are comfortable and
quite modern in their appointments, but at
INohtwowe s pretenmtne = protectionnao mamouiGg
American flag on the steamer, and when
sunset comes we pass out through the city
gates and step into our waiting boat, which
THE SUBURBS OF HAVANA.
ALONG
A FLAG FOR CUBA. As
carries us far out on the bay, away from
the din and noise and heat of the day, and
where the breezes, cool and sweet, lull us
Fommeiresning (sleep. (We are: told by a
genius at story-telling “that there are
seventy-five distinct odors in the Harbor
of Havana when the wind blows the other
way! We think his olfactories have
Deentected tO their limits. But it is really
a fact that the bay, which has no outlet
femecleigeing® itseli, is made a receptacle
for the city’s sewage.
HAVANA. Wlarch 11
When we visited the Havana markets,
immense buildings occupying entire blocks
in different sections of the city, we saw a
variety and abundance of fish, vegetables,
and tropical fruits such as we had never seen
before. Of course we had to taste those
fruits that were new to us—and such a con-
elomeration as they were, mostly acidless,
sweet, and mushy, pronounced delicious by
the natives, but perhaps, like the admira-
tion for the shoulder of Katisha, of Mikado
7) 8)
e
fame, ‘‘the taste has to be cultivated
46 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
The outside space of the lower floor of
the market house is occupied by stores,
with every variety of goods and wares,
running the gamut of human needs from
an infant’s slip to a rough box or coffin;
the interior space on the lower floor 1s occu-
pied). by stalls! tor #fruit and yeretables:
while on the second floor are the meat,
fish, and poultry departments. Most of
the attendants could with effect have been
treated to a surprise-party of soap and
water and clean linen. Many bear traces of
recent scars from smallpox; in fact nearly
all the natives you meet are pock-marked.
I found the same conditions in Mexico ; the
people are unclean and have no idea of
sanitation, and when disease breaks out it
naturally spreads where the soil is ripe
fOrmit:
I was informed by an American lady
who has lived a number of years in
Havana, that the native woman seldom
ever touches water to her face, the first
duty in her toilet-making is to use the
powder puff; and that the two _ indis-
pensable requisites to, her, Gomiort, at
AGRUAG FOR CUBA. 47
home or abroad, are a fan and a small box
holding puff and powder. She uses one
as freely as the other, at all times and
under all circumstances. If at the res-
taurant or theater the heat be _ intense,
she opens her powder box and cools her
Peewee oeiic or these puff holders are
like small silver bon-bon boxes, set with
tiny mirrors, so you can imagine how small
the puff must be. We saw a number of
women abroad, mostly all in the deepest
mourning: this two years’ struggle having
thinned the ranks of father, brother, hus-
bageeanareon. § Phey looked like specters,
with their powdered faces, in black gowns
ace opanisn lace) veils; *all carried tiny
fans (even the men), the tinier the more
fashionable, as we discovered in the fan
shops, where we saw thousands of them;
fans of dainty sandal wood, inlaid with
mother of pearl, of exquisite lace with
carved ivory handles mounted in gold,
ranging in price from twenty-five cents
to five hundred dollars, in Spanish gold
Oiucliver malice thismeadcamesto tell’ you
about the money question which is just
48 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
now stirring the business wrath of all
Cuba.
Since the -insurreetion = the © spanish
Government has issued a paper currency,
whichis! depreciatin gmedayasDyecla\remme Lc
a casa gamuia, (Or exchange ollice mae
secured native money; for five American
dollars we received eight dollars and forty
cents in paper, or five dollars and seventy-
five cents in gold or silver.
The paper money given us was crisp and
new (to avoid infection) and of the follow-
ing denominations: cinco centavos (five
cents); cinquenta centavos (fifty cents) ;
ciento centavos (one hundred cents); the
last two bills are not larger than the old
twenty-five cent American ‘“shinplaster.”
In giving the price of any article the
merchants would rate it according to the
different money standards, charging double
if paid for in paper (the circulation of which
they tried hard to prevent and which they
say will soon be worthless). Business of
course 1s at a standstill; many of the houses
have closed, and in others salaries have been
reduced and the force cut down. The war
APL EAG TOR CUBA. 49
has destroyed hamlets and villages, as well
as plantations; compelled farmers, laborers,
and planters, with their families, to seek
the cities’ protection. Out of work, with
scarcity of money and provisions, prices of
food advancing, there is much suffering
and want among the people ; houses are for
rent, owners having gone to the States, to
return when times are better and the war 1s
over.
Nearly all the places of amusement are
elecedememee principal one is the Tacon;
which ranks as the third largest theater in
the world. The Spanish Casino is a mag-
nificent building, with a fine collection of
painting and articles of vertu representing
the history of the Spanish nation since the
femi@test sepoch, — Lhe Casino supports a
free academy, where English and French
languages, bookkeeping, drawing, etc., are
taught.
The masquerade balls of the Casino
during the carnival are noted as the most
gorgeous in the world. We_ visited the
exclusive club, ‘‘Central Asturiano,” which
in its architecture, materials, decorations,
50 At LAG EL O ReGUIBA:
and furnishings exceeds any club build-
ing in foreign countries. It beggars de-
scription... vA wealth on™ marbiemsonyx<
mirrors, cut glass, precious woods, rich
brocaded draperies, exquisite pieces of
bronze and marble, all make up an artistic
and ravishing effect.
While visiting this building we were
fortunate enough to meet several of the
most beautiful women of Havana, who
were completing arrangements for a grand
full dress children’s party to be held at the
club. They were» handsome women ‘ot
that dark rare type peculiar to the Creole ;
rich creamy skins with soft dark brown
eyes and chestnut hair, and they seemed
so light-hearted and happy that I could not
quite reconcile their manners and plans to
the existing state of things in the island
at large. |
But through all sorrows and_ strifes
there will be those who weep, and those
who laugh, and time makes joy the stronger.
Our interest in churches was. centered
in the! old atin-Gothie Gathedrala wibeaa-
THE OLD CATHEDRAL, HAVANA.
A HLAG FOR CUBA. 53
ing up from a narrow street in the old
quarter with a square of pavement in
front, stands this imposing structure, which
holds the last remains of the immortal
Columbus, whose ashes were said to have
been brought here from San Domingo
when that island was ceded to the French.
Diego, the son of Columbus, is also buried
in this grand old cathedral, whose interior
is so rich and effective, and the found-
ations of which were laid in 1656 and which
was completed in 1754. The buildings in
the rear, adjoining the church, remind one
of the old Spanish missions in southern
California and through Mexico. But the
richest and handsomest church is that of
the Merced, built in 1746.
Around the main altar, which is gold fin-
ished, and furnished in rare embroideries and
laces, are some noted paintings, especially
CiemOme iio laste ot pers) lhe chapel
on the left is a facsimile of the Grotto of
Lourdes in France, with most elaborate
details. Adjoining the church within the
cloister wall is a tropical garden of mag-
nificent palms, bananas, and other trees.
54 APU LAGS FORGE UibAG
Besides the Catholic churches there are
other places of worship belonging to mostly
all denominations, and religious intolerance
is a relic of the past. The convent schools
and Jesuit colleges are the chief educational
influences.
One of the principal points of interest to
all tourists is the Columbus Memorial on
the plaza opposite the Captain General’s
winter residence, and only one = square
from the wharf gates. It is a white marble
chapel, in front of which is a small plot of
ornamented ground inclosed by an elaborate
marble and iron fence. It was built to
commemorate the place where was cele-
brated the first Mass on the island in the
year 1519, ‘“‘ under a large ceiba, a beautiful
tree known as the cotton tree of the West
Indies.” It is not that tree, but one of its
kind, which shadows the intense whiteness
of the marble chapel and gives an artistic
touch to the whole.
Havana, March 12, 1897.
We spent this afternoon visiting our
American representatives, whose offices are
COLUMBUS MEMORIAL CHAPEL, HAVANA.
cl
nates |. - ‘ Po ren
7 oe, VES Rie
ae, “Ay
A FLAG FOR CUBA. BZ
in an imposing white marble building ; the
newspaper correspondents, representing
America’s leading papers, occupy offices on
the first floor. Taking the elevator up one
flight, we were ushered into the consul’s
apartments. [here was no ceremony, no
red tape about an audience. When the dis-
tinguished and courteous vice consul, Mr.
J. Stricker, received us and sent our cards
fomtmewconsul, General Fitzhugh Lee, the
answer came immediately, “The general
Pvaiucmeriyes ladies, . and he welcomed us
with a hearty hand-shaking cordiality that
alone would have repaid us for the trip.
Immaculate in white linen, with his sandy
mustache and brilliant complexion and
merry blue eyes, he impressed us as a strik-
ingly handsome man, with an ease and
grace of military bearing that would fasci-
nate the most indifferent, while his gallant
courtesy wins him general admiration.
He complimented us on our bravery, and
said our visit was such a respite from the
war conditions that he determined to keep
us as long as possible. He was jolly and
full of anecdotes (which pray do not mis-
58 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
take for a Spanish drink), and encouraged
our conversation along all lines but that of
the war.
Lvaskedshinrit “he thouchtssthemwar
would soon be over, and he replied, ‘“‘ We
cannot tell; we arein hopes something will
intervene to put an end to this needless
suffering and shedding of blood.”
Apropos of General Weyler, he related
aNeINCiden CaO le nISmbGaVel\ sae TemOLmtic
Harper artists was most desirous of secur-
ing a sketch of Weyler in the field, and took
advantage of a time when Weyler and one
of the flying columns of Spanish soldiers
were devastating plantations in the neigh-
borhood of Havana. On the reported day
ObUhis# retirieetOomticmClivemtncmaiiistesin:
trenched himself in a small deserted hut on
the highway to watch the procession and se-
cure asketch; to insure freedom from attack
he hung outa yellow flag—the fatal sign for
smallpox, and that scourge to the Spaniard ©
is dreaded even more than the bandit’s knife.
Finally the troops came in view, and
when Weyler in his line of vision saw the
little hut with its yellow flag, he pulled to
ASELAGEYORGCUBA. 59
the opposite side, gave whip and spur to his
horse, and went by so rapidly that not even
a cinemetograph could have taken the fly-
ing figure, or the soldiers who followed
him.
Havana, March 13, 1897.
In spite of the war conditions on this
island, we have not been brought in contact
with anything warlike but the Spanish
officers and soldiers, and but for them, and
the several cavalry troops we have seen
Meteneamout ior duty, and. the Spanish
men-of-war in the harbor and the vigilance
ofall the police, the business depression and
general quiet of the city, we would not know
Gime ateexisteds | Of course itis, inv the
air, everybody discussing Weyler and his
barbarous manner of warfare. He is hated
alike by all the citizens, Spaniard or Cuban,
and many are the horrible tales that are
told of him. The newspapers print only
such news as is given officially, under
Spanish direction, but there are suppressed
papers giving the other side of the issues,
and so the insurgent advances and retreats
60 As FLAGSEORCUBA®
are repeated in whispers from one to the
other. Everybody hopes for our govern-
ment’s intervention.
We have seen places for rent whose
owners have spent thousands of dollars a
year in living, yet to-day have not money
enough) toy pay 40r isetrvanteitewm saenye
body is suffering, the women and children
most of all, because their fate is so uncertain.
