CHAPTER XLIX.
ST. THOMAS AND CUBA.
St. Thomas. A cordial Welcome. A reception at the Hotel. Points of Interest at St. Thomas. The Escape of the Florida. Santiago de Cuba. Hospitalities. Havana. Visits from my Relatives. Courtesies from Spanish Officials and Others. I take part in a Procession, attired as a Spanish Officer. General Mansana taken sick. A Steamer in the Harbor with Emigrants from the United States on Board bound for Para. I endeavor to persuade them to return. Death of General Mansana. I start for New York.
ROM St. Lucia I went to the Danish Island of St. Thomas, where one of my friends of the war time, to whom I had written announcing my intention of revisiting the place, was expecting my arrival. When we entered the
harbor, the passenger boat, which was to take us ashore, came off to the steamer, and as she neared, I recognized my friend. I waved my handkerchief to him, and he took off his hat, and when the boat came alongside he sprang on board, and shook me most cordially by the hand, expressing, as he did so, the greatest gratification at seeing me again.
When we reached the wharf I met another of my old war acquaintances, the Italian consul. He, also, was glad to see me, and asked me all manner of questions about where I had been, and what I had been doing since the blockade-running business had come to a stand-still. I walked between my two friends up to the hotel, where I found that a fine large room had been engaged for me, and, once fairly installed in it, the visitors came pouring in, one after the other; first, the proprietor and his wife, then the Danish commandant's wife, then half a dozen others, until I was obliged to go into the drawing-room and hold a regular reception.
Nowhere during my trip had I been welcomed with a more hearty and sincere courtesy, or with a more evident disposi-
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