THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA ENDOWED BY THE DIALECTIC AND PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETIES FI758 ,C6 APR j 3 197* JUN 1 5 HOT This book is due at the LOUIS R. WILSON LIBRARY on the Isl date stamped under "Date Due." If not on hold it may be renewed by bringing it to the library. DATE LI U l RET. UN 1 57* DATE RET. DUE ^ ^ v 1 a v wH j * J -i = " i "" """ 1 AM 0 : — JAN ^4005 PR 2 5 : - ' ■ 1 Lf I APR 2 4 L= NOV 0 4- 1999 — ■ i |NUY II Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/cubaoursisterrepOOcoxj CUBA OUR SISTER REPUBLIC. Its People, its Resources and its Possibilities, with a review of its long struggle for freedom, and its ultimate success, together with a Magnificent Pictorial Presentation of its Mountains, Valleys, Harbors, Rivers, Cities, Provinces, etc., etc. HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE TEXT BY COLONEL JAMES COX, Author of "Our Own Country," "My Native Land," "From Dongola to Khartoum," etc., etc. illustrations from original photographs specially secured for this work at great expense and personal risk. HMTVEBSITY OF NORTH CAROLE** UNIVERSU CHAPEL HUJu THE PATRIOT ART PUBLISHING CO., 618 N. Second Street, ST. LOUIS, MO. Copyright, 1898, By PATRIOT ART PUBLISHING CO All Rights Reserved. CUBA, OUR SISTER REPUBLIC. We have neither apology nor explanation to offer for our title. The Government of the United States has declared the "Gem of the Antilles" to be free, and the curse of Spanish tyranny and misrule is already a thing of the past. The blot on the world's history can never be effaced, but the marvelous resources of the island will soon enable it to wipe out all traces of the blight under which it has suffered for generations. In a word, Cuba will be prosperous as well as free, and the new republic will speedily advance, both in wealth and influence. The island of Cuba is over seven hundred miles in length from east to west. At its narrowest part its north and south shore lines are about twenty-two miles distant. Its total area is about forty-five thousand square miles, greater than that of the State of Ohio. Millions of acres are covered by virgin forests, but under the fostering influence of self-government and with the aid of American capital the acreage under cultivation will increase with amazing rapidity. The encouragement for enterprise is abundant, for the soil of Cuba is unequaled the world over for productiveness. In the words of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee — " Every- thing grows abundantly in a short time." This phenomenal fertility proved the insurgents' greatest ally during their long struggle for freedom. Potatoes and other vegetables, raised in an incredibly brief period in some shaded nook on the mountain side, furnished plain but healthy food for the patriots, and the product of an acre planted with corn, is, and has always been, amazing. Tobacco and sugar can be cultivated at a handsome profit under conditions of peace. Although Spain's iron hand has curbed enterprise and retarded development, the exported product of the island had reached about $100,000,000 a year when the last insurrection commenced. ^ Cuba is one of the garden spots of the world. It abounds in picturesque scenery, in magnificent abruptness, and in pastoral loveliness. Nature has been lavish with her gifts ; man alone has been cruel and destructive. The climate is semi- tropical in character, and naturally healthy. Yellow fever has been prevalent in the larger cities, simply because of the total neglect of necessary hygienic and sanitary precautions. Well-drained and sewered, Havana can be made a healthy city, and as soon as the last of the Spanish tyrants has been finally driven out of the country, the necessary capital and energy will be forthcoming and the good work will begin. The average temperature is about 77 degrees, and the thermometer seldom climbs to an unpleasant height. The rainy season is the principal reminder of the proximity to the tropics, and scientists will watch with interest the effect of the inevitable clearing of forest land upon the rainfall. The people of Cuba are deserving of the sympathy that has been extended to them of late. No greater mistake can be made than to imagine that the bulk of the population is of negro descent. Prior to the rebellion there were more than a million and a half inhabitants, of whom less than 400,000 were negroes. The native Cubans are of Spanish descent, and speak the language of their forefathers. They are as a rule well educated, industrious and thrifty, as compared with the Spanish immigrant who is almost invariably uneducated, thriftless, and disorderly. Man is notoriously influenced by environment, and, removed from the demoralizing influences of Spain, the native-born citizens of our sister republic have created a nationality of their own. They retain the traditional Castilian pride and sense of honor, but they are happily freed from those characteristics of cruelty and deceit which have made the modern Spaniard an object of distrust and even execration. Of the actual resources of Cuba the general information is incomplete, and in a measure misleading. It is more than probable that gold may be discovered when the inland district and the numerous creek beds are more thoroughly examined. Gold and silver have both been extracted from time to time, but there is no record of paying ore having been found. Copper, on the other hand, has been profitably mined, and it is believed there are great possibilities in this direction. There are also traces of iron. Coal is abundant and of exceptionally good quality. Marble and onyx have also beeni mined, as well as large quantities of slate. The forest wealth of the island can only be surmised. Cuban ebony has an established reputation, and there would appear to be scarcely any limit to the yield of mahogany, cedar and the costliest hardwoods. Palms are exceptionally abundant. Fruits of every description can be raised easily, and the yield of oranges and pineapples is very large. Corn is indigenous to Cuban soil, and the potato has been a staple product for centuries. Sugar p 1 antations were numerous prior to the insurrection, and several have survived the horrors of prolonged civil war and ruthless reprisals. Under the better conditions now assured, the sugar industry will revive and the value of the exports will run into long rows of figures. The tobacco of Cuba is popular wherever cigars are smoked. The yield is enormous, and with capital encouraged by a stable government and equitable taxation only the manufacture of cigars will furnish remunerative employment for thousands of men and women. There will also be a marked increase in the acreage of tobacco plantations. Coflee has been successfully cultivated in Cuba for about a hundred and fifty years, though not to the extent that