Are they wives and children of insurgents ?
then the worst fate awaits them, for many
have been cruelly murdered. One cannot
realize the tyranny of Spanish rule until he
breathes the Cuban atmosphere. Should
assistances be. oiven) thewtaniiieomeo Wm bie
insurgents, or any sympathy shown them,
then are the sympathizers imprisoned,
COULt-mMariialecemman climes ilo te
SWenveance@s mine, @sayom>palletimtne
acts of Weyler, and. if the insurgents do
surrender, or are defeated, then will they
meet the same fate. No wonder we hear
the cry of liberty or death! I could not
remain here much longer. Spanish domi-
Natlonwesuch aSseDlacticcdmmNnclecmmi malo
chokes me.’ I wonder I have not expressed
THE CAPTAIN GENERAL’S WINTER PALACE, HAVANA--GENERAL
WEYLER ENTERING,
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 63
my Amercian opinion aloud! Only the
ominous-looking fortress of Morro Castle,
with its pages of bloody history, keeps the
rebellious spirit silent, for there are many
insurgents right in the city, who, smiling
with Spain, do all they can to assist the
insurgents in the field.
Passing the Captain General's palace one
day I saw a group of officers, and was told
quietly Weyler was entering his residence.
I caught a cursory glance of him, and
brought my kodak into requisition. That
was near as | cared to be.
We saw a number of Cuban negroes
avoutetie market places, and it did seem
rather incongruous to hear them speak the
beautiful soft Castilian tongue of Spain.
Throughout our sight-seeing and visiting
here we have had the guidance of an
American, long a resident of Havana, and to
whom we feel most deeply indebted. He
has been tireless in his courtesies and atten-
tions, so that we have not had to suffer inter-
ference from Spanish authority, and has kept
our special bodyguard always at a respect-
ful distance.
64 A FLAG FOR CUBA. ue
We have met one or two ‘Spanish com-
mandantes, or lieutenants, and they were
most gracious in showing us small courte-
sies. 7) Phe spaniardsisnot a tiues@astiitan
if he is not innately polite, but one accepts
his courtesies with a feeling that the sur-
face is glazed, covering deceit) malice, and
even murder. Unfortunately we class all
Spaniards with Weyler, and Spain has to
shoulder his infamous treatment of human-
ity, and bear the blame. She sent him in
places ol «Campos, thateiismcrlelt vane ine
terminate the life of insurgency; so far he
has not been successful, for his own atro-
cious policy defeats his purpose. Weyler,
by his wholesale butchery and _ devasta-
tion of property, has made insurgents. of
the peaceable natives—the faczficos. He
is treading near a bottomless abyss, and
the final step will be irrevocable.
Havana, March 14, 1897.
Our visit to these foreign shores is draw-
iN Gea tOnaepeaceillmeGlo-c sslimeateamullat
it might resolve itself into an action of
they = pidervancethewly |) samc ian ieee ciel
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 65
Mratmere Object to being: held a prisoner,
when, as you know, my chief characteristic
Pomona. iTee.
If we could not show satisfactory marks
of recent vaccination, upon which the health
certificates were procured, we had to suffer
inoculation and twelve days’ quarantine.
We knew of this when we arrived, and yet
Wetenieam the examination till the last
moiment, so that we might enjoy the several
days of pleasure and sight-seeing with no
béte-norry shadow. Armed with all the assur-
ance characteristic of American travelers,
Pmdmovien the good wishes of all the
officials, who awaited the final developments
with much interest, we were escorted to
iveme wiivesicane piysician > offices “Dr. D.
W. Burgess is the United States Sanitary
Inspector, and has resided many years
in Havana. Haus silver hair and beard give
him an austere appearance, but when. his
face lights up with his gracious smile, and
his eyes beam on you so kindly, he wins
your confidence at once.
Dr. Burgess stands between the epidemic
GiNCiceAsc Him Oubamaucdmthe nealthmon the
66 AGEIOAGEEOR MC UBAY
United States, and he is most conscientious
in his duties.
The death rate from smallpox in Havana
is one hundred per day among the vil-
DR. BURGESS, UNITED STATES SANITARY INSPECTOR AT HAVANA.
lagers who have been crowded in the city
quarters and spreading the dreaded scourge,
consequently the utmost precaution has to
bertakeus
The ordeal was over; we showed the
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 67
scars of our last vaccination, and fortunately
for us we were given a certificate without
delay, which contains a description “as we
appeared,” hair, eyes, etc., and which we will
be compelled to present to the United States
Sanitary Inspector at Key West, Dr. Sweat-
ing, before we are allowed to enter Uncle
Sam's domains. With hearts light and
free we bounded down the steps of the
doctor’s office and made a round of adzos
visits.
Ae ERCRSIGUN Gaav EEA:
On BoarD THE 9. 5. C2ty of Key West,
ATLANTIC Ocran, March 16, 1307.
Our *G@ubanyvisit is Otmyestc day ame
are once more breathing the exhilarating
air of freedom and peace, which through
contrast awakens a deeper sympathy for
the iron-bound, oppressed victims of Spain's
intolerance.
We were loth to leave our new-made
friends on foreign shores, who had assisted
us in passing the Custom House officials
safely, armed as we were with books and
packages, and escorted us for the last time
in our waiting boat across the bay to the
steamer, on which Dr. Burgess made a final
LOUMMOMMINSDeCtIOI amNY Canc CMCmESO! Cal
informal reception on deck, in which the
ever vigilant Spanish officers and police
played theimrole:
They actually looked relieved when the
signal was given ‘all hands ashore.”
68
FAREWELL TO CUBA.
A FLAG FOR CUBA, Tia
_ The breeze caught the last Spanish adzos
that were spoken, and whispered them over
and over again, while we, waving our fare-
wells, watched the little sailboats carrying
our friends back to the landing ; and then
with our ship under full steam we began
our northward trip.
We sailed out of that beautiful harbor
as the guns from the Spanish men-of-
war and the forts on the encircling hills
Signaleasetne hour of sunset, and the
echoes reverberated from shore to shore
across the bay. We uttered our final adzos
to the quaint white city, with its towers
and domes and buildings; to the bay with
its forts and many ships all bathed in a
flood of orange light; to the grand old
fortress of Morro Castle, illumined by the
sun’s last gleams, which spread a path of
rose-gold light on a stretch of the blue-
green Gulf, melting into the more brilliant
glow where the waters kissed the sky.
We watched the forts and hills recede
from view until twilight shadowed the
day, and then we watched the heaven's
72 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
deepening blue, until gradually, one by one,
the stars took their appointed places, like
an army of brilliants, and we gazed for the
last time on the beautiful constellation of
the Southern Cross aslant the horizon; yet
suspended, as it were, like an omen above
Guba, thes Pearlolts the, Seas -eansomen sion
victory and for freedom!
ite ola NOs RSC WU BA
“OQ Cuba! rarest, brightest gem
That decks Atlantis’ diadem !
O star of constellation bright
That beams upon our ravished sight!”
Amonc the many beautiful titles bestowed
upon Cuba, ‘Queen of American Islands”
eadmeeeednl ot the “Antilles” are the most
appropriate. Because of her fatal beauty
and unbounded luxuriance she has been
the coveted prize of many powers, but Spain
has held with a dying grasp that priceless
gem which Christopher Columbus set in
her crown of possessions over four hundred
years ago.
Peatlmou thers intilles el he other less
precious gems are Porto Rico, also under
Spalish rule. )|)amaica~ a -Diitish posses-
sion; and Hayti, or San Domingo, a negro
republic.
These islands comprise the group known
as the Greater Antilles, the most important
ie
74 A FUAGSEO ReGU bas
of the West Indies; the other two groups
ave ities bahamas slancdcmandmthcmlecccen
Antilles (British possessions).
To get aclear impression of any object,
we must have adistinct outline. Let us for
a moment, clance mat sthocem\Viestam india
Islands, large and small, which stretch out
on that large expanse of sea between
North and South America. ‘They extend
in a curve, beginning near the southern
extremity of Florida, and terminate prop-
envy ate them Cmilisoiaatianmned amtllemc once
of South America.
The Bahama Islands are opposite the
GastecOast Ol) EF loridasand ms cunedow ne inmea
southeasterly direction, covering a distance
of (o5o0mimiless 2Onlyweamtew sotetheslarcer
islands are inhabited, one of them, New
Providence, on which Nassau is situated,
being well known as a winter resort.
The Greater Antilles, consisting of Cuba,
San Domingo or Hayti, Porto Rico, and
Jamaicamextendm rome themurulteotm\lextco
eastward into the Atlantic Ocean. The
Lesser Antilles, or Carribean Islands, start-
ing off the coast of Porto. Rico; extend
MAP OF THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS.
A FLAG FOR CUBA. ae
east, then south and west, forming almost a
@eencet half circle.
Mountains of an elevation of from three
thousand to four thousand feet appear in
nearly all of these islands, exhibiting evi-
dences of volcanic origin, though none of
them are now active. We are told the
general climate of the West Indies is not
so torrid as its position would lead us to
think. They lie within the tropics, except
a few of the more northern of the Bahamas,
but the influence of the immense bodies of
water which surround them, the constant
sea breezes which sweep over their surfaces,
and the height of their inland elevation, so
modify the intensity of the heat natural to
their locality that the atmosphere in most
parts is peculiarly uniform and agreeable.
The lowlands of Cuba, covered with
trees and dense foliage and creeping vines,
retain their moisture to such an extent that
noxious vapors arise, producing fever in the
most virulent form; but on the upper plains
and highlands here, as well as in the other
islands, a remarkable condition of health
prevails.
78 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
Cuba is the largest of the West India
Islands, and is the most westerly and the
most luxuriant ; commanding, in its situa-
tion, the Gulf of Mexico, eighty miles from
Florida and close to Yucatan; the com-
munication between North and South
America, gives it a high commercial and
political importance.
It resembles a long narrow crescent, in
form rather irregular, with acoast line of
more than 800 miles on the convex side
(north side),and more than goo miles on
the concave (south side). Its area is about
55,000, (sq Ualeusniilesmmeite mines ma tmeclic
broadest point, 22 miles at the narrowest.
A range of mountains, the Sierra Maestra,
running along the whole southern coast,
rises to a height of 800 feet above the sea.
Innumerable short rivers, rising in an
undulating plain, flow each way to the
coast, irrigating the surface of the country
and producing a vegetation of singular
luxuriance.
Most of the seaport towns and cities
have magnificent bays and_ beautiful
harbors.
A HULAG SHOR, CUBA, 79
Significant of its advantageous com-
mercial position and its remarkable natural
beauty and fertility, are such designations as
the “Queen of Islands,” “ Key of the Gulf,”
“Sentinel of the Mississippi,” “ Pearl of the
Antilles,” “Gem of the American Seas,”
which have been indiscriminately bestowed
upon this enchanting island.
Fertile beyond the conception of the
greatest imagination, writers have been lost
in a sea of poetic words to pen us pictures
of its luxuriance.
Our own great poet Longfellow wrote:
“Cuba, that garden of the West, gorgeous
with perpetual flowers, brilliant with the
plumage of innumerable birds, beneath
whose glowing sky the teeming earth yields
easy and abundant harvest to the toil of
man, and whose capacious harbors invite
the commerce of the world. In the words
of Columbus, ‘It is the most beautiful land
that ever eyes beheld.”
