An original antique letter. I think this letter was written by a man named Joe Smith Greer. It is dated Havana Cuba Apr 14th/57. In one area he mentions Coolies, I think these were Chinese laborers who were brought to Cuba to work in the plantations. I looked up an internet article that said the immigration to Cuba by Chinese Coolies began in 1857. Some of the writing is hard to read. In one area it looks like he says,......The carriage that was behind when about four miles from Havana in the Suburbs of the village of Pueretes Grandes was attacked by three raffians..............The American man of war Saratoga entered port from Aspinwall and of all the loud shooting that ever you heard twas done today in the exchange of salutes Each Steamer fired about twenty guns shaking the houses half across the city They brought the governor of Trinidad de Cuba, up Standing last week for permitting slaves to be landed at that port. I have not heard what is to be done with him, I am in hopes they will make an example of him that the rest may take warning. Ships are constantly coming in with Coolies Some of them seem very well contented while numbers of them die from exposure to the sun, and the climate dont suit them anyhow. Some commit suicide, it is very frequent among them. A large number of them are employed on the oposite side of the bay in the Sugar factories in Regla. They revolted a party of ten there in a factory last week and murdered their overseer, for which they are now in prison and will of course be garroted...............I have seen in a northern paper an account of two coloured boys trying to make their escape from Nashville and their failure and the suicide of one A tragic end of his hopes of freedom............

 I currently have other letters listed that were written by this individual.

The letter has wear and stains and tears, some areas might be hard to read, overall the letter is very readable.