circumstances would seem to warrant. The climate and soil are alike suitable, and a heavy increase in the output is looked for from now on. As is to be expected, the roads of Cuba are not good. The contour of the bulk of the island is exceedingly rough, and there has never been the proper incentive for activity in road building. This drawback has proved of immeasurable advantage to the so-called insurgents. The patriots have been able to force their way through forests and rough places, absolutely closed against the Spanish artillery, and almost as much so against the army generally. A long era of peace will change the aspect of the country in many ways, and the building of a series of good roads will be one of the first evidences of prosperity. Railroads connect the principal cities. The first track was laid about sixty years ago, and quite an extensive system has been built up. The rivers, though, do not afford important transportation facilities. Most of them run north and south and are necessarily short. A few exquisite cascades may be mentioned among the scenic grandeurs of our sister republic. The island is divided into six provinces, Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas, Santa Clara, Puerta Principe and Santiago de Cuba. Each has for its capital a city bearing its own name. Havana, or Habana, is the only very large city from an American standpoint. Its full name is San Cristobal de la Havana, and the population is between 250,000 and 300,000. It is strongly fortified from the sea, and was formerly encompassed by a well-built wall which protected it from attacks from inland. Wooden buildings are found in the suburbs, but in the city itself marble and stone struc f ures with flat roofs are general. Cigar factories are numerous, and a little manufacturing of other kinds is carried on. It is considered bad form for ladies to walk in the streets, and hence the number of private carriages is exceptionally large. The streets are as a rule extremely narrow, and small blockades of traffic are numerous. Nearly all the houses are constructed so as to withstand attack, every window being well guarded. The shutters are carefully closed at night, as the temperature generally falls rapidly in the early morning. Carpets are not used, and the brick or marble floors strike the visitor from abroad as very odd. In the outskirts the poorer classes live in squalor and distress, and when disease breaks out it can generally be traced to one of these neglected sections. The history of Cuba is one continuous recital of cruelty and oppression. The blighting hand of a conscienceless nation has been ever apparent, and the people have been oppressed and defrauded for generation after generation. Early in the six- teenth century the Spaniards took possession of the island, which they called Juana, in honor of the son of Ferdinand and Isabella. The name has been changed three or four times since, finally reverting to the original and present one. The aboriginees of Cuba were an inoffensive race. They were speedily reduced to slavery by the new comers, whose cruelty soon resulted in extermination. The importation of African negroes as slaves followed, and much labor was expended in searching for the rich deposits of gold which tradition said abounded in the valleys. The office of Captain-General was created in 1589 and continued to exist for more than three centuries. The different holders of it, from Tejada to Blanco, have exhibited various degrees of tyranny and oppression, and have sacrificed the interests of the colony to those of the mother country. The great object has always been to extort money from the people in the way of taxes, and self aggrandizement has not been lost sight of. Hence corruption became common and the best interests of the island were more and more ignored. Gradually there arose among the oppressed inhabitants a determination to throw off the yoke of Spain, and there has been no general loyalty to the Spanish throne since the early part of the century. It was not, however, until about fifty years ago that a determined strike for freedom was made. In 1848 General Narciso Lopez organized an insurrection. His plans were well made, but he failed to receive the support promised, and with difficulty escaped with his life. Landing in the United States he gathered together quite a number of Cuban exiles, and two years later landed at Cardenas with a force of 650 men. The garrison was overpowered, and the soldiers agreed to join the ranks of the invaders. The victory was of no value. The people were unprepared for the movement and failed to join it, so that Lopez had to fight his way back to his ships and abandon the attempt. In 1851 he again landed with a party of about 400, and again failing to receive support was finally overpowered and captured. The only favor he asked was that the inevitable death should be that of a soldier. But the Spanish government ignored his request, and he was garrotted. The next uprising of importance took place in the fall of 186S, when about one hundred men, headed by Charles M. de Cespedes, defied the tyrannical officers of Spain and broke into open rebellion. The people were ripe for revolt, and although the movement commenced inauspiciously and even insignificantly, 15,000 determined men soon responded to the cry of " Free Cuba." This was the beginning of the ten years war, which, while unproductive of immediate results, paved the way for final emancipation. A Republic was declared established, Cespedes was elected president, and a constitution prepared. The first two years of the war saw the Cubans victorious in frequent engagements. Their numbers increased rapidly, thousands more rallying round the standard than it was possible to arm. Loyal Cubans abroad tried again to land arms and ammunition, but the expeditions were intercepted or driven back by the Spanish ships, which maintained an effective blockade. In 1 87 1 the patriot army in the vicinity of Camagney became discouraged and offered to surrender, conditionally on their lives being spared. The necessary guarantees being forthcoming, they laid down their arms, and their commander, General Agramonte, found himself unsupported except by the members of his personal staff. His position was regarded as hopeless and his capture certain. But his oppressors forgot that a Cuban hero can never be judged by ordinary rules. Agramonte laughed at all invitations to surrender with honor. He worked day and night until he had raised a splendid cavalry regiment, with whose assistance he regained control of the lost territory. For two years he was a thorn in the sides of the Spanish authorities, but in 1873 he was killed while leading his forces to victory against tremendous odds. It was at about this time that the Havana volunteers, whose arrogance has been recently demonstrated, came into existence. In all the large