Cuba is second to no country in the
wealth of her forests, with such precious
woods as the mahogany, lignum vite, ebony,
cocoawood, lancewood, acacia, bamboo
80 ASEITAGIKORSGULA:
towering sixty to seventy feet, cedar, and
the palm—dqueen of the Cuban forest.
The royal and cocoanut palms waving
their long graceful fronds majestically on
high are the most beautiful of all trees in
the tropics, and the most conspicuous. To
the careless observerstuey garepalinilarsiomn
the royal palm, which is fruitless, looks like
a smooth gray-white giant vase, swelling the
least bit in the center, narrowing at the top,
and holding a huge bunch of long waving
ereen plumes, linhemtiunks ofstnes cocoa.
nut palm is a darker gray, ridged in circles
until it is lost in the fruit-bearing stems
and drooping fronds. It is never devoid
of fruit. With every change of the moon
new formations are made in the shape of an
elongated branch-like blossom, which gradu-
ally changes its seed into tiny nuts, One
tree will hold dozens of branches with the
nuts in all stages of development; the
young ones, filled with a delicious milky
water, are very strengthening, the natives
claim; in older ones the milk becomes
jellied, and is used for custard and sauces;
still older nuts have the solid white meat
COCOANUT PALMS,
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 83
which we are familiar with in the north.
The fiber of the cocoanut tree enters into
the channels of industrial arts more and
Mionemnaay by day,—wherever strength,
Pieapleness,°and durability are desired.
We read of it being used as a filler between
the hull and armor of naval vessels, as well
as between the decks.
Pemonemiic trees are the orange, the
lime, the thrifty fig, the nutmeg, the wide-
spreading mangrove, with its delicious man-
goes; other native fruits are the pawpaw,
rusty-coated sapodilla, mamey, guava, ba-
nana, plantain, guanabana (the strawberry
of the Antilles), marafion, the alligator
pear, peaches, grape fruit, pineapple, etc.
In the central and western district im-
mense fields of sugar-caner and tobacco
stretch from shore to shore, and are the
principal products besides coffee, cocoa, corn,
rice, yuca, yame, sweet potatoes, vanilla,
etc. Fish of every variety, delicious oysters,
and turtles abound in the sea. Only one-
sixth of the island of Cuba is said to be
under cultivation. On the northern coasts
are found immense deposits of salt, in other
84 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
places immense beds of iron, copper, and
coal.
Birds of fine plumage, such as the mock-
ing-bird, nightingale, the ruby topaz, the
emerald, crested humming bird, the crimson
maize bird, and hundreds of other varieties
of land and water birds are found in great
numbers. Wild animals are rarely found,
and only of the smaller species.
Themcities and | portasotmnewislan cme ne
connected by railway. Cuba has a climate
of almost perpetual summer ; no dry season
is said to endure ; rains: arewmore irequent
from “May.to) Novemberss, bor extreme
temperature the warmest day is seldom
above’ 95. the coldest never below 50.
the mean temperature being about 77°.
EAKLY SELDLEMENT.,
A little town, Nuevitas, on the eastern
slope, was the first place where Columbus
landed when he discovered the island, Oc-
tober 28, 1492, and he took possession of it
in the name of Spain, there planting his ban-
ner with its heraldic emblem (comprising
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 85
the arms of Castile (castle) and Leon (lion
rampant), two kingdoms made one by the
marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella; around
aM
| |
=
i
SPANISH COAT OF ARMS.
the outside is the grand cordon of the
Golden Fleece, a chain of alternate steels
and flints striking fire, with the fleece sus-
pended beneath).
Inall the countries Spain has ever dom1-
nated one finds this Spanish coat-of-arms
cut, carved, and emblazoned.
86 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
Columbus named the island Juana, in
honor of Prince John, the son of Ferdinand
and Isabella. Upon the death of Ferdinand
the island was called Fernandina; later
Santiago, for the patron saint of Spain; still
later the inhabitants gave it the name of
Ave Maria, in honor of the Holy Virgin,
but the old Indian name Cuba has asserted
itself triumphantly for four hundred years.
(Having searched for the meaning of the
word Cuba, and finding no satisfactory
definition, have concluded that it is a con-
traction of Cohiba, the Indian name for the
plant and leaf we call tobacco, the use of
which was a confirmed habit among them
when the island was discovered. They took
the dry leaf of the plant and rolled it inside
of another, lighted the end, and inhaled the
fumes, which were said to have a stimulating
effect, inuring them to long travels and much
fatigue. )
Columbus found the Indian inhabitants
of the island a kind and gentle race, whom
he defended in his later expeditions against
the cruel and merciless greed of the Span-
iards, for which defense he suffered such
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 87
ignominious treatment. They subjected
the poor natives to physical coercion when
showing the least sign of resistance in part-
TOBACCO PLANTATION,
ing with their riches. Columbus punished
the offenders, which so exasperated the
rapacious nobles that they plotted his ruin
and sent him a prisoner in chains back to
88 AVELAGTROR CUBA.
that country which had so lately crowned
him with honor and glory.
Spain must ever suffer this disgrace of
ingratitude, while the immortal memory of
Columbus, the greatest discoverer, glows
more brilliantly as the years pass into their
Cyclerolguinc
Peace to his ashes! which have been
transferred from place to place, and finally
interred beside those of hisson Diego, in the
cathedral=otsblavanavonethateician as witch
to him was enchanting in its beauty, intoxt-
cating in its perfume of bud and flower,
Spice. and balm, sand ain. the =sinoino of
birds} =a, dreamlandvon Juxiutiantey craune
Would that his spirit could defend success-
fully the Cubans to-day, as he tried to defend
the poor native Indian against the remorse-
less Spanish greed four hundred years ago!
Ins Vie Spain builtwherstirst towneat
Baracoa on the extreme eastern point, and
since has held undisputed possession of the
island, except when the English besieged
and captured Havana and other important
points in yi7o28andiheldmatheinmonemyect:
This expedition was led by Lord Albe-
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 89
marle, who landed near Havana with an im-
mense fleet in June, but the heat and fever
reduced the army to such a small number
that defeat was imminent but for the
timely arrival of five thousand men from
New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut,
under the command of General Lyman and
Lieutenant Colonel Putnam. With their
assistance Havana was captured, August
femaivermas stubborn resistance, andi-with
it the Spanish surrendered one-fourth of
Ciba ime loss in two. short months, to
both British and Americans, was incredible.
_Sickness and lack of care, with exposure to
the unaccustomed heat of the tropics, wiped
out almost the entire army.
There was great scandal about the
division of the spoils, the British officers
taking the lion’s share. While under Eng-
lish rule, Cuba was awakened from her
stupor of centuries; negro slaves were
brought from adjacent islands to labor ;
sugar production was established, and com-
merce encouraged. Yet in one year, for-
getting the countless English and American
lives that. were sacrificed in capturing Cuban
go A’ FLAG FORDCUBA
possessions, the British quietly and unex-
pectedly yielded all these possessions back
to Spain, and the details have never been
handed down in_ history.
Although hampered for years by the op-
pressive restrictions characterizing Spanish
rule, Cuba has gone steadily forward, and
has ‘become her richést province export-
ing annually seventy to eighty million
dollars in tobacco and sugar alone. But
Cuba does nor rreap sthempenciitascimien
exportations ; the government exercised 1s
so unjust and arbitrary that the greatest
amount of revenue goes to Spain and to
those of her officials on the island.
THE, LOPEZ VAN D CRI IW ENDE NE ce DERION:
The long continued Spanish oppression
has developed a revolutionary spirit in the
Cuban, which has asserted itself many
times in this century, spreading alarm as
well as sympathy, as was evidenced in the
Lopez and Crittenden expedition of 1850,
which resulted so fatally; both of these
men fought to liberate Cuba, but they and
A LIGHTER WITH CARGO.
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 93
most of their followers were fated to meet
death at Spanish hands. Crittenden was
Supe aictican and one of the youngest
Henec mol thie) iViexican War. . Lopez; a
native of Venezuela, had married a Cuban
Ina@yeeand received \a. commission in the
Spanish army, but was obliged to escape
from the island on being discovered aiding
the insurgents in a revolt. In the United
States he enlisted the sympathy of young
Crittenden and many others, whom he uncon-
sciously led to their doom. The Spaniards
captured their steamer FPamfero, by strat-
eo wean the: three hundred “men were
caught in the trap and mostly all executed,
and as the object of the expedition was not
disguised, no interference by the United
States government could be made.
LHD aVIRGINIUS® AMASSACRE.
Another instance which aroused the sym-
pathy of all America, and embittered the not
too friendly feeling toward Spain, was the
shocking massacre in 1873 of the American
94 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
officers and crew of the V2zrgznzus, with
Captain John Fry in command.
The ship had a cargo of war material,
secured at Port au Prince, also a list of pas-
sengers, four of whom were later condemned
as Cuban insurgents. While the ship was
cruising in the neighborhood of the island,
she was pursued by the Spanish 7ornado
and captured) but not: until most= of the
cargo was thrown overboard. When
Captain Fry protested against detention on
the ground of American rights, the Spanish
simply trampled upon the American colors
6
and took the “pirate ship” to Santiago de
Cuba, where in a court-martial trial the
Cuban passengers, the American captain and
crew were sentenced to death. In just one
month from the day that they sailed from
the United States’ shores, November 1,
Lo 72 sixty divesmuad) beenescachiicctronatiic
altar of Spanish vengeance. Too latecame
thes itertercncemy MichtsaVecmtNcaliNecmOr
those yet imprisoned, about one hundred,
but Spain was not held to account for these
deliberate executions, because ner technical
rights barred any redress. She proved the
AE EAG FOR TCU BA: 95
evidence complete that the V7r-g7nzus was
engaged in an unlawful enterprise, but on
the demand of President Grant, through
Congress, Spain surrendered the vessel and
survivors to the United States.
THE CASE OF THE “COMPETITOR, AND TREATY
RICins,
Only a year ago we were threatened witha
parallel case; the schooner Comefetctor, from
the United States, carrying ammunition
and merchandise to the insurgents of Cuba,
was captured by the Spanish on April 29,
1896, and ten American citizens taken with
her were thrown into prison at Morro Castle,
Havana, court-martialed, and sentenced to
death, General Weyler confirming the sen-
tence: but the United States at once
demanded of Spain postponement of the
executions until the treaties were presented
and considered, the State department
insisting upon a retrial of the American
citizens. Spain was given to understand
that Americans are protected against drum-
head court-martial trials, and that the United
96 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
States would insist on the treaty obligations
being performed. To refuse meant war.
Accordingly the death sentence was revoked
ancaaerettiqlecet alo Gan) linge leu. Oram COmene
conducted by a civil tribunal with all the
rights guaranteed by treaty.
The critical point was passed and war
averted) silady thes Cow petci07 as peciiaaa
repetition of the Vzrgznzus horror, recog-
nition of Cuban belligerency would have
been declared, satisfaction demanded of
Spain for violating treaty obligations, and
the. fate ot, the visland swouldieiavew@bcen
settled at once, for America is synonymous
with victory.
