The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-22

inquiries on this subject, and / am convinced
that Ssnto Domingo is as healthy as any of
our Southern States. Professor Newcomb,
who is familiar with the tropics, and has been
charged with the duty of reporting on the
health of the island, has ascertained from
various sources--the town authorities, the
priests and preachers, and others who would
be likely to have information on the sub
ject-that the population of the peninsula is
about 5000, and that during the year ending
last month the deaths were seventeen, and the
births over 300 This is not a bad exhibit for
the Samana region at any rate. There is not
q doctor nor drug store in the village, so we
could not got medical testimony; but got the
next thing to it; 1 went, with one of my COM
panions, to the coffin-maker You should
have seen the expression, about equally COM
pounded of horror and delight, with which he
greeted us when we asked if he made coffins,
and the eagerness with which he inquired, "Do
you want one?" We replied that we were not
in want of such an article Just then, and pro-
ceeded to ask him few questions He spoke
telerable English. He was the only person in
town who made cofins, and during the year
he had made only fourl OF course this is not
conclusive, for people who live without
clothes may very we'll be buried without cof-
fms; but tell it as an incident. Dr. Newcomb
believes, and think the commission will so
report, that white men and women may come
here at proper seasons of the year with entire
safety, and with entire safety remain as resi-
dents of this portion of the island. What may
be the facts in other portions of the island
must be left to the future. OF course, as In
any change of climate, extra care should
be taken for the first year or two. The
temperature is not subject to sudden varia-
ton, but, it is needless to say, it is rather
warm. Many of our party however, are
now wearing the same clothes they wore in
Washington, Boston, and New York, aud III
these clothes have INDUCED in such laborous
exercise as climbing mountains aud riding
bulls Professor Blake has taken the tenn,
perature as often as possible, aud records it
as averaging from 76 deg. to so deg. Fahren-
heit. MIR. Burr says that the thermometer
rarely in the hottest weather exceeds 80 deg
The officers and crew of the Nantasket have
been in these waters for fifteen months, and
during that time have not lost a single man
by death. In the sun the heat seems very
great, but the shade is delightful, and the
breeze is continuous. The negroes say that
violent exercise in the middle of the day is
very unwholesome-but then they have a
rooted antipathy to violent exercise at dn
hours.
THE ANNEXATION SENTIMENT.
On the subject of annexation the people of
Samana are enthusiastic and unanimous; but
sumed to be that of a majority of the island
ers. It is the only salvation of this portion
of the republic. All the trade, the protec-
ton, the support of this little settlement
come from the United States. Talk to any
man you meet on the peninsula, and you will
hear about the same sentiments.
The people are in a constant state of inse-
curity. They have no heart to raise crops,
for they may be destroyed, as they have been
dozen times heretofore. There is no law,
do redress for robbery, and depredations are
incessant Many declare that they will not
stay here if the annexation scheme is de-
feated, for in that case the disorders will be
redoubled.
THE TESTIMONY TAKEN.
While still at Samana, the correspondent
wrote, under date of January 31:-
The commission, in addition to visiting
Samana and its adjacent country in person,
has taken testimony from all the intelligent
inhabitants, in shorthand, and this testimony
will be incorporated in the commissions re-
port to the President. Among those ex-
amined were General Jose Silvano Acosta,
Governor of the Province of Samana, Colonel
Enrique Abreu, commandante of the military
forces in the village; Eugenio Garcia the
alcalde, or judge; Benito Garcia, member of
the Council; two or three members of the
Junta, and several prominent merchants;
Captain Benjamin Burr, an extensive planter,
who has had 1000 men under his employ; the
Rev. Joseph B. Hamilton, local Methodist
preacher and mahogany merchant, one or
two other preachers, school teacher, and
others whose opinions were thought to be of
any consequence.
ARE THERE ANY "JoBs?"
The most important witness was Victor
Desruisseaux, the President of the Municipal
Council, and custodian of all the records of
land and other official documents. He
stated that he was in charge of all the Gov
ernment documents and records that were
saved at the time Luperon, in command of
the TELEGRAPH, shelled the town and destroyed
it by fire, two or three years ago, as we'll as
all the records of an official character of
transactions since that time The commits
sion examined the records of the deeds, mort
cages, transfers, leases, etc., in the
hands of the gentlemen named, and all
transactions relating to citizens of the
United States were translated into
English by persons officially attached to
the commission, and properly certified. These
twill be incorporated in the report, and the
documents will be presented in their official
form, entire. And here is the important fact.
The only Americans owning land in the vi
cinity Of Samana Bay are Mr.. Joseph w.
Fabens and his grantees, Spoiford Brothers,
of New York, the owners of the Tybee
steamer which plies between here and New
York, who have about 30 acres west of the
village and back of their wharf and ware
house, and Judge O'Sulivan, of New York.
who has grant of tract of about 30 acres
| lying between that of Spofford Brothers
and the village. Both are leases for low
rent, in one case $112 per annum, and
the clause added, ''if there be no law TO pre-
want the same /" The alcaIde thouoht tba