Evening star., 1896-02-29


monsters, stepped upon by the men ahead,
would make a swift movement to one side
or the other.
Bascon laughed at the correspondents
discontinue. But who would not be dis
comfited when he did not know what min
ute he you'd again step upon one of the
hard-baked creatures that snoozed con-
tentedly beneath three feet of mud?"
The journey was horrible Never again
for fame or for fortune would the misguid-
ed scribe seek the hospitals of the Cienaga
10 turn back now would be cowardly. To
continue would be fearful. To have ever
thought Of going was the height of in
sanity.
About o'clock San Lorenzo lake was
reached. Within half mile of this body
of water the road" led up from the swamp
TO higher land, a relief such as one can
hardly appreciate. This land was com
parativeiy dry and the soil was black and
fertile Palm trees grew in wonderful
abundance, and to a great size. Some of
them were fifty feet in height
All parties rested at the brow. Away to
the southwark could be seen Lake San Lo-
fenzo. Beyond 1t low hills rose. In all
ether directions the swamp alone was in
sight.
The Lake.
At the end of the road at the Lorenzo side
a few rebel soldiers awaited the return of
the commission. They Were there in charge
OF a huge raft and Immediately upon the
train coming in sight began to make ready
wounded were known to them and brother
~ greetings were given. Then the wounded
ere placed aboard and the big raft was
pushed off. Only the sick and those in
charge of the transport were carried on
the first trip over. The distance was about
two-thrds of mile across. Several men
worked at immense wooden wheels at either
side of the raft, while the others helped
along with poles and paddles.
The transport was gone but remarkably
short time when il returned for another
load. Before the last of the party had been
carried across the second Commission"
which had left Caimito probably half an
hour after the first, was in sight coming
ever the hill.
This will mean that the ship will be Il,
service all night long," said one of the
sailors, "for, you see, there are still two
more commissions, and if they are late we
cannot cross the lake so rapidly" -i
Then he went on to explain that, although
from view of the surface there were ap-
parently no Instructions in the lake, reg
ular course had to be followed. as in some
places the water was very shallow and un-
less extreme care was exercised the Ship
might run aground-run amud would be
more correct-and considerable difficulty be
experienced in again moving her.
The commissions labors were over when
it crossed Lorenzo lake. The wounded had
been taken by men of the main hospital of
San Luis. half a mile away, and were al
ready with the MANNED army at headquar-
terS. ''
The Hospital.
A good road led to the main hospital
Palm trees were thickly scattered about
and one could scarcely imagine himself in
the midst of the great Cuban swamp. The
hospital, which. by the way, comprises a
dozen buildings, large and small, is sit
uated on the most elevated point Of ground
in all this section. North, south, east and
west marshy islands, moving boss and
muddy lakes stretch out for miles and
miles.
The hospital is nothing more than a rest
ing place for wounded soldiers. Two
young doctors, Perez and Mafceau. are IN
charge, but their services are mostly of
surgical nature. A number of nurses do
the rest.
The main buildings are merely great COW
cred sheds. open on all sides, and with long
slanting roofs. The framework is of palm
tree trunks, the partitions of strips Of
palm and bark, and the ''shingling" of
dried palm leaves. In fact, all that is
chairs, tables and stout hammocks. is Of
material from that very useful tree. .-
Dr. Perez said there were about six hum
dred men at the hospital, but a large ma
jority of them were strong again, and
would soon join the forces in the field.
few wounded arrived nearly every day, but
the hospital was never overcrowded.
Indeed, it was difficult to see how the
institution could become overcrowded
when it is only the matter of a few hours
work to cut down the palm trees and erect
new quarters. -
The hammocks were strung along in rows
from one end of the buildings to the other
and the soldiers who were seriously sick
remained day and night in them. Those
who were we'll or improving were about
the buildings and grounds, or away hunt
ing alligators, fishing for eels'' or shoot
ing ducks.
'The men are quite happy here" said
DR. Perez, land find plenty to amuse them.
The entire swamp is alive with ducks and
other fowl, and we are never in want of
fresh meat. Turtles, too, are numerous,
and farther south, near the seacoast,
splendid white fish are found in abundance.
What more could a sick soldier wish for?
.'While most Of our work is with the
knife" went on the doctor. 1--WE do very
lutle amputating, for above all things the
Cieraga hospitals are for the purpose of
saving our soldiers; not for manning them
SO as to render them unfit for future SER
vice There is a man there" pointing to
one of the new arrivals, who has been
here twice before since the beginning of the
war and I will guarantee that within a
month he will be back with Gen. Banderas,
lpon whose staff he is an officer"
The soldier referred to was powerfully
built blac1. man, who was already fast
asleep in his hammock. He had twice been
ST OF, and this time was suffering from an
ugly cash in the neck made by a Spanish
bayonet While the steel was still in him
he had killed and dfsarmed his adversary.
The Spaniards are not feared In the Cien-
aga. So far as is known, an officer or SOL
dier of the government has never penetrat-
ed the deep recesses Of the great swamp,