Intervention of our government is based
on the treaty of 1795, and the protocol-of
10772 thesformer @conceriscmsetthinowune
rights of the two countries in case of war
between either of the governments and
some other power. ‘The seventh article pro-
Videsrinatwitierstibjectorancic(aizenstolkeaan
of the contracting parties, their vessels or
effects, shall not be liable to any embargo or
detention»on, the part-ofptherotheruian any,
military expedition or public or private pur-
A FLAG FOR CUBA. Q7
_ pose whatever, and in all cases of seizures,
detention, or arrest for debts contracted by
any citizens of the one party within the
THE CUSTOM HOUSE AT THE LANDING, HAVANA.
jurisdiction of the other, the same shall be
made prosecuted by the order and authority
of law only, and according to the regular
course of proceeding usual in such cases.”
The protocol of conference and declara-
tions, concerning iudicial procedure, signed
at Madrid by the United States minister
Caleb Cushing and Secretary of State
98 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
Calderon y Callantis, January 12, 1877, was
to terminate amicably all controversy as
to) thevellect ol existinowticalicsmimcentain
matters of judicial procedure.
On the part of Spain the minister of
state agrees that “‘no citizens of the United
States “residing. diy opainwwnel sadjacent
islands or her ultramarine possessions,
charged with acts of sedition, treason, or
conspiracy, or against the institutions, the
public security, the integrity of territory, or
against the supreme government, or any
crime whatever, shall be subject to trial by
any exceptional tribunal, but exclusively by
the ordinary jurisdiction, except in the
cases, of | being ‘captured = with arms in
hand.” It was further agreed that ‘ those
not captured with ‘arms in. hand’ shall
be deemed to have been so arrested, or
imprisoned by order. of the civil authority,
forsthesetect olethestaweoten prilatecei6 on
even though the arrest or imprisonment
shall have been effected by armed force.”
The Americans on the steamer Competzlor
were not captured with arms in hand; at
worst, they were caught smuggling ammu-
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 99
_ nition and merchandise into Cuba, not yet
declared contraband of war.
‘Those engaged in running the cargo were
liable to punishment as smugglers, and the
legal penalty for smuggling even in Cuba is
not death.
The seventh article of the treaty of 1795
provides that ‘the citizens and subjects of
both parties shall be allowed to employ such
advocates, solicitors and notaries, agents
and factors, as they may judge proper, in
all these affairs, and in all their trial at law
in which they may be concerned before the
tribunal of the other party ; and such agents
snallshave free access to be present at the
proceedings in such cases, and at the taking
of all examinations which may be exhibited
in the said trial.”
dinecmprotecolnol 1877) goes into more
detail. It provides that whether the trial
be before a civil tribunal or court-martial,
(ine Marties saccuscd aresallowed to. name
attorneys and advocates, who shall have
access to them at suitable times; they shall
be furnished in due season with copy of
accusation and a list of witnesses for the
100 TANELAG FORSGUPAG
prosecution, which latter shall be examined
before the presumed criminal, his attorney
and advocate, in conformity with the pro-
visions of articles 20 to 31 of the said law
OHaGereth acy, wes,
“They shall have right to compel the
witnesses, of whom they desire to avail
themselves, to appear and give testimony, or
to do it by means of depositions; they
shall present such evidence as they may
judge proper, and they shall be permitted
to be present and to make their defense in
public trial, orally or in writing, by them-
selves or by means of their counsel.”
No matter what the offense of the con-
demnationamaccocd 10 gest Om Ul cammma b Oia
PME nica timc! lizellomes OU Lc manly 1iCmmme cin
right accorded them by international law,
as, existing = between) Wnitedssstatesm and
Spain.
It was after this filibustering affair that
President Cleveland issued his proclama-
tion on Cuba, explaining the neutrality laws
ANS sive meine ley tins “Skea (Come,
warning all citizens of the United States
and others within their jurisdiction that all
IN THE VICINITY OF THE COLUMBUS MEMORIAL.
aa Se 4 »:] . fi ¢
a & ra) ‘ A
} Ves, Jy
Led 2 : <?, Fr j y
bd
' me, 4 hs
ak Cie
is
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 103
violations of these laws would be vigor-
ously prosecuted.
Spain offsetting this, at the same time
proclaimed a reward of ten thousand dol-
lars for any information leading to the
capture within Spanish waters of a filibus-
tering expedition.
The last session of Congress during
President Cleveland’s term was concerned
with the Cuban question ; joint resolutions
were offered in Congress calling upon the
Wiiecmotatcs-) Executive. to) recognize
Cuba’s independence, and take speedy
action to end the war on the island.
There were many debates in the House
GConcermine ~Secretary Olney’s statement,
that the Constitution does not empower
Congress without the President’s authority
to recognize the independence of a for-
eion country. Six months have passed
Since eangudiewiate, on the island tis) still
unsettled.
THELEN AVEARSHE WAR:
At the outset of the Ten Years’ War in
1868, the Cuban revolutionists, or reform
104 AW EDAGs FORSGUBAS
party, published a Declaration of Independ-
ence, in which they cite their grievances
as the cause of their rebellion, and which,
though modified, are the same_ to-day.
Hkaken strom vet temas COly emo lee Coby aaen
Murat Halstead:
“The Cuban Declaration of Independ-
ence publisheds@ ctobermomi1co 7.
“In arming ourselves against the tyran-
nical) “government “of Spain,» weepmuse,
ACCOLdIN em tOme plececen temiliueallmmcivilized
countries, proclaim before the world the
CAUSe mthatuii pels) Us sutOmtacmUiicmc lel
which, though likely to entail considerable
disturbances upon the present, will insure
the happiness of the future.
“Tt is well known that Spain governs
the island of Cuba with an iron and blood-
stainecsnandmemelinestornermmnoldceunes atten
deprived of political, civil, and religious
libettiviewenencesstOcmmUnTOntIntemm@ bans:
being illegally prosecuted and sent into
exile, or executed by military commission-
erominmiiiewOl speacemm cNCcmilc Imbel.
kept from public meeting, and forbidden to
speak or write on aflairs ol) state whence
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 105
their remonstrances against the evils that
afflict them being looked upon as the pro-
ceedings of rebels—from the fact that they
are bound to keep silence and obey ; hence
the never-ending plague of hungry officials
from Spain to devour the product of their
industry and labor; hence their exclusion
from public station, and want of oppor-
tunity to fit themselves for the art of gov-
ernment; hence the restrictions to which
public instruction with them is subjected,
in order to keep them so ignorant as not to
be able to know and enforce their rights in
aiyeesmape or form whatever; hence the
navy and the standing army, which are
keptaine their country at an enormous
expenditure from their own wealth, to
make them bend their knees and submit
their necks to the iron yoke that disgraces
them; hence the grinding taxation under
which they labor and which would make
them all perish in misery but for the mar-
velous fertility of their soil.”
The reform party which published this
declaration consisted of most of the influ-
ential Cubans, and they strained every
106 AVELAG BORECUBA:
resource petitioning the Spanish govern-
ment to make the necessary redresses in
her Cuban’ policy, but she paid) not the
sliohtest heed ; on the contrary, she exacted
increased taxation; the revolt then assumed
the proportions of earnest war and stretched
over a dreary length) ol tent years sumer
1878, when the Treaty of Zanjon termi-
nated that long and unsuccessful struggle for
liberty. This treaty was a compact made
by Spain and accepted by Cuba through
General Campos (there were rumors of
bribery econcerming at)jan 2 palnitries ato
prove through her Liberal Autonomist
party, which condemns this present revolu-
tion, that) she has been more than -just in
carrying out her compact or treaty, but the
insurgents declare the said compact a
“snare and a delusion”; that only the dress
of her policy was changed, with lavish
promises of reform, but- not the policy
itsela witeis the sanienold inightmarestinder
other forms, not quite so bold, but the sub-
stance is real flesh and blood, and quite as
hideous.
Gradually the shadow of the truce van-
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 107
ished completely, hence the sad state of the
island to-day, and the insurgents claim that
if Spain had used the least bit of mercy in
reducing taxation when the financial con-
dition of the island two years ago was so
very low, and made them a partial loan on
their debt—had she only been true to her
compact of 1878, then she would not have
brought this trouble upon herself—to learn
the lesson all over again.
DHE: NATIVES.
Nearly one million of the people on the
island of Cuba are white, of the same race,
tongue, and religion as Spain, and it seems
unnatural that children should fight against
the mother country when they have been
tied to her apron string so long, but Spain
has proved herself incapable of a motherly
feeling. The colony of golden products
could have been retained in loyalty if kind-
ness and consideration had replaced tyranny
andy Oppression. s weQneiremspirits,«. broken
under the yoke, could tolerate the bondage
no longer. ‘Too late now for redress ; and
108 A FLAG FOR CUBA. ~
it must be a bitter lesson to Spain—her last
treasure-child to spurn the lifelong pro-
tection (?) in such a public rebellious way.
Those born on the island, white, black, or
mixed, are called Cubans—mostly of Span-
ish and negro descent, and are known as
the natives; the Peninsulars are those
Spaniards who have adopted Cuba as their
home, but according to Cuban sentiment
are neither natives nor Cubans. A strong
sympathy has united the Cuban whites and
blacksem they) livem inespertectwananonny:
Fighting for common rights has removed all
race or party faction; they are one in inter-
ests and desires—the freedom of their
loved island home. The proportion in
population is a little more than half white;
they claim a small white majority in each
of the six provinces.
Out of the one million six hundred thou-
sand population of Cuba, there are said to
be sixty thousand volunteers who fight for
Spanish supremacy, and oppose most
fiercely. the independence of the island.
They are considered by the insurgents to be
Cuba’s most remorseless enemies,
SPANISH SOLDIERS AT THE MAIN BARRACKS IN HAVANA.
A> FUAG FOR CUBA. 1s I
_ The znusurgents are those in open re-
bellion.
The paczficos are those Cubans who tried
to preserve a neutral ground, but have been
the victims of such a cruel fate.
When General Weyler took command,
he issued that unfortunate order which
femitcameso fatally to. many, of these
pacificos, and to the island as well.
The edict went forth, that all living in
the country would be considered insurgents
unless they sought refuge within a specified
time inthe nearest fortified town. Scarcely
had time been given them to comply with
the order when hundreds were imprisoned
and murdered as insurgents by Spanish
guerrillas and soldiers. The remaining
pacificos were brought into Spanish quarters,
their huts and houses burned, their gardens
laid waste, that the insurgents might have
no benefit from them; this strenuous com-
mand with its deadly results made the
rebellious spirit crop out of many pacificos,
who in place of obeying the order joined
the army of insurgents, many women fol-
lowing husbands, fathers, and brothers.
112 ANEDAG PORRCU BAS
Only those who had no other alternative-—
women with children, the weak and infirm,
submitted to be housed, fed, and protected
by the Spaniards. And what protection
have they received? NHerded in towns or
ALOUNC mathe Monts in wdUarlersm nO UiLieetO G
cattle: no sanitation: no care: little food:
sickness and disease spreading rapidly; yel-
low fever and smallpox carrying off hundreds,
while pure air and a clean habitation might
have savedthem. Is this civilized warfare ?
The insurgent, unconscious of the suffer-
ing and starvation in his family, which is
supposed to be enjoying Spanish hospital-
ity, roams among the hills of his native
isle breathing thespures ain ofehealthwand
growing stronger every day in the force of
his convictions for freedom, while with his
machete or knife he can keep starvation at
bay.
