The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-14
SIBOAEY BURNED.
A Dirty Little Village Lies In
Ashes.
Copyright 1898 by the Associated Press.

Copyright 1898 by the Associated Press.
OFF Juraguicito, July 10, via Kingston,
13.-9.45 a. m.-Ihe miserable little..town
of Juraguicito (Siboney) lies in ashes to.
night. 1t was burned under the orders of
the army health authorities Almost
every building of the fifty, which strug-
gled along the irregular bluff was set fire
to during the day and the Cuban inhabi-
tants have fled to the caves in the over
hanging hillside for shelter.
The action was taken at the request of
Major Legardo of the hospital corps and
served the joint purpose of Kidding tn g
hospital camp of the unhealthful and
dirty buildings and driving away scores
of Cuban followers whose presence was
serious Inconvenience to the hospital
workers. The burning of the houses also
extended along the trail to the front and
numerous blockhouses were destroyed, to-
gether with dwellings.
The action was decided upon last night
and early this morning the long wooden
building at the extreme east end of the
street, one which had served as division
headquarters during the early days of the
landing and later as post office, was
set fire to. This building was one of the
most imposing in the city, with it's long,
broad verandahs and we'll built stoop,
and as the flames burst from the windows
and swept over the roof, the Cuban
jewellers in the neighboring houses began
to rush for safety. They were assisted by
detachment of the soldiers in removing
their effects and the buildings were set
fire to as rapidly as vacated. The old
wooden structures would ordinarily have
burned like finder, but the heavy rains
made the flames slow in spreading. The
dwelling houses filled the camp with
stifing smoke, which was visible for
miles. In spite of the protests of the
ragged Cubans, the work of destruction
proceeded steadily all day The building in
which field telegraphs and telephone
offices were located, shared the common
fate. The work was not completed until
after dark, when the torch was applied to
the last building of the town. The debris
will be. cleared away as rapidly as pos
S~S-S esAAo AhHdJ LULU 11CoPiUh1 tCAto WILL
be pitched on new sites.
Scarcely wounded man remains at
the hospital headquarters here. Almost
all the sufferers have been either sent
North on ships or have been sent on board
the hospital ship Relief which lies off
fer was made before the rains set in as it
is difficult to avoid shelter from the
storms. A number of men sick with
fever, measles and other ailments are still
here
Malarial fever continues to give the
phys icians trouble, but so far only one
death has resulted.
Mr.. Nicholas Fish will leave for the
North tomorrow wi th the bodies of
Hamilton Fish, Jr., and Captain Caprol,
who were killed with the rough riders in
battle.
The men of General Lawton's division
yesterday cut large water main which
is believed to be the source of the water
supply of Santiago de Cuba. The main
entered the city from the northeast and is
the largest one yet found stream Of
pure water as large as mans body has
poured from the pipe since it was cut and
has proved valuable to the Americans. A
lew deserters who came out OF Santiago
to-day reported that the city's water sup
ply is scant and of very bad quality.
The reports of wholesale assertions
from the Spanish forces are untrue. A
few deserters reach the American lines
almost daily, but there have not been q
hundred deserters from the Spanish army
in all.
A little Spanish gunboat was discovered
in the harbor today, lying at the Phila.
delphia Iron Co.. IS wharf under the
shadow of three large merchant vessels.
She is too small to do any damage In
case of an attack upon the part of the
fleet it is probable some of the troops from
the Yale will be landed west of Morrow
castle to join General Lawton's division.
A landing could easily be effected near
Cabanas five miles west of the harbor en-
trance.
General Shafter telegraped to Washing
ton today in regard to the extreme priva-
tions suffered by the 1000 Santiago
refugees now at Ell Caney and he received
a reply directing him not to assume the
responsibility ct their maintenance
but to give such food as he can spare
from the soldiers stores. Already "a, 900
rations have been sent to them, but these
are exhausted as we'll as the provisions
sent by Miss Clara Barton, in behalf of
the Red Cross society. The condition of
affairs in the camp of the refugees is
terrible and If it continues many people
will starve to death. Up to date eight
persons have died. The churches are be-
ing used as hospitals. One of them con.
tains 1877 persons. A very old woman
committed suicide today in her distress,
killing herself with machete.
General Wheeler has recommended the
following officers in his cavalry division
for gallantry in action: Brigadier General
Carroll, Col. Sumner, General Wood,
Major Vessels, Major Lebord, Major
Whit, Captain Howes, Captain Hartman,
Lieut.. Andrews, Captain Beckham,
Lieut.. Col. Dorst, Major Gardington,
Capt West, Capt. Dickinson, Captain
William Astor Chandler and his aides,
Lieuts Steele, Reeves and Wheeler.
He aiso compliments Mr. Mestee, his
Cuban volunteer aide tor conspicuous SER
vice.
LANDING FRUSTRATED.