The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-16
HIS FOOTSTEPS DOGGED.

miles away, OH the trocha, in curri-
age.
HIS FOOTSTEPS DoGGED.
He had not been on the boat fifteen
minutes. when he was approached by
two fine looking Spanish gentlemen, one
of whom asked:
where are you going? How far?"
"rc Mariel," responded the doctor
"Iow far arc you Going?''
no Mnriel Also" replied the speaker
and the two kept him close company un-
til Mnricl was reached. Here he went
to the authorities for his passports and
was examined and searched In u most
vigorous fashion, even down to his shoes.
| The first question asked was: What
are you here for?" DR.. Thomas told
them that he was land agent look
| Ing for Investment and as land was
selling low. and 1t was known that at
ter the war, 1t would take n big jump in
price. his answer was considered rea-
sonable and satisfactory. Land agents
were evidently not entirely rarity in
TINT neck Of the woods.
Returning TO the hotel, lie ordered q
carriage for Juanajay, and just as he
was entering 1t. one of the Spaniards
who had spoken to him on the boat,
Senior Emanuel Serbia. came up and
said that he had just received 4 tele-
gram ordering him to Juanajay. DR..
Thomas invited him to go with him,
but asked to be excused n second and
going inSo the hotel, told the landlord
that he wanted to send Il telegram to
Havana. Mine Host informed him that
there was no teleGrnphic communication
with Havana, and this bit Of informa-
ton confirmed the Doctors suspicious
that the Senior was nothing more or
less than a spy. Suspicion became q
conviction latter on.
AT THE TROCuA.
Reaching ,JnanD inv that ovnp;pc ffar
| about two hours driving, DIR. Thomas
engaged 4 room at the hotel and went
out for short stroll Upon his return
he went In to supper with the Senior,
who was presently approached by the
porter of the hotel, who said that every
room In the hotel had been taken and
would the doctor object to having the
Senior for a roommate. Submitting
gracefully to the inevitable, Or. Thomas
consented and retalIated on the affable
Spaniard when he got him by himself
by talking real estate till the Castil-
lian's mustachc quivered.
DIR. Thomas describes the trocha as
tine. well built broad road running
| clear across the island, built within the
past two years. On either side, about a
quarter Of a mile apart are so-called
| forts. built of their wood and covered
with palm bows each ''shack" contain
Ing from 100 to $50 soldiers
SUFFERING OF THE SOLDIERS.
What struck him most forcibly was
the suffering among the soldiers OF the
Spanish army. Describing it, the Doc
tor said:
u saw sometimes az many as ten
soldiers lying in hammocks under a sim
gle porch, dying Of yellow fever and
smallpox. II is awful. The larger por-
ton OF the Spanish army is composed
| OF young men who leave their native
land. fired with patriotism and love of
adventure. They wouldn't mind dy-
Ing IN battle so much. but to die like
dogs. without attention, medicine, prop
er food. nursing, away from mother,
nome, sweetheart, friends and God. It
Is awful. That is what is taking the
heart out Of the Spanish army.
There Is terrible suffering, too.
among the Cuban women and children.
who have been huddled into the towns
and villages by Weylers orders. Their
husbands are in the patriot army, and
ithey emaciated and starving as they
are, many Of them in rags. their chill
dren nearly naked. are subject to all
sorts Of indignities from the brutal
Spanish soldiers. When they came to
the towns, they brought supply Of
food from their farms, but that has
long since been exhausted, and now
their condition Is pitiable There has
been no cultivation Of the farms for
nearly two years. and as a result, food
Is at a premium.
:All these reports Of sbig battles
and glorious victories are fakes.
There are no great battles In Cuba.
It Is distinctly a guerilla war. Reports