NANIGOS, THE OUTLAWS OF CUBA.
The ignorant denounce the insurgents
as an army of robbers, cut-throats,-and
incendiaries, confounding them with that
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 113
lawless band of miscreants called nafiigos,
who, by their murderous outrages and
plunderings, have intensified the horrors of
the present war. IJhey are a band of out-
laws similar to the Mafia in Italy; their
bond of union is murder, which crime
alone makes them eligible for membership,
and as soon as they can show the bloody
knife with which they have slain their victim,
they become full fledged members and are
then supposed to be qualified for the most
fiendish acts or crimes.
The island for years has been infested
with these scoundrels, who are responsible
for many of the robberies, desecrations, and
murders attributed to the insurgents and
Spaniards. They care neither for Spanish
rule nor Cuban independence, and kill and
rob Royalist or patriot with equal readiness.
They have occupied the highways, and have
been more bold in their bloody deeds and
outrageous devastations because of the
internal disorders.
This brigandage, which has been rife all
over the island, is one of the most deplor-
able misfortunes of this war, but General
Tai. A (FRAG KOR .eUBA.
Weyler has done one good turn to the
Cubans in almost entirely suppressing these
bandits.
By strategy he has captured one band
after another, and shipped them off the
island for penal service in Spain’s African
colony.
While in Havana last March we watched
one of the Spanish steamers in the harbor
take On 7ascaroo Of humaneaiteiontw tive
hundred of these murderous nafiigos, all in
chains and in their taces one could: cead
the? story (of: their bloody= crimes) Uivey
seemed to be the mongrel offspring of the
G@ubane race:
THE, “PRESENT STRUGGLE; AND ©METHODS OF
WAR.
In February, 1895, this present war broke
out one month alters tas barch a> pain
issued its manifesto of reform in its Cuban
policy, to be adopted as soon as parts of
the island were pacified. Rumors were rife
this spring that the day was at hand, but
there is no evidence yet of any pacification,
THREE SPANISH MEN-OF-WAR, HARBOR OF HAVANA, BEFORE SUNRISE.
De eUAGehORSGUBA. EL,
_and the manifesto has had little effect. The
insurgents saw in it only a gilded tyranny,
Pe@eenmpromises in the past, broken
Peourecomin the future, ' Cuba's ‘faith «in
Spain has been crushed; yes, killed—
beyond the point of revivifying. Spain
has always made her offerings in times of
War very attractive and tempting, but
dead-sea apples they have proven in the
end.
The liberty-loving Cuban, with his past
experiences, cannot be tempted even with
meccrogmmio matter in how-attractive a
tesseiteappears; he is willing to die jfor
ieeaem Liberty or death!
Death rules the very island itself, through
smallpox and yellow fever, starvation and
want; yet these are not so deadly as the
spirit of oppressive rule, which has resulted
in barbarous warfare, starving, crushing,
and killing the very life of the island; the
innocent blood that has been shed and
mingled with the ashes of seared and
blighted unharvested crops must ever
remain a blot upon Spanish war methods.
The whole of the island is involved in
118 AV FLAG -FORSCUBA:
this great struggle, the insurgents occupy-
ing the hills and plains through the coun-
try, but with no permanent headquarters.
The Spanish hold the cities, the seaports,
inland towns, and the lines along the rail-
road; all being ssecurelyelortined saeiiey,
have worked witha will and a purpose, cut-
ting many roads through deep jungles, and
constructing forts in most commanding
Places eu elncmlatlene dicttibutecmoy cian:
island, are garrisoned by a handful of
soldiers securely sheltered and fed, who
ward off the insurgents’ attack by firing
through loopholes in the bullet-proof
masonry walls; but, not being expert marks-
men, they fail to make any serious impres-
sion on the rebels.
The rebels have been known to lie in
ambush near the forts and wait for the
appearance of the defenders; and with
their rifles, being typical sharpshooters, they
pick off one after another of the Spaniards
as easily as plucking with the hand an
apple from an overhanging bough.
The fortifications are so constructed that
they encircle the cities and towns, and the
ATP LAG SFOR -CWBA: 119
strictest discipline is maintained to prevent
communication with the outside country.
The trochas are supposedly impassable
lines stretching north to south from shore
to shore, built for the purpose of blockading
the rebel armies, but all of us have read how
Gomez and Maceo crossed them successfully
Sseverai times,’ Phe trochas*are said to be
an indescribable jumble of fallen trees,
winghiave ‘been felled for the purpose
of obstruction, with banks of earth, and
endless stretches of barbed wire intricately
suspended and carried for hundreds of yards
along the ground in different directions,
each wire connecting with bombs which the
slightest disturbance would explode, making
gpcdcathitrap iorsany) trespasser, lefyalone
the insurgent.
iicmeiiaUllerMmOlmmWwallare mcatiicds on
between Spaniard and insurgent—ambus-
cades and guerrilla attacks, with no open
field encounters—is due to the lay of the
irregular and mountainous country, which
is so well adapted for these hide and seek
methods.
The hills are covered with dense forests
120 ABM UAGEEO RGU EAS
and jungles, the plains with grasses and
bushes towering to man’s height; the low-
lands are marshy. The Cubans of course
know well every crag and crevice and path,
and are secure from pursuit or discovery,
for the Spaniard will not risk treading on
unknown ground until the guerrillas have
first reconnoitered; the reconnoisance gener-
ally resulting in the atrocious attacks on the
insurgents that have been reported from
tines LOmiine wa bere @arcenomele tum) aie
where army can be led against army, except
on the now devastated plantations.
It seems reasonable to conclude that due
to these causes is the indefinite continuance
of this struggle; the Spanish, secure in
their fortifications, send out daily a band of
guerrillas and a flying column to survey
the outlying districts, which return to their
garrisons at night; if the insurgents have
left their mountain retreat, to burn or
raid in the neighborhood of Spanish forts,
and fearlessly present themselves, a skirmish
ensues; that satisfies the code of Spanish
warfare—Spain does not pursue the enemy.
If at the outset of this rebellion she had
A RESIDEN
~ AVENUE IN HAVANA.
’ \ 7Y
Aly ay
AS FLAG HOR CUBA. 123
taken her troops into camp on the fields
of action and pursued the insurgents, she
would have quelled the rebellion long
before this, but she little dreamed it
would spread so rapidly and be so serious.
Semouomitamust impress. her, for she is
still building fortifications, and in every
way defending her property rights by land
endmmvater ohe is building .and” not
hohting, meaning to exterminate the insur-
gents by starvation; but the western shore,
north and south, is marked by coves and
islands, well sheltered, from which the
insurgent makes his depredations by water
and where supplies are brought; and if the
filibustering continues (having so far been
carried on most successfully in spite of
Uncle Sam’s watchfulness), or any more
Spanish supply ships, like the De/za captured
September 24, 1896, come in his path, we
need not worry over their prospects of
starvation, and while the Spanish armies are
immobile the insurgents are not wasting
their short supply of ammunition.
Shiploads of supplies, cattle, and horses
are brought to the island almost daily for
124 AS EPLAGS FORSCUBA.
the Spaniards, but none for the insurgents,
except what the Cuban juntas in foreign
lands send on the filibustering steamers.
Along the ‘keys of Florida we have
witnessed several exciting runs between the
“ THE THREE FRIENDS.”’
Uinitedmotatecmorlicetomancm-onlemolmillece
steamers, notably that of 7e 7 hree Friends,
Whichesincemt he saci mOme\ la rc 5G alae
longer engaged in that unlawful(?) enterprise.
i io PANTS Ee RM Ver NGS GOB S
Dhemisland of Guba vconstititessamsingle
S
Spanish province under the government of
Am tUACH HORS CUBA, 125
a captain general, sometimes referred to as
governor general. Since the last war, 1878,
it has been divided into six lesser provinces,
with a sub-division into judicial districts.
The provinces, beginning at the western
end of the island, are Pinar del Rio, where
Maceo made his headquarters ; then comes
Havana, Matanzas, Santa Clara (about
central), Puerto Principe, and Santiago de
Cuba, the eastern province, and where
Gomez landed when he took command of
Giiegeiberatino army. spain is a military
government, her laws being enforced by
arms; and the captain general—a military
chieftain who is the exponent of the law of
Spain—is supreme in power.
When the rebellion started in February,
1895, General Martinez Campos was cap-
tain general; but Spain not deeming him
capable of subduing the insurgents after
his unsuccessful efforts of a year, recalled
him and appointed General D. Valeriano
Weyler to command. During the transfer
General Marin from Porto Rico filled the
executive office. General Weyler, the cap-
tain general, is commander-in-chief of the
126 A FUAG BOR: CUBA:
Spanish army at the present writing (spring
of 1897). The troops consist of one hun-
dred and fifty thousand men from Spain—
Cuba giving sixty thousand volunteers.
These volunteers are mostly Spaniards who
have been on the island in military service,
to so escape the five years’ service in Spain,
for enlistment in Cuba is only of three
years’ duration.
In order to offset the prominence the
Cuban blacks have attained in the insurrec-
tion, General Weyler has given them due
consideration in the army, claiming his
policy is the same to white and black. His
bodyguard is composed of blacks, and a
number of the guerrillas are black; a band
of which is attached to each battalion of the
army, their chieftain being Benito Cerreros.
In not a few cases where the Spaniards
have claimed bloody victories, they proved
to be nothing short of murderous assaults ;
the guerrillas mistaking the pacificos for
insurgents, or,hungering for blood, butchered
those unarmed and _ unresisting victims,
whose only crime was that of being outside
the fortified limits.
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 127
And then we read of Spanish feasting and
merrymaking after such atrocious deeds,
reminding us of the savage Indian tribes,
in their hideous war dances, besmeared
with blood, waving aloft the scalps of their
enemies. In a civilized nation we do look
for civilized warfare.
Siggemtne outbreak of, the war ‘many
Spanish soldiers as well as officers have
succumbed to the scourge of fever and
cholera which came with last season’s rain.
In certain localties the death rate among
them averaged thirty a day, their ranks being
thinned also by the unsanitary condition of
their barracks and forts, yet Spain is con-
scious of nothing but that Cuba, her richest
province, is her last American possession ;
il eco cmLOmituwithean death, orasp; the
thought of being forced to part with sucha
vem of her own finding, makes fighting for
it a most determined struggle; wholesale
loss of life among her soldiers, and even the
loss of millions, are of no consequence to
her if she can only retain her power over
the Queen of Islands.
In this present struggle Spain has
128 ATELAGIEOR: CUBAS
already spent over two hundred million dol-
lars, maintaining an army numbering over
two hundred thousand; but until all avail-
able funds are exhausted, her credit gone,
or disease wipes out the army, she will con-
tinue her tyrannical rule unless the United
States interfere.
France spent millions of lives and dollars
to retain possession of her West Indian
island, sbLayti, and had@to sy 1eldes tanec
end; her loss was apparent from the begin-
ning, but through all time just so much
blood has had to be shed to gain the victory
of freedom.
ELE GUL AN SA RIG:
Cuba in this war has spent two million
dollars, and has raised an army of seventy
thousand men, forty per cent. black and
sixty per cent. white, divided into the army
of invasion and the army of occupation.
The president of the revolutionary gov-
CrNnmente icevlatrquismdcmoantas mt clay wmetiLe
vice president, Bartolomé Maso. General
Maximo Gomez (white), the grand old
oo
Se
A PASSENGER BOAT, HAVANA BAY.