cities those whose interests made it desirable to perpetuate Spanish rule over the island organized battalions of volunteers. The loyalty of these men was more in words than acts, and almost from the first they refused to obey orders which were not pleasing to them. The Havana volunteers were exceptionally aggressive and brutal. One of their earliest acts was to fire repeatedly upon an audience leaving a theater in which Cubans had performed. Later on they deposed the Captain-General and sent him home to Spain. Then they turned their attention to the outlying districts, sacking country residences, and murdering or exiling inoffensive and strictly neutral Cubans. The murder of eight young medical students by these ruffians may be mentioned as one of the most heartless crimes of the century. The volunteers arrested forty-three students under the flimsy charge of scratching the glass plate on a volunteer's monument. There was no evidence against the boys, who were promptly acquitted. The volunteers immediately demanded a trial by court-martial, with members of their company in control. The Captain-General was cowardly enough to yield, a mock trial was held and eight of the boys were sentenced to death. Ffteen thousand volunteers turned out to execute the sentence, which was condemned generally, even by the Spanish army of occupation. Military discipline is necessarily severe, but it is seldom that youthful non-combatants are sacrificed in a time of alleged peace. The Virginius slaughter almost involved Spain in a war with the United States. The Virginius was an American steamer, chartered by the Cuban insurgents to land arms and provisions on the island. The Spanish cruiser captured her after a lively chase, and although the captain's papers were perfectly regular and he was sailing under the American flag, the crew was treated as pirates. The ship was brought into port the evening of November i, 1873, and on November 4 four of those captured on board were shot. On November 7 the captain and the entire crew suffered the same fate. In spite of protests from Washington the executions continued, although an indemnity was finally extracted from the Government in whose name these wholesale murders had been committed. During the next two years the patriots gained much ground, but in 1875 their strength fell off. Martinez Campos then brought 25,000 fresh troops into the field and announced his intention to finish the war at once. He found the task more difficult than he expected, and finally opened up negotiations with the insurgent leaders. At last, in February, 1878, peace was restored and the insurgents returned to their homes with promises of freedom from oppression and equitable representation. All promises were ignored. The Cubans were oppressed in the same manner as before, and not a ray of hope could be seen on the horizon. Spaniards were given every office, and native Cubans were overtaxed and persecuted. The system of taxation was ruinous as well as unjust, and anything bordering on prosperity was impossible. It was realized at once that the patriots had been duped into laying down their arms, and plans were immediately com- menced for a final attempt to drive the Spanish out of Cuba once and for all. The Cuban Junta was formed in New York, and this became the nucleus of Cuba's final and successful struggle for freedom. In February, 1895, the struggle actually commenced. Antonio Maceo, Maximo Gomez, Jose Marti, and other trusted leaders, came to the front, and the Spanish Govern- ment found itself face to face with a powerful force. From the first raising of the Cuban flag three years ago, until the declara- tion of war by the United States against Spain, the insurgents, as they have been rather inaccurately called, have never wavered. Calleja, Campos, Weyler and Blanco, the four Captain-Generals who have been opposed to them, have tried to bribe the leaders whom they could not subdue, but with invariable lack of success. At least 150,000 Spanish soldiers were killed or invalided in the attempt to stamp out patriotism by brute force, and it was because of the suffering caused by Spain's inhuman methods to force into subjection a foe they could not conquer that the United States finally, on April 25, 1898, declared war against the oppressors, and thereby made our sister republic an accomplished fact. The blowing up of the Maine in Havana harbor by Spanish treachery aroused the American people to a full sense of the situation, and the memory of the 266 men who were murdered in cold blood should ever be held in reverence by Cuba and its people. The illustrations which appear in this work are all from original photographs. Just prior to the declaration of war the feeling in Cuba against Americans became intensely bitter. It was dangerous for an American to walk the streets of Havana or any other large city, as constant attempts were made to incite them to violence by means of studied and repeated insult. While this feeling was at its height our corps of artists landed with one of the relief expeditions, and negatives were secured of places and features of interest. Taking grave chances of arrest and something worse they photographed forts and guns, as well as more innocent objects. Dangers were dodged, insults were ignored, and finally the artists were able to leave the island, bringing with them negatives of great value. Their trip from the hotel to the wharf was a perilous one, and how they got through uninjured is a mystery they themselves cannot explain. As a result of their skill and bravery combined, we are able to present a series of pictures which will be appreciated at once for their obvious accuracy, and for their singular appropriate- ness at this particular time. JY^ORRO CASTLE FROM HAVANA HARBOR. This is an exceptionally fine view of Morro Castle, showing its heavy walls and complete isolation. A glance at the picture explains how the theory that no prisoner can possibly escape from F4 Morro has almost become gospel in Cuba. Fortunately this is not wholly correct, as several of those incarcerated have succeeded in regaining their liberty. But this has generally been by means of collusion with guards, the precautions against escape and the nat ral safeguards having, as a rule, proved sadly effective. Legends concerning this fortress and prison abound among the people of Cuba, and the awe and hatred which exist concerning it are easily accounted for. COPYRIGHT, 1 898, BY G. W. CURTISS. SCENE NEAR THE IGNACIA SUGAR MILL,. The first skirmish of the rebellion which broke out in 1895 took place here. Antonio Lopez de Colona was concealed with a small body of men in the vicinity of the mill and was captured by the Spanish. The day before this unfortunate event he had been joined at the sugar mill by his lady-love, Senorita Obra. She also was captured and was incarcerated in San Severino Castle. After