10 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



under the instruction of Cuban army officers, 

 as arranged for by Lieutenant-Colonel Wit- 

 temeyer, the American military attache sta- 

 tioned here. 



The Havana Chapter of the American Red 

 Cross has recently been established, and a 

 considerable sum of money was raised through 



securing members to this association and con- 

 tributions towards its work. Also an enter- 

 tainment, which was a great success, was 

 given in one of the Havana threatres on 

 July 4th as a benefit to the .American Red 

 Cross. 



ALL AROUND CUBA 



INDEPENDENCE DAY IN CUBA 



A notable patriotic celebration of American 

 Independence Day was held in the Campoa- 

 inor Theatre, Havana, on the Fourth of July, 

 and the entire proceeds were for the benefit of 

 the American Red Cross. 



In previous years the observane of the 

 Fourth of July in Cuba has been restricted to 

 members of the American colony, but this year, 

 due to Cuba's alliance with the United States 

 in the Avar against Germany, the event par- 

 took of unusual importance. The festival was 

 attended by President Menocal of Cuba, Hon. 

 William E. Gonzalez, United States Minister 

 to Cuba, officers of the United States Navy 

 and many other Cubans and American promi- 

 nent in public life. The main feature of the 

 program were music by the Municipal Band, 

 the electric display of the mingled coats-of- 

 arms of the United States and Cuba, a series 

 of tableaus depicting the work of the Red 

 Cross on European battlefields, the un- 

 furling from the stage of the flags of the En- 

 tente Allies, and the singing of patriotic 

 songs of both republics. 



The entertainment was attended by more 

 than 3,000 persons and was a great success. 



PENSIONS 



In order to make up the deficit in the miu;ii i- 

 pal budget of the City of Havana for the 

 next fiscal year, the city council proposes to 

 cancel all pensions and subsidies now existing. 

 About 189,000 will be saved in this manner. 

 There are many students in foreign countries 

 whose education is paid for by the city of 

 Havana and they will be left without re- 

 sources to follow their studies. 



MARIEL 



The Department of Sanitation has named 

 Dr. Francisco J. Velez as health chief of the 

 station of Mariel. 



CAPT. JOHN O'BRIEN. 



Capt. John O'Brien, known to soldiers and 

 sailors throughout the world as "Dynamite 

 Johnny," died at the age of 80 in New York 

 City, on June 21. The funeral was held in 

 New York on June 26 and among the mourn- 

 ers were officials of the Cuban Government, 

 delegations from the Masonic fraternity, 

 Spanish-American war veterans and members 

 of the New York anil New Jersey Pilot Asso- 

 ciation. The solid bronze coffin, given by 

 the Cuban Government, was covered with the 

 Stars and Stripes. A large wreath of red car- 

 nations and white lillies, bearing the inscrip- 

 tion "La Republica de Cuba," was sent in the 

 name of President .Menocal of Cuba. The 

 obituary rites of the Free .Masons were con- 

 ducted by Excelsior Lodge. 



Capt. O'Brien was born in 1837 in the old 

 drydock section of New York. In his boy- 

 hood days he showed great love of adventure 

 and at the age of 13 he ran away from home. 

 During the Civil War, Capt. O'Brien shipped 

 as mate and sailing master of the Deer, a 

 schooner which carried munitions of war to 

 the Confederates. In 1871 he joined the Hell 

 Gate Pilot's Association, and it was during 

 his days as pilot that he earned the name of 

 "Daredevil Johnny."' Capt. O'Brien was 

 famous as a filibuster. His first filibustering 

 expedition was in 1885, when he delivered 

 arms and ammunition to the revolutionists of 

 Colombia. Three years later, during the 

 Cuban insurrection, he made his most famous 

 filibustering trip to Cuba, and it was at this 

 time that he earned the title of "Dynamite 

 Johnny." Capt. O'Brien commanded the 

 schooner RambUr, with a cargo of 60 tons of 

 dynamite from New York for Cuba. In the 

 days before the explosive had been denatured, 

 it could not be handled Avith impunity. A 

 fearful storm overtook the Bambler and the 

 cargo of dynamite jarred loose and began to 

 roll with the vessel. The Captain was the 