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 131
man of the war, more than seventy years
of age, is commander-in-chief of the liber-
ating army. He has been a soldier all his
life, and was noted for his courage and
persistency during the last ten-year war.
Porematy, years ihe has lived. iin San
Domingo, or Hayti, with his wife and
family, and there the insurgents proffered
him the command of the Cuban army, which
he accepted, and is now fulfilling as a most
sacred trust.
The patriots are struggling under adverse
conditions—without headquarters, moving
and operating without bases, depots, or hos-
pitals, or objective points. Gomez outlined
a policy at the beginning, clear, simple, and
effective, and was aided by the invaluable
services of the two Maceos (mulattoes),
Antonio and José, brothers. Antonio was
lieutenant general, and leader of the cavalry
army of invasion which gained so many
successful victories in the west end of the
island ; but on December 7, 18096, while he
was conferring under a flag of truce with
the Spanish leader, Major Cerujeda, he was
treacherously taken and murdered. Young
132 AVELAG 2h O RS CUBA.
Francisco Gomez, son of General Gomez,
fell: beside Maceo in: battle, or was mur-
dered with his brave leader. A few weeks
ACC TOME nisueeviCl ta Onmmecenl Chea iemmmE Lc
Cubans, without their great leader, under
DrePedrot Ee Betancourt ebiloadiem ormtic
patriot army, outgeneraled the Spanish in
an all-day’s engagement near the town of
Cuba Mocha, defeating and routing the
Spaniards, who left one hundred and fifty
dead on the field.
José Marti was another ardent patriot
who has taken his eternal stand among the
army of Cuban martyrs,
General Rivera has filled the vacancy
made by the loss of Antonio Maceo, and in
the western province has kept up a guerrilla
warfare, while General Gomez is operating
in the central provinces and General Garcia
in the eastern— Santiago de Cuba.
One| anuaty oe 100% athomuni ves meric
daughters of the rebel leaders were thrown
into: prison at Puerto Principe:
At this time General. Gomez was march-
ing westward, driving out the Spanish and
burning their towns in Santa Clara. About
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 133
the same time General Weyler left Havana
with ten thousand men, advancing toward
Santa Clara, and ordering the destruction
of all plantations and buildings in Havana
Province that could shelter rebels, which
measure elicited an immediate protest from
Madrid.
imeem tneot Pebruary, 1807, a decree
was issued by Spain granting reforms, but
the insurgents unconditionally spurned it.
They are fighting for independence now,
and not for reform.
What the insurgents lack in discipline
they make up in earnestness and patriotism.
Their ranks are made up of lawyers,
physicians, merchants, farmers, engineers,
mechanics, etc. Men are in the ranks who
have helped to burn their own sugar cane,
their homes and property, in the cause of
freedom.
They have three attributes in common:
they can sit a horse well, use their rifles as
the best of marksmen, and wield the deadly
machete.
The machete is the sword of the Cuban;
a heavy straight knife blade—curving toa
134 ATELAG FORAGU BA,
point—set in a bone handle. It is sharp
AS eA NLAZOL MAN Cathe SC UDAltacmDeCOl Cm
adept in the handling of it. The machete
is not exclusively an implement of warfare ;
itis wused inacutting the ssusancanemin
clearing paths through jungles, and cutting
the thorny brush and cacti of the plains.
Even women are numbered among the
insurgent army, many of them mulattoes.
Clothed in men’s attire, fighting in the
saddle, wielding the powerful machete,
they are as brave and daring as the hus-
bands, fathers, and brothers who _ protect
and encourage them. Several women in-
surgents have been taken prisoners and
suffered such ignominious and inhuman
freatimen tama cweeOl yea Cyl egcummns Naich
Officerss SanldegmsoldicrSme te ™ecapablcmmon
inflicting.
The noble and “heroic. actions “of ‘the
women from the outbreak of the war
have elicited wide-spread sympathy and
admiration. When at the first outbreak
in the absence of their protectors they were
left @theyssolestotiardian ) Giemthemsnome
and -estate, and news came that ‘the
CALLE OBISPO, THE PRINCIPAL SHOPPING STREET IN HAVANA.
as
ALE CAGE O RoeCUBA. 137
Spaniards were nearing their locality, they
destroyed their crops and set fire to their
homes, and with their babies fled from one
town to another, destroying and burning as
their enemy appeared, leaving nothing but
ashes for spoils; and finally reached the
camps of the insurgents where, enduring
untold privations, they at least suffer no
such ill-treatment and diabolical torture as
is meted out to their unfortunate sisters
in greater or less degree under the Spanish
surveillance in the prison forts.
iitemeaban women in the larger. cities
‘and towns have shown their patriotism in
many ways,—-supplying food, clothing, and
money as fast as they could collect it, and
running great risks in communicating with
Bnewinsurcents, butesincesmore severe, dis-
cipline is maintained under the iron rule of
Weyler, all communications are cut off, and
many are the broken and bleeding hearts
mourning over the unknown fate of loved
ones on both sides. ‘The women are said
to hate and loathe the very name of Weyler,
whose cruel and fiendish nature has asserted
itself in so many instances, and it is no
138 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
wonder that rather than submit to his power
they have fled with the insurgents,—pre-
ferring to die in battle or at the hands of
cuerrillas.
If all the reports are true concerning his
brutal treatment of the Cuban women, his
disregard for all moral laws, disposing of
them among the officers like so much mer-
chandise, and casting the poor helpless
victims of his passion to his black slaves,
murdering them and their children to “ ex-
terminate the rebellious race,” then ought
we, as women, to force our pleadings to the
Capitol itself, and demand of our represen-
tatives interference on Cuba’s behalf for
this outrageous inhumanity.
Nuratetlalsteadsanehisw otorysom@upds
publishes a letter from General Gomez,
written March 15, 1896, showing his at-
titude to General Weyler:
“He [General Weyler| is nearly worn
out and hoarse from proclamation and
speeches, and his military judgment is far
inferior to that of General Campos, and we
APEUAG POR? CUBA. 139
have marched with even greater ease from
one section of the country to the other.
“Weylers coming. has benefited the
Cuban cause in many ways. His record
A PINEAPPLE FIELD.
was against him, and the world knew that
Spain intended to be cold-blooded and in-
human when she sent him. The people of
Cuba knew this also, and thousands of men
who were not inclined to join one side or
the other while General Campos remained
are now bearing arms with our flag. The
majority of Spaniards are not fiends and
140 AGEL AGT PORS CUBA
butchers by any means, and when a human
devil is sent to lead them in the work of
murder and outrage, they naturally refuse to
follow him.. Although massacres have oc-
curred, and although homes have been
ruined and womanhood outraged by order
of Weyler, the lovers of Cuba may thank
God that he was sent to command Spain's
army in Cuba.
“We are charged with burning homes,
destroying railroads, and laying growing
fields waste—and the charges are in a mea-
sure true. We have carried out such plans
believing that in such a cause, and against
SuUCIiean CheIny, wer Were aioli buteno
man can truthfully say that we have out-
raged God and love and humanity, even for
liberty’s sake.
aI aine theres tol leadmanmwanmnyeacaiiet
Spain, against her army, her towns, her
revenues, and I shall wage it so long as the
Almighty Father gives me strength.”
Although the Cuban colonies all over the
world send ammunition, supplies, and a
monthly remittance of three hundred thou-
Neb AGerORVCU BA. I4]I
sand dollars, still these are inadequate for
all purposes. ‘The insurgents have not the
power to force the issue of this war, and
eiemopieed tO remain on the defensive,
while Spain, instead of leading her armies
into the field, spends her borrowed money
to build more fortifications, and pay the
double salaries of her officers and men who
remain immobile. The Spanish soldiers are
notina hurry for these emoluments to cease,
and are quite indifferent to the outlook of
continued strife, which, considering the
irregular warfare and the mountainous
-country, and Weyler’s policy to exterminate
the insurgents by starvation or imprison-
ment in the mountain fastnesses, is likely
to drag along indefinitely, unless sufficient
evidence of the total disregard of treaty
rights and unwarranted ill-treatment of
any American subject should be produced
to necessitate a demand for immediate
action on the part of the United States.
CONSUL GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE.
Our present consul at Havana, General
Fitzhugh Lee, former Governor of Virginia,
142 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
was appointed April 13, 1896, to succeed
Ramon O. Williams resigned, and a most
fortunate. (appointment Mit has = proved:
This conflict between Spain and the insur-
gents has demanded of an American repre-
sentative that extreme tact and delicacy of
handling which with other rare qualities
General Lee possesses ; he is a born diplo-
matist, dignified and military in his bearing ;
handsome, genial, and with the courteous
grace of a Chesterfield, he wins his visitor
alsOnce:
Newspaper artists and correspondents
are unanimous in their praise of Consul Lee
for the consideration he has shown them
and for the policy he pursues in all official
business. The cases where Americanized
Cubans have assisted in the insurrection,
and when captured used their American
rights as a cloak of protection, have re-
quired investigations conducted in sucha
manner as to preserve the confidence of the
Spanish Government, and have been more
difficult of accomplishment than we imagine.
However, aclash with Spanish authorities
did come in February, 1897, over the mys-
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 143
temous death in prison, on February 18,
feoemor the Ainerican dentist Dr’ Ruiz.
Oauemmetreneral Lee had ) previously de-
manded the instant release and speedy civil
trial of the American citizens unjustly im-
prisoned in Cuba as political suspects, and
sent in his resignation to the United States
government unless they dispatched a war-
ship to Cuba to enforce these demands.
The subject was at once presented to the
House and Senate, which passed joint reso-
lutions peremptorily demanding the release
of the American prisoners—Sanguilly and
Scott being released at this time.
Then came the inauguration of our new
administration under President McKinley,
who prevailed upon Consul Lee to wait
until matters could be thoroughly investi-
gated, which is being done at the present.
Pending further developments, the Presi-
dent urged an appropriation of fifty thou-
sand dollars for the American residents of
Cuba, who through the wholesale destruc-
tion of plantations, fields, and buildings
have lost everything, and are said to be in
ciremneec,
144 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
It was not generally known that the
American interests on the island were quite
so extensive, representing millions of dollars,
which have been swept away by the torch
of the Spaniard.
Weyler, suspecting that American prop-
erty-holders were in league with the insur-
gents, or that by the continuance otmtic
mills and industries controlled by Ameri-
cans the insurgents might be _ benefited,
under some pretext or other closed the fac-
tories, shut down the mills, and in some
cases had the property with all the valuable
machinery destroyed.
Yet Spain posed as a protector to Ameri-
can interests, and, blaming the destruction
of property on the rebel army, offered the
homeless and in many cases penniless Ameri-
cans shelter and food—disease-stricken
quarters,,and meager’ rations! Their sad
condition and suffering have so increased
that their cries of distress have reached
our own shores. Several hundred families
have already been assisted by the relief
fund which Consul Lee is dispensing to
the suffering Americans in Cuba.
LEADING TO THE CITY GATES, HAVANA.