being released she ran away from home again aud followed her lover to Morro Castle. She aided him to escape, became his wife, and, allying herself desperately with the cause, became in every sense of the word " A Fair Rebel." S and VelSS f The fofmfrf «, fn^ ^ f ^ thr ° Ugh the Center ° f MatanzaS Cit ^ it divides into two parts, kno°wTas Pueblo ^vo two mill W and isl e 7 ! ^ ° ld f[ P °\.T Bnd C ° ntaiDS the de P ot a * d the J^7 celebrated avenue, the Calzeda de San Estevan. This is aIai"o e for ^uavlat on f or I ^ T* • 1^ "rf k^ 3 ™ 6 ViUaS ' WhOSe P ° rtic ° S are with costly marble or gaudy tiles. The river is deep and S f^on?wS« i ■ , T nCe - I 18 SP l nUed by a nUmber ° f St ° ne brid ^ es ' ° ne of which > the te Belem, bears a striking resemblance to the famous bridge across the Pumae, at fma, Peru. The illustration gives a good idea of the architecture of Matanzas residences. COPYRIGHT, 1898, 8Y G. W. CURTISS JNTERIOR OF MORRO CASTLE. This remarkable picture was obtained under extraordinary conditions. Our artists had a permit from the Spanish authorities to secure views, but the permit was never intended to cover the photographing of the city's fortifications. Tiusting to the ignorance of the average Spanish official, the document was tendered as a card of admission to the interior of the world-renowned fort, and the ruse succeeded. A few min- utes later the artists were observed by the captain of the guard, who escorted them out of the castle with more haste than courtesy. He did not, however, confiscate the camera or realize that an instantaneous picture had been taken. A N OLD FARM HOUSE IN THE CAMAGNEY DISTRICT. Rudely constructed with material secured almost exclusively from the immed^te vicinity a farm house, such as illustrated above, affords ample protection from the variations of the climate and from the heaviest storms. In the rural districts the honesty of the neighbors is not questioned and the elaborate precautions against attack, so conspicuous in the cities, are never attempted. This house has fa len into bad repair and dilapidation, its former inhabitants having become the victims of the buzzards, called, with a brutal facetiousness " Weyler s chickens. It is said to be more than 25 years old, and to have been searched repeatedly by Spanish soldiers during the ten years' war H AVANA HARBOR. The harbor at Havana is one of the finest in the world. The bay, on the western shore of which the city is located, is large enough to accomodate several large fleets at one time. It is approached by a channel three-quarters of a mile long, with a nearly uniform width of about 1,000 feet The water both in the entrance and harbor is very deep, in spite of the neglect of the authorities, which has resulted in an accumulation of wreckage and impurities in many locations. The harbor is now very foul, owing to the inadequate sewer arrangements of the city, and its condition has led to many outbreaks of disease. Under the new regime this drawback will be speedily removed. ^ FAK.M HOUSE) IN PUERTO PRINCIPE). This house, in an isolated portion of the province, was, prior to 1895, owned and occupied by a small Cuban family of moderate means. For several months after the outbreak of the insurrection the building was left alone and its occupants were uninformed as to the progress of the war. One morning a rebel officer sought refuge, explaining that he was cut off from his command and in danger of capture. Food was given him and he was securely hidden before his pursuers reached the house, which they carefully searched. As the fugitive was concealed some distance away the search failed, and as no information could be extracted from the inmates they were lined up and shot. YUMARI VALLEY. A typical scene illustrative of the great natural fertility of Cuban soil. The stately palms with their symmetrical trunks stand out in bold relief, and the accuracy of the camera gives a striking idea of their real appearance. The picturesque grandeur of the scene illustrates in unmistakable manner the majesty of natural beauty unadorned in the land of our sister republic, and opens up countless ideas of the resources of the coun- try under good government and proper development. The productiveness of the soil in the numerous valleys, of which this is a type, is said to surpass that to be found in any other country in the world. J-JOTEI/ DE INGLATERRA, HAVANA. This hotel is situated on Havana's principal street, and is of special interest from the fact that General Lee lived in it while conducting negotiations of the utmost gravity to Cuba, Spain and the United States. The correspondents of foreign newspapers almost all had rooms in the Inglaterra, which is by far the most agreeable stopping place in the city. The building itself is substantial in character and the rooms are lofty. They lack most of the comforts usually found in first-class hotels, but the deficiencies are made up for in other ways. The table is a good one, with many dainties in profusion, and the attendance is in most respects excellent. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURTISS. piNEAPPLE GROVE, NEAR CALABAZAR. A truly characteristic picture, showing one of the staple products of Cuba in full growth. The piueapple is very much at home on Cuban soil, and there is little or no limit to the extent or yield of the pineapple groves. They require but slight attention or cultivation, the richness of the soil insuring a crop when the conditions are at all favorable, as they usually are during intervals of peace. The growth is so profuse that a formidable barrier to progress is presented, and a richness of color is produced that delights the artist and lover of beauty. Hundreds of acres of these groves have been destroyed by the contesting armies. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURTISS. ^HERE BUL,L FIGHTS OCCUR. This is a section of the arena and auditorium of the building in Havana where bull fights take place. The Spaniard has clung fiercely to customs and vices which other nations have cast behind, and wherever the Spanish language is spoken the bull fight has its adherents and defenders. In this building not only the men of Havana, but the ladies as well, have applauded to the echo acts of cruelty which seem to have no palliation. Refined belles vie with each other in their clamorous applause, and the frantic efforts of the terrorized bull to escape its tormentors or avenge their attacks appear ludicrous to them rather than pathetic. QUARD HOUSE, SANTIAGO DE CUBA. This is a good view of a section of the guard house in Santiago de Cuba. This city was founded in 1514 by Diego Velazquez, who was attracted to the site by the marvelous natural harbor. At one time the town was the capital of Cuba. It is compactly buiiC, with houses of adobe and brick lining narrow, irregular streets. There are few new houses, and even the residences are fortified against attack with heavy iron bars across the window openings. In the rear are vast mountains, which the Spanish troops have never yet been able to penetrate, and in which trees, shrubs, creeping plants and flowers flourish all around. A SPANISH BOATMAN. Owing to Cuba's extensive coast line, a large percentage of the population are directly interested in boating, a calling which furnishes a livelihood for many families. The Spanish boatman is for the most part employed by the authorities in moving supplies from towns to forts or in unloading government vessels. The Cuban boatman has less lucrative work and represents another type. There is excellent fishing in several of the harbors, and generally along the coast. At Havana this is protected, but in most sections there are no restrictions, and fishing is a regular occupa- tion. The boatmen have as a rule seen considerable adventure, and the patriotism of many of them has been put to the severest tests. