St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-07-27
WAR NEWS.
Ships At or Service.

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Four auxiliary vessels OF Admiral Ca
maras feet are among the ships which
will be at the service OF the United States
Government in transporting Spanish
prisoners from Santiago to Spain, under
the contract made on Wednesday with
the Compania Transatlantica Espanol.
These are the Leon Kill. Satrustegui,
Cavadanga and Colon. The auxiliary
ships will, Of course, have to be stripped
OF their naval armament, with the ex-
ception OF the one gun each which they
are allowed to carry as merchantmen.
They will sail Immediately for Santiago.
Safe conduct is guaranteed only tor the
transportation of the prisoners. After
that the ships must stay in port or take
the chances of being captured
In the contract with the Spanish com
pany the war department has also
agreed to allow the Alicante to leave
Martinique, where she has been tied up
since the war broke out. The guarantee
OF safe conduct for this vessel will like
wise end when she has transported her
cargo of prisoners. The Alicante has a
capacity for carrying 1000 Of the Santi-
ago soldiers, and the four ships to be
CODLTlDulCu HOm tuC duAuldiy NSooSiS
belonging to Admiral Camaras fleet will
be able to carry $3.50 officers and men.
BIanco's Proclamation.
Gen. Blanco has issued proclama-
ton announcing that, by the terms OF
the capitulation, the troops at Santiago
will have all the honors of war.
He says that the surrender was due to
the scarcity of food and ammunition
and declares that it is without strategic
Importance and does not effect the Span
ish campaign. He concludes:
1.-THE army is certain to be triumphant
in the end, demonstrating once more the
indomitable Spanish character and the
well known military talents of our peo.
ple."
Condition Of Santiago.
Gen. Skater has had thorough ex.
animation of the sanitary condition Of
Santiago. The work was done by DR..
Goodfellow Of the Generals staff and by
a civilian physician, DR.. Orlando Dwiker.
They find that although there are at pres
ent but six cases OF yellow fever in the
city in addition to two suspects, the town
isripe for an epidemic. Santiago and Rio
Janero are considered the greatest fever
breeding centers i'll the world. This
town has always lacked every sanitary
requirement, and now, after a two
months siege, leaving it dirty and repel-
liant, it is veritable pest hole. The
awful stenches that arise from the streets
stagger and choke one.
The city of Santiago is a typical trop-
ical place, with narrow crooked streets,
low one-storied dwellings and stores.
Many OF the houses are succeed and
painted in startling colors, sky blue and
vivid shades OF green predominating
These, with the red tiles Of the roofs and
the quaint verandas show signs of past
picturesqueness. But everything is now
in state OF dilapidation and decay, and
the city is. but shadow of its former
self. The majority of the houses are alb
solute ruins, and public squares, once
green with fountains playing, are now
utterly neglected The iron fences are
broken and rusted, while the fountains
on account of the dearth of the water
supply, have long been dry.
But here and there through the open
doors of more pretentious dwellings one
meets with the vision of an open court
filled with palm, bright-hued pouchianos
and other Towering trees and plants. 1t
is like brief glimpses of happy pastlone
gone. There is no sewerage system
The city drainage is all running into the
harbor, and the lower part OF the city
through which much Of the drainage
runs, especially from the poor quarters
around the bull ring to the north west o.
the city, is the breeding center OF malaria
typhoid and other low fevers.
There are four hospitals in the city
the civil hospital, presided over by the
Sisters of Charity, and the military
Mercedes and Conehac hospitals. In
these four hospitals are 1747 patients
which is a comparatively small number
considering the lack Of food and long
siege, but it must be remembered that
the reconcentradoes were never admitted
to the hospitals, and when the notifica
tions of the proposed bombardment by
our batteries were received every patient
who could stagger out was driven into
the streets. Twenty lepers, who were ir
streets and they have been roaming
through the city ever since.
The largest number Of patients are il
the military hospitals, Wnere there are
81 wounded Spanish officers and 431
wounded soldiers and sailors, in addition
to hundreds OF cases of malaria and dys
entery and six cases yellow fever.
The sailors were wounded in, the bat
ties Of July and July 2. They were dis
embarked from the ships Of Admiral Ger
veras feet in order to assist the attack
of the American troops by land. Thes,
sailors say that when the Spanish flee
sailed out of the harbor half of the sail
ors and marines on board had beer
fighting and working in the trenche
ashore for AS hours previously. Admira
Cervera, they also assert, sacrificed hi
feet in obedience to the popular clamo
that he should give battle to the Ameri
can feet.
Lieutenant. Commander Wainwright.
The thrilling incidents on the southern
cost Of Cuba during the last fortnigh
will make the pages Of the future historic
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