ANH UAG FOR CUBA: TA 7,
The latest press reports contain the clos-
ing of the investigation of Dr. Ruiz’s case
by Consul Lee and the special commissioner
W. J. Calhoun, both of whom hold Spain
responsible for Dr. Ruiz’s death. General
Meeemreport states that Dr. Ricardo Ruiz
was an American citizen, about forty-six
years of age, dentist by profession, and re-
sided with his wife and family in the town
of Guanabacoa, four miles from Havana; he
was arrested on the 4th of February, 1897,
at his house, charged with being connected
with an attack made by insurgents on a
railroad train, January 16, 1897, at a point
midway between Guanabacoa and Havana.
The evidence of his most intimate friends
and neighbors shows he was quiet and
domestic in taste, a peaceful American
citizen, and that on the night in question he
was at a neighbor’s house and knew noth-
ing of the attack until morning.
He was thrust into one of the smallest
cells in jail, in solitary confinement, with
no comforts ; bedding and a chair brought
by his wife were refused him, but they
finally allowed him the chair, During his
148 A FLAG FOR ‘CUBA.
imprisonment nobody but the jailers ever
saw him. February 4 he was carried alive
to his cell, a well built, athletic, and healthy
man, and at the end of three hundred and
fifteen hours was brought out a corpse, the
18th of February, 1897. The autopsy dis-
closed a severe wound on the top of his
head, which had occasioned his death.
All investigation of the deathblow has re-
vealed nothing, as the jailers will not testify
to the truth, or implicate themselves; but in-
quiry and interference by the United States
must come because of the violation of treaty
rights, since asan American citizen Ruiz was
entitled to a trial by the civil courts.
The treaty was violated in regard to the
manner of his confinement, the law demand-
ing that “ provisional imprisonment shall be
made in the manner and form least prejudi-
cial to the person and reputation of the
accused,” also in regard to the length of his
confinement over and above the seventy-
two hour limit; while the manner of his
death must ever remain the deepest mys-
teryar SE Ommamlet(en Ome muro ilcm
quote the following:
Pet Oot OR CU BAS I49
“The clothes that were returned to me
after the killing of my husband include
the hat, which bears unmistakable proofs
of having been struck with a heavy club
—-while the Spaniards claim he wore it
when he beat his head against the prison
walls—which is ridiculous; they also claim
to prove that things were allowed him for
comforts, when in truth they refused taking
the necessary furnishings I brought, and not
until the fourteenth day of his arrest did they
permit him the steamer chair which Consul
Lee has now in his possession, and which
bears the last message to me and mine
scratched with his finger nails on the rim
across the back: ‘ Mercedes, Nene, Evange-
line, Ricardito, Good-by, my children of my
life, I give you my blessing; be obedient to
yourmother. They will kill me. Good-by,
Rita of my soul.’
“Spain cannot indemnify me for the
death of my husband. Millions and mil-
lions of dollars cannot secure his return to
me. I can never hope to be indemnified
fomeniommlUrcdenmoutmii we ciildrens cry ‘out
even for the necessaries of life, and those
150 Ava TiAG FOR CUBA?
who took their natural protector from them
should at least be made to provide for their
bringing up. I know the United States
government will not fail me. I have ever
felt full confidence in this country’s ability
and disposition to right the wrong that was
done to me and my children for no other
cause than that my husband and _ their
fathenewastraa Citizen OlethisecOu nia maic
delighted ins the factual lise nine tieatmeit.
zenship was the only reason for his arrest;
the only reason for his foul murder in his
lonely cell in that foul Guanabacoa jail.
Almost a month and a half had elapsed
between the attack on the train and my
husband’s arrest. During all that time he
was not missed a single day or hour in
Guanabacoa. If he had been in the attack
the authorities would have known it the
next day, and they certainly would have
arrested him forthwith. Why, then, did
they wait so long? The fact is that at the
time that he was arrested there was a par-
ticular strong feeling against Americans in
Guanabacoa, and the Spaniards sacrificed
my husband for no other reason.
ENTRANCE TO THE CAPTAIN GENERAL’S SUMMER PALACE, HAVANA SUBURBS.
Deb LA Ge EO Toa WBA, 156
‘SRicardo was killed. He did not kill
himself. He was not the sort of a man to
despair and abandon hope. His message
on the chair, scratched with finger nails,
‘They are killing me, moreover, proves
idabesue
Witcmeectiz nas) filed =a claim. for one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars with the
Department of State, and she has the per-
eoname- Urances ol, President’ McKinley
Pnceeseeretary sherman. of their interest
in this sad case. The claim rests not upon
the fact that the Spaniards killed Ruiz while
he was in jail, for the murder cannot be
Proven oltitnes claim 1s*based “upon: the
faetethatehe was. imprisoned more than
seventy-two hours, the treaty limit, and
having died in prison the Spaniards must
accept responsibility and answer for his
illegal imprisonment.
In a letter to a friend in Mexico, General
Weyler wrote recently : ,
ph erdspech Olstnem wane could 1dmmbe
more satisfactory, as there are only a few
154 AVEVAGS HO RSCUB AS
handfuls of rebels in the western prov-
ince, and their strength is failing ; peace
may come sooner than expected, and the
termination and complete subjugation of
the enemies of Spain in the island is an
event anxiously awaited by the sons of
Spain in the Peninsula and in Cuba.”
Ande vetminumthe siace solmtlicmcotiecmune
report—that the war for food has begun in
Havana, several small shopkeepers being
murdered and the food stolen, while the
Mone yemwas | leCulUnLOUchc Camm liqmicmmall so
reported that the selling of cartridges to
the insurgents 1s common in Havana Prov-
ince, as the soldiers lack money for cigar-
ettes and food. A captain, lieutenant, and
fifty-eight soldiers have been condemned
to be shot, because they sold arms and
medicines to the Cubans.
THE NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS.
Spain’s actions have been sufficiently an-
tagonistic in all that concerns Americans to
demand retaliation ;and she hates us because
A FLAG FOR CUBA. ys
of our evident sympathy for the insurgent.
She mistrusts every American man or
woman in Cuba, and visible or invisible spies
track one’s every step, and when opinions
are expressed they must be uttered soffo voce.
iPweneinen you tear the very walls -have
ears, and that the commandante awaits you
outside to marshal you to Morro Castle and
imprisonment.
Since Weyler has drawn his iron lines
about all correspondents, confining them to
the cities, preventing their movements into
the country, and checking in this way any
~further communication with the rebels, the
news of the war has been rather disconnected
andeuncertam, bt isto be feared that we
do not appreciate the constant danger of
those correspondents who are risking their
lives to secure news from the insurgents’
camp, to supply the press, for our reading.
We area cold, calculating, and indifferent
public, critical only when our interests are
concerned, and the hurry and scurry of
business life make men indifferent to all
outside their immediate circle; they skim
over the surface of life in a hurricane
156 2 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
wind regardless of the current beneath ; or
trudge along in a laboring path, in which
all efforts for life are purely mechanical,
A NATIVE FRUIT CARRIER.
with no heart, no soul! half of them need
a good shaking up, mentally, morally, and
physically.
Sometime ago I had an expetichiceson
a train in the South, which illustrates one’s
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 1577
habitual indifference. I was one of a
large number of passengers comfortably
seated in one of the luxuriant coaches,
indifferent to all else but that our destina-
tion was only an hour’s run longer. After
listening to some exciting experiences re-
lated by one of the officials of the road,
tee ended) tO me the privilege of “rid
ing on the engine.” Accordingly, when the
next stop was made, I was taken in charge
and placed in command with the engineer,
fOmemjovera) NOvel experience. It was in
the darkness of night, with not even the
flicker of a star in the heavens, when the
great iron monster began to snort and puff,
increasing its power and speed little by
little, until the deafening roar of its gathered
forces, and the opening and closing of the
great furnace door every minute or two, the
creaking of ties groaning under such pon-
derous weight, and the echo of all thun-
dering through the neighboring forests
stunned my very senses. The road being
very rough, made the rate of speed—forty
miles an hour—seem greater than it was.
Conscious only of the feeling that some
158 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
mighty giant of limitless power was rushing
me along in the unknown world to some
fascinatingly’ dangerous fate, I yielded
powerless, but with an intensity of sus-
pense which, if continued, might have
destroyed reason itself. But fortunately
at this moment the engineer checked my
bewildered senses, by pointing out through
the blackness to a faint halo of light sus-
pended’ over the city of our destination:
Porthes huste time steamy alt em ibeoanmce
realize what iron nerve and heroic courage
an engineer requires to perform his duties.
The slightest carelessness on his part,
the least miscalculation in regulating the
engine, would mean death and destruction
to allsthoset committed ton hiss triste bis
own fate, he said, ‘“‘rests with Providence,
who is ever watchful.” Think of the ten-
SlONe OnmHisuiite., theuconstanteanxictymonr
di espleadinos: fallaneminswempnidocuma
mountain slide, the innumerabie and un-
dreamed) oly dangers = that dalla occum
When our goal was reached I took the soot
and dust-begrimed hand of the engineer,
pressed it gratefully and reverently, and
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 159
told him I never before understood his
position, his responsibility. In the luxury of
the modern coach we travel along, suffering
no anxiety about the danger constantly lurk-
ing in our way, and seldom ever give but a
passing thought to that noble custodian of
our lives who trusts in Providence, and does
his duty sometimes at the sacrifice of his
own life.
I watched the hundred and more passen-
gers who filed out of the depot past the
huge iron monster, which still puffed as
though chafing under restraint, and noticed
that not an eye was turned in the direction
of the engineer who had guided them so
safely to this point. It is all the result of
the habit of indifference which we cultivate
unconsciously more and more every day.
In reading the foreign dispatches from
the present seats of war, Cuba and Greece,
how many of us think with what great peril
iiiewesames news, ise collected? “Among
the past and present correspondents in
Ciba, such “men as Sylvester -Scovel,
iliomasm Ven oteeps, Grove Mlint, George
Brousomukaes|onn I Rays (etc. iat (the
160 AVP EAGIROR.O Ubinas
risk of life have endured hardship and
dangers worthy of a better cause.
It is easy enough for those correspond-
ents in Havana and other well fortified
places to sit in their comfortable offices,
where I saw them two short months ago, and
pen accounts of skirmishes and battles; of
atrocious cruelties practiced by the Spanish
guerrillas and soldiers; of the rampages,
robberies, and murders by the lawless
bandits who infest the country broadcast,
killing insurgent, pacifico, or Spaniard; of
poverty- and disease-stricken natives dying
by hundreds ; of the wholesale destruction
of property, and the complete devastation
of the island ;*.) repeat iti is “easyaenougdh
to write of these things in secure quarters,
with plenty to eat and drink, and a place
fOMslCep arnt nom Cao clon Caen conics
but those correspondents on the field of
action (whose names have just been given),
who seek news from the insurgents’ camp,
by exposing health and life,—they are the
ones whose services are not properly ap-
preciated. Their self-imposed duties for
the public press—for your information
“THE TWO FRIENDS.”’
, .
Lanes
_s eae,
a
ay
oe is f- >
AMHUAG HORACUBA, 163
-and mine—lie along most dangerous roads.
For the insurgents’ camp is not of definite
location, here to-day, there to-morrow,
and all encountered outside the Spanish
line, be they Cuban or American, are con-
sidered insurgents and shot on sight.