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURTIS9. RAITING FOR FOOD. This is a group of reconcentrados waiting for the distribution of food before Consul Brice's office in Matanzas. The Cuban professional beggar has been described again and again, but Gen. Weyler's brutal policy made involuntary paupers of thousands of industrious people. All types of humanity are represented in the picture, for one touch of hunger, as well as nature, makes the whole world kin. There is the strong man and the feeble child, the faithful " auntie " and the woman who has seen better days. These people never expected much and were content with the products of the soil around their homes for food until dragged into the cities and forbidden to leave them. A VII3W OP M LANZAS. Even the elder Weller would find an excuse for dropping into poetry with such a scene as this before him. All that is picturesque in nature seems crowded into the foreground, while in the rear there is the dreamy stillness of the semi-tropics. There are the little villas witn neatly kept gardens and well trimmed hedges, patches of shrubbery on right and left, and larger residences in the background. In the twilight the exquisite touches are emphasized and a general sentimental grandeur produced which needs to be seen and felt to be appreciated. Cuba, free and prosper- ous, will be an artists' paradise, and scenes such as these will form subjects for masterpieces in colors. _~ ^— _~ - .... r A .^t^L^ll,^^.^i.[--: : .. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY Q. QAFE LA LUNA, HAVANA. The restaurants of Havana are exceptionally numerous, and they are as a rule prosperous institutions. Home comforts are not appreciated at their full worth in Cuban cities, and comparatively few families of the middle or trade classes have any cooking done in their houses. As a rule but two meals are eaten daily. Breakfast is usually taken at home, and employment is found for large numoers of men who carry around cooked food and other items of a bill of fare and deliver them at house doors. The restaurants and cafes are thronged during the dinner hour, which is about the middle of the afternoon. Ample time is taken for the meal, and political and other discussions are continued over dessert. IN CARDENAS HARBOR. Cardenas is a city of some importance in Matanzas Province, rather more than 100 miles east of Havall i s ocatedoa a 18 J it wT t T* * , th K ^ Pltal Cit7 ' 1CSS freC fr ° m St ° rmS aDd atmos P^ric disturbances. The town was founded seventy years ago and in fJM h 11 7 GeUeral SiDCe thC ° Utbreak ° f thC P resent war the P lace has been frequently mentioned in dispatches and it ^tatl^ C% tT e ^- inent -T. Inma ^ res P ects ita ^s ideal landing facilities, and some of the richest ground to be found fn the wealthy Matanzas Province is situated within an hour's r Hp n f it & ■> COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURTISS. QHAPEL AT MONTSERRAT. The illustration on the left is of the front of the chapel at Montserrat ; that on the right is a rear view of the same building. The structure is far out of the ordinary and represents strong religious feeling in its design and execution. It is in striking memorial of the monastery near Barcelona, Spain, one of the most remarkable religious edifices in the world. From 80,000 to 100,000 pilgrims visit it annually, and there are countless traditions bound up with it. Many Spaniards of eminence have sought within its walls religious consolation and freedom from the turmoil of daily life ; others have visited it to register vows of reformation. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURTISS It SPANISH CRUISERS IN CIENFUEGOS HARBOR. Cienfuegos is a town of some importance in Santa Clara Province, on the south coast of Cuba is in direct railroad connection with Havana and has been mentioned repeatedly as the probable scene of a great naval battle. The bay is a large one, with an island near the mouth, giving a passage way on either side. The town itself is situated well within the bay and has an ideal natural harbor. Cienfuegos was named after the celebrated Spanish poet, whose career in the early years of the century made him a martyr in the eyes of many. While editor of the Spanish government organs he published an article which offended Napoleon. He was sentenced to death, but subsequently banished. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURTISS piVER HAVANA. This is a view of Havana River with portions of the city given over to manufacturing purposes. Like all the rivers in the island, this one is short, and its navigable section very limited. The Cauto is a much longer stream, traversing a large section of Santiago de Cuba Province, and there are five or six fair sized streams which discharge into the Gulf of Mexico. The river shown in the picture above is contaminated by sewage, and has in consequence a rather unmerited reputation for being unhealthy. Its channel could be kept clear without difficulty and much use made of the stream, as there are several factories along its banks. CARRYING GREEN FODDER CORN. Again is the generosity of Cuban soil demonstrated by means of the camera. Corn, as mentioned on aTe^rpSe ™ W IT 110 " T 19 i an r d: E r ly EUr ° Pean WdterS SpCak ° f the P« f »»ene M of its growth and call it « maize » or ■< Indian corn > The rapW WoHts F 0 m t h?S en TT a ' anda " era f dlstr cth - been devastated by sword and torch a crop has been raised in an incredibly short time As 3 U noted from the view it is frequently cut early and used for fodder. The extent to which horses and mules are used in the island for pack purpo es is also demonstrated by this viewj which at first glance seems to portray a couple of camels instead of two heavily loaded, mulled ponies ? CUBAN VOLENTA. The volenta is a peculiar two-wheel carriage with a strange motion while traveling that is not