New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
WAITING AT SANTIAGO.
SOME EFFECTS OF THE SIEGE.
FLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES FROM THE
CITY-SUFFERINGS OF THE WON
EN- AND CHILDREN.


frRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIbuNE)
FL Caney near Santiago de Cuba. July T.
The many-sidedness OF war continues 10 impress
itself on the attention as the armistice con-
,inu.s To-day comes the announcement that
Santiago shall have forty-eight hours in when
70 surrender Meantime, as far as actual fight
ing is concerned affairs are at standstill The
war goes on. however. actively as ever in
certain other lines
All of Yesterday and most of to-day the Amer
leans have been busy building platforms FOR
their mortars Then the light batteries had TO
no mt in advantageous places. labor involving
tremendous climbs by the big horses drawing
them and a deal of urging and driving on the
part Of the men.
For six DAYS and nights the soldiers have been
digging trenches To the rear. Michigan regi-
rnent and one battalion Of the list New-Iork
have been widening and improving the road
toiling in the bsterng sun. wagon teahs ana
long lines OF pack mules. starting before DAY
break. have kept at their task untii late NJ
night carrying ammunition and food from 81
honey. on the coast. to the camp on the hills
overlooking Santiago-a thirteen or fourteen
mile trip and such miles
All of last night one or two regiments were
plving scythe and axe. clearing ten-acre heiu
in front of the American rhe-pts to get what
their side has been accustomed to-an open pat
te-held.
In the hospitals the surgeons have got over
their first great rush. but the stewards al"
nurses find lots TO do with the wounded ana
with the medical cases that are growing more
and more numerous in the field and division sta
tons and the main establishment at Sipohey'
one IS tempted to calculate whether tho invasion
oI,. Cd "
engineering and labor to provide New-York with
a complete system of underground rapid TRANSIT
sUFFER1NGs OF THE REFUGEES
Yet another aspect Of shows itself to-
dav That is the share Of It's sunerings 'ha'
fall TO women and children and Ola "e"'
Formal notice Of the prospective bonoaru'"e"'
Of Santiago led to the sending Out OF lne nun
combatants Some Of these heard of the COM
ing danger night before last. and AFTER su'h
preparations as circumstances suggested start
ed out In the early morning hours. Inc course
Of most Of them was to the north to III Chhey'
tho village about four miles from Santiago
which was CAPTURED by the Americans on July
There was news that food would be supplied
here by the invading foreigners. The stream OF
refugees grew with the morning hours. ara
continued all yesterday. last night and to-day.
II is not possible to give an accurate eStna'e
OF the number. Perhaps fifteen Thousand OF
even twenty thousand would not be too hieh
for all that left the city.
Before the war Santiago had about fifty thou
sand inhabitants but 1t is thought that THESE
figures were decreased to about thirty thousand
by the time 81 the battle Of July J. Nhie III
Caney received most Of the fleeing hordes'
thousands went 10 San Pedro and dozen other
places in the region round about FL Caney'
however was filled with them 1t was place
Of Ave hundred inhabitants originally. bult
around an open square. At the northern end OF
this Is the church. which in the stress Of mill
tary necessity became a fort. and Is now
hospital To the south is the municipal build
ing and on either side are the better class OF
houses and shops. with their roofs Of Spanish
thing and their broad pazzas. Grouped around
are the thatch-covered houses OF the poorer
people.
SUGGEST SWARM OF BEES.
The masses Of women and children in FL
Caney suggest swarm OF bees. not only from
the crowds OF them. but their stirring and
buzzing few Of the residents remained In
their homes during the fight, and some returned
after IT, but most Of the houses are in posses
sion OF the refugees The thckest crowd IL
gathered about a corner Of the churchyard
where the distribution Of food has been taking
place. The lines are twenty or thirty deep
here: hands are stretched out and voices are
raised for something 10 eat.
Yesterday the Government sent twenty-five
hundred rations by pack train. They were APP
parently not enough to give all single meal
although rcckoned to feed that number OF SOL
diers an entire day Perhaps some got more
than their share. but many are declaring that
they have not tasted food for two days
Another pack train is expected this afternoon
The Red Cross has also made distribution to-
day but its supply is now exhausted. a few
of the better class OF refugees and some CORE
spondcnts have aided the representatives. Of the
Red Cross In the work. From a well IT. the
churchyard they drawing water for the
clamoring crowd. Undoubtedly some food was
brought from Santiago. although the poor peo-
pie could have had little they had been
bordering starvation for some time
A number OF men went out into the woods for
mangoes. Fortunately this fruit is just AT It's
best now 1t IS about the size and shape OF
plppin apple. and when ripe is a gorgeous yell
low Not all Americans relish the taste at
first but usually acquire II II persistent Not
only mango trees abundant. but they bear
most bountifuy In the present state of affairs
the mango has been an incalculable boon.
CROWDING OF Ell CANEY HOUSES
The houses that had been forsaken were so
crowded that half the persons In them could
not have slept on the floor Many families
camped out in a rude fashion. They had brought
bundles Of household effects with them. and by
tying sheets and counterpanes on stakes Sc
cured a little privacy and shut out the rays OF
the sun OF privacy. however. there was little.
In the circumstances. this was great evil to
most OF the people. but there were families OF
refinement who must have suffered Perhaps
the majority were wholly or In part OF negro
blood Some of their children were stark naked
even those Of school age. Their wan bodies were
pitiNllly emaciated.
FL Caney had been circled by rife-pits in