The field correspondent is a hunted deer,
seeking his own food, suffering from want
and exposure, in constant fear of death at
the hands of the lawless bandits, or of mur-
der by Spanish guerrillas. Once in the
camps of the insurgents he endures their
trials and struggles, and, not inured to
their mode of living, must suffer untold
privations. Then at the risk of life again,
he plots and plans until he can send _ his
communications from the camp to the
Decco tier publiceacceptsoituas a matter
of course, without a thought of the man,
without a hope of his fate, without appreci-
ation of his brave services on behalf of the
American press ; even our own government
fails to realize his endangered position, by
not recognizing his duties as official.
In a recent letter from one of these
correspondents, Thos. W. Steeps, to the
1604 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
press, we learn’ of) "his endurinom. thirty
days of hard marching, and the attendant
privations and dangers, before he reached
Major General Calixto Garcia,—who, he
writes, ‘stands at the headtol athe militia,
activities of the Cubans, while Maximo
Gomez represents the brains of the whole
patriot movement. Gomez invents, plans
and determines, Garcia fights the enemy,
—and that he is only the second corre-
spondent who has seen Garcia since the
rebellion began. Consequently a, hearty
welcome was extended to him, for Garcia
has practically been exiled for months,
and was eager for news, rejoicing in
themcood jwishes ole all Saeimericans aout
showing disappointment when he learned
that our Congress had not yet matured its
plans in regard to Cuba. Garcia, to quote
from Steep’s letter, says: ““ Weare too weak
to drive the tyrannical Spaniards from our
distressed island. We shall never be able
to overcome them by force of arms. We
shall overcome them by force of persist-
ency—by starving them out of the towns.”
“Our offensive. movements,” -he_ said,
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 165
Petave, been principally in the attack’ of
convoys. The Spaniards still have garri-
sons in a number of inland towns.
beveshave not molested these towns
simply because it would be of no practical
advantage to us. Thisisthe situation: the
Spaniards will not give up these towns, be-
cause that would be an indication of weak-
ness, and the Spanish officers would be
severely reprimanded. ‘The garrisons cost
Spain money, and we are making the war
as expensive for Spain as we possibly can.
“When a convoy comes out of a seaport
town, we attack and harass it. We take
its supplies and ammunition. I have taken
emiiimbereot these convoys, 1 took one,
the biggest one, on the Canto near Guamo,
about the middle of December.”
The taking of this convoy was the
biggest thing Garcia has done, except the
raiding of Guianaro. The correspondent
remarks, “(Garcia iescettine very old,and
he shows it; he has been a brave soldier, not
GUL Varilieethisssbl teimetner ben) Yeats iW ar,
during which he received a wound, the
marks of which he still honorably bears.”
166 A FUAG FOReCUBA:
I was informed in Havana that not one-
third of the startling news which blazed
forth in huge headlines in our papers
regarding the war had one word of found-
ation of truth. Who is responsible? The
blame has been put on the correspondent,
justly or unjustly? I regret to repeat what
was told me while there, that among the
representatives of the American press that
have come to the island since the outbreak
of the war two years ago, some few were
a disgrace to the United States, dissipated,
losing sight of their mission, distorting news
to suit their own liquor-crazed brains, sen-
sational and devoid of every germ of truth.
Onelin=particular.a’ mansotayeate msceln:
ingly of good standing in his own com-
MUNI Ly sue ACCeDtCCmnt le wrOlletaOimmmamacl ia
known paper as its representative; but
the Spanish wines and Castilian glove
courtesies were too much for his shallow
brain, and he became a common figure on
the street, “drunk asa lord.” After several
months of such conduct, when the truth
reached headquarters, he was recalled.
There” is) no} denying) ait; sprejucdices
A FLAG FOR CUBA. 169
against the newspaper correspondent have
arisen from just such cases, where they had
no regard for the manliness of their posi-
tion and the trust they held, and so unfor-
tunately many have to suffer for the
grievous faults of a few, which is one of the
cruel decrees of public opinion.
SPAIN S DOMINATION.
Spain, like no other European nation,
Reseenemancient title of discoverer and
colonizer, for which all powers respect her,
but even this honor is being strained by
her unjust tyrannical rule in her colonies,—
the Philippine Islands and Cuba,—and the
glories of past achievements are being
darkened in the awful horrors of the pres-
ent wars.
From the very beginning she made
Cuba a slave, limited her productions to
such articles as Spain could not produce,
then made her trade them for Spanish
home manufactures, and taxed her for the
Dev ieoem = bhee debt of they Den -Years:
War, from 1868 to 1878, was assumed by
WO A- FLAG, FOR CUBA.
Spain and charged to Cuba, which has so
crippled and choked the latter that it has
even affected her Spanish proprietors, who
with their load of interest-bearing debts find
no profits for outside investment; yet this
island province swells the Spanish official's
purse, and is. an outlet for Spain's cruel
and dominating power. Wiauth no tobacco
and sugar tosell there has been, and there ts
likely to continue for some time, an annual
falling off of one hundred million dollars,
which means a loss to Spain of one million
dollars a= month srnpevevenucse=s denrotien
existing conditions this war means a loss
to America of over five million dollars
annually.
The Cuban theory at the outset of this
struggle was to lay the lands -waste, and
in an agricultural and commercial sense to
ruin the island. Maceo marched from east
to west, burning the sugar-cane and the
golden leaves of the tobacco fields, and as
industry ceased, the laborers joined the
insurgent army with their machetes and
horses.
Productive. Cuba was ruined - for, the
A FLAG FOR CUBA. Ll
Spaniard as well as for the Cuban, but the
latter s consolation lay in ‘the chance.of
gaining liberation more readily by im-
poverishing Spain in the destruction of
her resources.
The torch has been mightier than the
sword to bring about this sad condition of
the island to-day—for Spaniard as well as
Cuban have played the same game, but
with a different purpose.
The result is that the island is a wide waste
of ruin, misery, and desolation; plantations
with their gold producing crops completely
devastated ; a hundred millions of dollars in
machinery burned and destroyed; millions
lost in the neglected soil, so ready to yield ;
business ruined; towns depopulated ; lives
sacrificed ; homes and hearts broken.
It will take more than a score of years,
should the war cease now, to restore the
island to its former productive use, its manu-
factures and its industries.
The land must change owners before it
can yield an income; even should Cuba liber-
ate herself,—though it seems impossible for
her,to overthrow the Spanish power unless
172 AM PLAC BOR. CUBA,
aid comes from some external source,—
she is so impoverished, almost beyond the
hope of recovery, that she can do nothing
without financial help at once.
This leads up to the question of annexing
the asland. of Cuba ito ‘the -U nited: States.
the majority of Americans favoring it. Yet
‘
I was told the majority of Cubans “want
independence and not annexation.” They
are silently appealing to the United States
for a helping hand to make them rulers of
their own island. It is the hope:of all
classes, “the expressed desire of allsouciness
men in Havana, that our government will
interiere on -thein behali, wanciesstopmt we
effusion of more blood and the further
wreckage of the island.
Of peculiar significance is the fact that
Spain, which at one time was the center of
European nations, now Jags in the rear,
verging back almost into the depths of sav-
agery, and delighting in unusual and vicious
punishments in this advanced day of civili-
zation. She refuses to recognize the laws
of humanity, or the force of public opinion,
by protecting and encouraging Weyler’s
A FLAG FOR CUBA. E73
butcher-like and tyrannical government.
For this reason, if there were none other,
it becomes a matter of humanity to drive
@paiteitom the shores of America.
The republic of Bolivia in South America,
which has no seaports to defend, has recog-
nized Cuban belligerency, showing the sym-
pathetic feeling toward those struggling for
the right of self-government.
We have not yet taken that step, for with
us it would mean, in the face of the neutral-
ity laws, which of course the government 1s
bound to respect, casting the Cuban adrift
dependent upon his own resources, which
erow daily less. In not acknowledging
them: bellicerents, lies the hope of every
American that our government will yet
fitertere sand» put ‘an end to this cruel
massacre of lives.
But days and months are passing and
the government at Washington has not
taken a step—has not lifted a finger to
help the Cubans. How much longer must
they suffer and wait? Surely the United
States has had provocation enough to
demand redress, for some of her own citi-
1A: AT eA CaO) he © Urbane
zens have been imprisoned, injured, killed,
and their property destroyed. Conscience
and commerce demand interference, and let
it come before it is too late; before we lose
the respect of other civilized nations, who
are awaiting this step with interest and
sympathy. Leteus not loses srahtsotmrnc
fact that little Cuba is struggling hard for
liberty, and we, the “big nation,’—who
alone can lelp her,—stand idly by, look-
ing unconcernedly at this murderous war-
fare—the cruelest war on the rollgmoima
century.
Many have declared against Cuban inde-
pendence, ssayine = hler speoplemarceot
qualified for self-government.” That was
what "the :royaliste said of the s\meniean
rebels, “iat 1s the plea “of tyrantsmyiien
and wherever a people has revolted against
the monstrous doctrine of the divine right
of kings. Spanish misrule has developed
in the Cuban an understanding and ap-
preciation of those governing qualities the
absence of which makes slave tyranny.
If the insurgents model their self-govern-
ment along the lines which Spain does
AVSPLAG FOR-CUBA, Wes
not tread, they will never be guilty of
misrule.
We cannot judge what success they will
make at self-covernment as long as they
aresbound ‘by the iron rods of slavery.
More than seventy years ago Macaulay
said: “‘ Many politicians of our time are in
the habit of laying down, as a self-evident
proposition, that no people ought to be free
MWene vere tit tO use their freedom. The
maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story,
who resolved not to go into the water until
fesnadeearned to swim. “If men-arerto
wait for liberty till they become wise and
good in slavery, they may indeed wait
POnec ie
Cuba is far enough away from Europe,
and right in the heart of America, to absorb
true Americanism of spirit, as evidenced by
so many Cuban citizens in our land of
liberty. — Florida on the west coast has
whole colonies, settled in thrifty villages,
manufacturing their golden products —
tobacco, and anxiously waiting the outcome
of this strugele in their island home.
We have not yet reached a proper con-
176 A FLAG FOR CUBA.
ception of our “ manifest destiny,” a shadow
form of which, in August, 1854, inspired the
historically famed meeting at Ostend of our
foreign ministers—Buchanan, Mason, and
Soulé—setting forth the advisability of cap-
turing Cuba (taking advantage of a time
when the whole of Europe was _ preoc-
cupied with the Crimean war). Prior to
this, President James K. Polk offered Spain
one hundred million dollars for her Cuban
possession, which offer she peremptorily
Felused.< = limean ~SalelyeDe = catdeslemaunl
never again have such a rich chance.
Yet if our government awakens-to a
realization of its duties, Cuba may come
to us sooner than we expect; and in posses-
sion of her queenly glory, with the fullness
of nature’s luxuriant and opulent gifts, our
pride would swell, even as it did when we
stretched our boundary from the Mississippi
to the Pacific; and while there are many that
hope she may be one in the bright grcup
of stars that adorn our own peerless flag,
the GLORIOUS: FLAG OP LIBERTY, -theresate
many others who hope and pray for Cuba’s
freedom from Spain's tyranny, for Cuba’s
Metis CehORe CUBA. Le
independence, and for the triumph of that
brilliant emblem which floats to-day over
two-thirds of the beautiful island, and
which spurs the insurgent to a martyr’s
ene wneor, to a victors laurel, that emblem
which is
ior SDIBERTY (FLAG FOR CUBA.
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