pleasant to the uninitiated. The diligencia is a larger vehicle with four wheels, and resembles the victoria in general outline. Private carriages are the exception, most families hiring public conveyances without regard to expense. The society lady seldom walks, and as a result the fashionable thoroughfares are thronged with vehicles. These are often kept standing for an hour or more while the fair occupants receive their friends and converse with them. In the illustration a volenta has been called to a hotel and the livery boy is waiting patiently and without concern while preparations are being made within for the drive. STREET SCENE IN HAVANA. Tim is a view taken in the business section of Cuba's chief city, and illustrates the precautions observed to guard everv window. It is not the skilled burglar who is feared in Havana, but the outlaw who will use violence rather than skill in his efforts to secure admission The balconies are not allowed to become sources of danger, and every window is guarded as though it were in the walls of a prison The profusion of carriages, spoken of elsewhere, is shown, as well as other features of Cuban city life. One point which cannot be overlooked is the age of the buildings There seems to have been little or no general new construction for years. ° ' ^ CUBAN COUNTRY HOME. This is a type of an inexpensive country home in Cuba, as compared with the more pretentious "hacienda." This latter is generally approached by an avenue of palms, whose beauty is a little impaired by the mechanical accuracy with which they were planted and the uniform manner in which they have grown. Even in the more costly dwellings there is little effort to secure what Americans or Europeans regard as comfort. In the less expensive homes, like the one illustrated, there is still less attempt to cater to the tastes of the occupants, and the simplicity becomes almost rugged. But nature furnishes on the outside ample adornment to supplant the decorations not to be found within. HOUSE IN PINAR DEL RIO. This is a villa in Pinar del Rio, the principal city in the extreme western province of Cuba, and the only one west of Havana beveral times the attempt has been made to march an army across the country and drive the insurgents before it. All attempts have failed and once when Gen. Weyler himself took the field in this province he narrowly escaped capture, escaping in a well-guarded carriage. One of the celebrated trochas crosses the province at its narrowest point, but just as love laughs at locksmiths, so do Cuban patriots treat trochas with contempt and scorn. The town has suffered materially from the war and it will take some time to restore it. 1"HE COAST AT MANZANILLO. Manzanillo is situated on the Gulf of Guacanabo, near the mouth of the river Yara. Although not ranking among the best harbors, considerable shipping finds anchorage before the town. In the view a lighter is approaching a larger craft in a calm sea, and the perfec- tion of the work of art is seen in the depicting of the wave motion and of the wash in the boat's wake. There is exceptionally good fishing near the town, and, indeed, all along the coast of the gulf, and but for the presence of sharks the bathing would be exceptionally attractive. The facilities for yachting are unsurpassed. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY Q. W. CURTISS QFFICIAI, RESIDENCE, SANTA CI/ARA. This is a view of the residence occupied by the Governor of Santa Clara Province. It is situated in the city of the same name, and is characteristic of the local architecture. Unlike a majority of the villas, it is two stories high, with a spacious porch above the porticos and pillars. The grounds are extensive and well kept, and the stone work at the approaches quite artistic. The grounds are enclosed by a strong wall and iron bar fence, as though to bid defiance to intruders. Much lavish entertainment has been furnished in this house. COPYRIGHT, 1B98, BY 0- W. CURTISS. QFFICIAL, RESIDENCE AT SANTIAGO DE CUBA. This house is the home of a Spanish official in Santiago de Cuba. His occupation, like Othello's, will soon be gone, but for years he has thrived at the expense of the native Cubans. The Spanish official in Cuba has for geuerations displayed an arrogance which time has never softened. The unpopularity of Spanish rule has had a sterner cause than th'S, but many an outbreak has been expedited by a Spanish official's hauteur and injustice. There ; s an air of prosperity about the house, which is easily explained, and there are none of the signs of decay and neglect visible in so many native homes. M ATANZAS FROM ACROSS THE YUMARI VAI^EY. Matanzas is the chief city of the province of that name, and it has been spoken of' asVhe^roba ble temporary capital of the new republic. The population has reached as high as 60,000, though at the present time it is le J tha . half tha number" Init 1 rl S ° me reSPe 1S , m ° re m ° dem thaU HaVana ' h iS ^ h6althier - The StreetS are n — ' but on the whole wider than those in the p sent capital. The name is an unfortunate one, signifying slaughter pen. It was given to the town because of the number of cattle slaughtered in it for the Havana market. More recently, it is to be regretted, the name has become appropriate for other reasons. slaughtered in it for the COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURTISS. jy^ORRO CASTLE, OR EL MORRO, FROM THE SHORE. This is the product of a snap shot from our artist's camera. To obtain the picture the greatest risk had to be run, as the Spanish authorities in and around Havana were on the constant lookout for spies, of whose presence they were very suspicious. The picture gives a good idea of the solid masonry of Havana's great prison and fort. It was originally constructed in 1589 by command of Phillip II. of Spain, but subsequent additions have entirely remodeled it and changed its general appearance. It is popularly known as El Morro, and has for many years been regarded by the Spaniards as impregnable. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURTISS. DRAWBRIDGE ENTRANCE TO MORRO CASTLE. The casual reader of Cuban news is puzzled by the apparent ubiquity of Morro Castle, or Fort Morro, which is mentioned in connection with nearly every large harbor in either Cuba or Porto Rico. The explanation is that " Morro " means a " promontory," so that Morro Qastle is equivalent to " the castle on the promontory." The illustration shows the idea well. Never safe from foe by sea or land, Spain has constructed and equipped forts at the entrance to the harbor, which is located in a bottle-shaped bay, with high cliffs at the entrance. Nature's aid thus obtained, and the guns, until silenced, could do double execution, owing to their altitude. y ALLEY NEAR MANZANILLO. This is one of the garden spots of Cuba, but it has been the scene of much bloodshed during the island's struggle for freedom. It is said that no less than eight battles have been fought on the hills in the rear, and one of the engagements ended most disastrously for the insurgents. During the ten years' war a party of patriots was surprised while crossing the valley by an overwhelming Spanish force. The former were carrying some wounded comrades towards a place of safety, and as they would not abandon their helpless friends, they failed to make good their retreat and were shot down to the last man by their merciless foes. A the heavv matnrv and th V P*" ^ ClaSS ° f hOUSe Md t0 be <° Und in the suburbs of Cuban cities . There Tn ^Im^ZS^L^m^^Tf ■ CC % t ^ U T° a0f thenatiODal babit or custom of defense, and the statuary within is also characteristic. kinds The ^^l^ZZ^ ^ ^ im ^ ^^F 0 ^- ^ betterclassof ^rdens in and around the cities abound with vines of different ^rfS^SfJTSSfl W t w"^ g i b6aUty ' CHmbiDg ShrUbS With ° Ut nUmber - landscape gardening is not a fine art as in some parts oi California and Florida, but the facilities for work of this kind are very numerous. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURTtSS yHE INFANTA ISABEL. The Spanish navy is weak in battleships, but has a large number of swift cruisers and light craft better able to keep out of harm's way than to grapple with the heavier vessels of modern navies. The Infanta Isabel belongs to the 3d class of cruisers, upon which the Spanish government has placed great reliance. Some of its torpedo boats have great speed, some as much as 25 and 26 knots an hour. The Pelayo is the largest Spanish battleship, and the only one really in the same class as the better American vessels. The Vizcaya, which was inspected by thousands of people while at anchor off New York this spring, is an armed cruiser of the first class, with a speed of about 20 knots. s™ a °H A HA f VAN V TRW - This -wgi^T^;-^. tlou of a Havana street. The thoroughfares in the Cuban capital are very Tfa ^ sMe "l k a r a T Ce ; an ", th6y ^ t0 an "convenient extent" lotll f I „ are t 7 ^ en ° Ugh f ° r tw ° P e °P le to P ass . «d the practice of building right up to the line makes the difficulty greater. HAVANA CATHEDRAL. This is a side view of the front of the great Cathedral A better idea of the elevation and style can be obtained from nlu 'J i Vi6W ° n an ° ther pagC - * wiU be noted tha ' although the Cathedral is m the very heart of the city the sidewalks are as narrow and inconvenient as in the less important sections. yHE YUMARI VALLEY. From San Severino Castle a glorious view can be obtained of the Yumari, or Gumuri, Valley. This beautiful valley has been likened to the happy valley immortalized in Rasselas. It is surrounded by precipitous rocks, and in the early morning especially the scene is poetical in the extreme. It was here that one of the most brutal attacks were made on the natives of Cuba, in 1511, by the Spanish conquerors. No quarter was extended, and after thousands of unarmed natives had been massacred, those that survived hurled themselves in despair from the precipitous cliffs into the river below to escape what they realized would have been a worse fate. A NARROW STREET. This view gives a section of one of the very narrow streets of Havana, so narrow that the light is always bad. The over- hanging balconies approach each other so closely that conversation can be carried on between persons sitting in them without raising the voice. Below are the window openings with the constantly recurring iron bars. STUDENTS' MONUMENT, HAVANA. This monument was erected to the memory of the eight medical students who were shot on November 27, 1871, by the Havana volunteers under circumstances explained more fully on a preceding page. The boys were arrested with thirty-five others on the ridiculous charge of scratching the plate on a volunteer's vault. ENTRANCE TO BELLAMAR CAVES, MATANZAS. The Bellamar caves at Matanzas have been described as second only in interest to the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky. They are very extensive and their exploration is a source of much interest to tourists. Cuban caves are numerous, but the location of most of them is known only to the so-called insurgents. The Bellamar caves are larger and are much better known. The peculiarity of the roof of the entrance sheds will be noted, as well as the ubiquitous livery hack and the trees of different kinds, which grow without care of any description. The caves are visited by large social parties, aud are a feature of the district. AMERICAN STEAMER IN HAVANA HARBOR. This view was taken just prior to the departure of our artists aud two newspaper friends from Havana. There were ships in the harbor waiting to sail, and their passage had been arranged for. The last day or two on shore drew out all the ingenuity of the unwelcome guests, who were in constant danger. In Ireland the pugilist is anxious to have some one tread on the tail of his coat, and in other countries various forms of insult are resorted to when a fight is desired. In Cuba it is usual to spit on the floor or ground in front of a man to express contempt, and this not very refined hint was used freely. That all finally got away unharmed is somewhat surprising. COPYRIGHT, 1898, 8Y G. W. CURTISS. jy^ATANZAS HARBOR. This harbor is located about sixty miles east of Havana. The bay differs from the majority on the Cuban coast in that it is widest at its mouth and narrows gradually. The town and harbor of Matanzas are at the extreme end, well protected from the ocean. The fortifica- tions were never very formidable. They included San Severino castle and another very old fort, both of which have received serious injury from American guns. The beauty of the bay has been commented on frequently, and the illustration shows how the trees and shrubs grow almost to the water's edge. The harbor itself will shelter almost any number of vessels. _^ . _ COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURT1SS. ABANAS FORTRESS. A party of Spanish officers on their way from Havana to Cabanas Fortress, the living tomb to which political prisouers and suspects are consigned. What tortures have been endured within its walls no mind can estimate, no pen depict. To a people who have lived in profound peace for more than thirty years the idea of incessant militarism, varied only by outbreaks of actual warfare, is not easily grasped. Such has, however, been the condition of Cuba for generations back, and this hated bastile has been a continual reminder of the despotism of Spain. Many a patriot has died, within it rather than betray his fellow " rebels." gTREET SCENE, HAVANA. This scene is well selected, as it conveys a good idea of the mode of life in the city. The building in the foreground on the left is not a prison or even.a school. It is simply a residence, built according to the prevalent custom right up to the edge of the sidewalk The bars in front of the window are characteristic. Behind them the inmates can be seen at almost any time engaged in their household duties or killing time. During the evening the ladies frequently sit or stand behind the bars for hours at a time, smiling pleasantly to passers-by, and acknowledging with captivating bows the compliments freely paid them, even by utter strangers. D RAW BRIDGE HAVANA FORTIFICATIONS This picture gives an idea ol the massiveness of the fortifications of Havana. ~ e c% wounded on its Present srte mi 510, but ten years later it was destroyed by buccaneers. The location was so favorable for a fortified town ha ft wa speedi y reconstructed with the addition of the fortress of La Fuerza. About the middle of the sixteenth century it was again plundered by pi ates and thi led o still more extensive work on the fortifications. The wall erected around the city has not been maintained, but relics of medial style oi draw-br dges fortresses and heavy obstructions remain. The style of work is well shown above. onages, COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURTISS pARM SCENE NEAR MATANZAS. This is a farm which has escaped attack from both the irregular Spanish forces and the insurgent-, and as a result it shows more prosperity and animation than do those which have been attacked and at least partially laid waste. Expert agriculturalists agree that more can be realized from the soil in Cuba at less expense than in any other country, and the photograph above bears out the theory. The absence of waste lands and rocky creeks is a feature of Cuba, and the soil responds so promptly to the most primitive attempts at cultivation, that returns can be secured with gratifying certainty from the smallest expenditure of labor and capital. of the wharff crowded as u.ua. whh "a ' e« t search oT.h.d, ?' 7 " gg '° g ,°' merChaU ' ' eSS "" C "° T ° Ieft > s the c °' e " d P° rti °° appropriate for loafing is left W deserted The STL , ^ , ?„ sen,,- rop.cal countr.es idleness is a lu„ry highly appreciated, and no place ci,i, w hampers ,h/ou, P o, ^-^JJ^^^^^^ — — - -eh HAVANA CATHEDRAL. This cathedral is of great historic interest. J^^^^ H funeral services were held over the bodies of the ga lant seamen who were blown up « the to which tbe people of Havana itself at once to the student of architecture The building was erected in ^4 ^d 1S a type of el J ^ m ^ ^ ^ fresco . cling with strange pertinacity. Within the decorations are more elaborate although far from uniform, ing on tl walls is artistic. The altars are handsome and were erected at great expense. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY G. W. CURTISS j£NTRANCE TO SAN LAZARO CEMETERY. The gateway and arch show the same heavy old fashioned style of masonry so common in Cuba, while on right and left the rich foliage of the native trees is seen in pleasant relief. Interest in the cemetery centers in the fact that it forms the resting place of the remains of the Maine victims. Amid scenes of mingled sadness and indifference the bodies recovered were conveyed to the cemetery. Each was in a plain coffin which bore a silver cross and a card, on which was written the dead hero's name. There was a profusion of flowers and much genuine mourning on the part even of many who had resented the appearance of the vessel in the harbor. COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY pacificos and rton-co ubatants was indescribably brutal, QUGAR PLANTATION IN PINAR DEL RTO This io Q n^i^ Q ^ + ~; i j . , copyright, issb, by a. w. curtis ^ Sugar has always been a staple product and fortt vear ™ AT T " ° f CUba might today M fate had been ki » der to it- being very extensive as well as rema kably produc ve rtf ""-T P 10 *"? 0 " ° f ^ at magnitude. The plantations vary in size, some of then: for an army of average size. ^^<^l£^?iJ^X & 7 * ^ "* Unde ^° Wth ' efficiently dense to afford concealment volley inJthe ranJof Spanish ^^S^^S^^^^ ^ T"« ** ^ ^ ^ fi ^d volley after COPYRIGHT, 1698, BY G. W. CURTISS VILLA IN MATANZAS. This is a comparatively new structure in admirable order, without the symptoms of decay and old age which are to be found in and around almost every building. It is a strictly fashiouable residence of one story with overhanging porch and massive pillars. The window openings are as large as the doors, and much more numerous. During the daytime they admit an abundance of light and air, but at night the absence of glass makes it necessary to keep the shutters closed, and the ventilation is much impaired. Our artists were invited into the interior of this ideal little home and were well entertained, although their limited knowledge of Spanish interfered sadly with their enjoyment of the episode. RECONCENTRADO HUT AT SANTA CLARA. This picture represents in more ways than one the fertility of Cuban soil and the immense variety of _ the native product. A cheaper home could scarcely be devised. Such were hurriedly constructed by the peaceful tillers of Cuban soil, who were driven into the cities by Weyler's manifesto, to disobey which was to die at the hands of Spanish guerrillas. The poor people who could scarcely subsist at home were huddled together around the different cities, where thousands starved to death. The United States Government, after Weyler's recall, se- cured permission to send food to the sufferers, but the relief was necessarily slight, and ceased entirely when war uas declared. A VILLA IN RUINS. This is the picture of a ruined home in Victoria de la Tunas. Once a well-appointed house, it has fallen a victim to the ravages of war and its walls have been used as protection while shooting and fighting has been rampant. More than once opposing forces have fought each other from within and without, and the original occupants have long disappeared from view entirely. Like other houses in the outlying districts of cities, it has been in constant danger of raids, and the stronger the general construction the greater this danger has appeared to be. No one can estimate the number of houses which have been devastated in this way, o* how long and costly will be the process of restoration. L !L of the »o,M ^ , MATANZAS. This is an admirable picture of the lepers' hospital. From time immemorial leprosy ^sTeZ* 'regarded as here H us tratdTs a X^otS^V ^T^* " f,^'. a " d the ^ is -variably condemned to absolute isolation. The" hospita th buU in e seem to be h , > as though ,t were situated on a barren rock in mid-ocean In the calm of the semi-tropical night ''All lot abandon ye who en er herl »" T S ° ht " de ' and the su P erstitio - which are explained to the visitor are easilv accounted for. All hope abandon ye who enter here, is a legeud wh.ch recurs to the miud as the mo,t natural corollary oa the place and its surroundings. CA CT„S BY THE ROADS.DE. The soil o, Cub. is we,, adapted ,0, ■