Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-12
SANTIAGO VISITED.
The First Trip Into the Harbor After
Surrender.
M0RRO CASTLE and OTHER POINTS
The Inhabitants Turned Out in.
Goodly Numbers.
SQUALOR AND DESTITUTION
M0RRO CASTLE and OTHER POINTS
SQUALOR AND DESTITUTION
From a Staff Correspondent.

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July IS, 1898
Through the kindness Of Colonel Humph-
rey, the chief cuar,ermaster OF the army
in Cuba, visited Santiago today CT the
government tug Underwater. The mines
in the channel were blown up this morn
ing by General Skaters forces. who had
access to the keyboard en- shore.
The Underwater was the first govern
ment boat to enter the harbor since the
opening of kostiiitics. On board were Colo
nels Humphrey and Weston, representing
those two important branches of the army,
the quartermastsr and subsistence depart
ments; General Breckenridge. the adjutant
general of the army, and half dozen or
mere officers of the regular army, who
came along by special invitation. The run
from Siboney to Moro was quickly made.
Colonel Humphrey signaled all the trans
pcrts lying off Sfboney to follow, and by
the time we reached the entrance to the
historic harbor we had a fleet Of over
twenty big ships following in our wake.
The officers of the warships Brooklyn and
New York, lying at the harbor entrance,
eyed curiously through their glasses, as
if they, hardly knew what this new move
meant.
Famous Old MORO.
Our stanch little tug turned her nose
into the harber as we came up abreast of
famous old Moro Castle, and we were soon
steaming inside at a 15-knot clip. The cas-
tie shows some signs Of the bombardment
by the feet yet not so much as might be
expected. The southeast corner of the high
battlcment appears to have suffered thu
most from SIMPSONS shells. The old brick
walls in other places have few holes
Made in the sides fronting the sea, and the
long stairway of masonry running from
the top of the pile down to the sea has
been hit in places and partially wrecked.
The only gun visible was mounted on the
north pattlement and was pointed in the
direction of the city. 1t appears to be
aL.tiquated smooth-bore affair, such as are
seen on exhibition about Washington, relics
of the Mexican war.
The next object to attract our attention
as we pass on up the harbor is the wreck
ed Reina Mercedes. She lies half SUBJ
merged on the east side of the harboT, her
topmastS shot away and her hull above
water showing grim evidence of the awful
hammering she had received before she
turned about to seek refuge under the guns
of the Estrella battery further up the bay.
But she had already received her death
blew outside and her commanded had run
her aground under full steam. She is listed
heavily to port, and her main deck for
ward is almost awash.
Scattered about on the deck of the ship
are signal flags and other parapharnalia
just as the Spanish crew abandoned her.
Only one gun of large calfber is visible-a
5-ineh rifle, on the starboard bow. But the
Spanish coat-of-arms, in gilt and bright col
ors. still stands Respondent as a 1gureh ead
-, -, T. H..
ton of the broken power of once proud
nation.
The Hull of the Merrimac.
The next object of interest is the hull of
the Merrimac whose position is marked by
spars and smokestack showing above the
water. The hulk lies almost parallel to
the main channel and sufficiently to the
east of it to allow vessels to pass without
difficulty. The main topmast is shot away,
bearing silent evidence Of the storm of shot
and shell which must have swept her decks
before the gallant Hobson sent her to the
bottom.
Next we pass Cayo Smith, on which 1t
is said a. formidable modern battery is
mounted Estre!la battery, almost oppo-
site, mounts one modern rifle, apparently
of about S-inch caliber, and having a
shield as if she had once been mounted on
a warship. Next on our left we pass the
magazine or a small island in the bay.
We soon reach the wharf and looking back
we see long line of twenty big trans
ports silently following US into the har-
Dor. 1t Is a grand and inspiring sight
Everywhere now the stars and stripes are
seen floating from ships haIiiards and late
Spanish fiagpoles ashore.
+
of people watching the novel sight OF
American vessels coming in They are
mostly of the lower class, and the air is
fuli OF the clatter of their incessant pratt
tie. 1t is a sort of holiday for the mer-
chant class. too, as by order of the govern
or of the province all stores are closed to
prevent looting or drunkenness on the part
of the soldiers and sailors.
Scramble for Rum.
Soon after going ashore we see a curious
Spectacle. Some one has broached a casl
OF rum lying On the wharf and the Ameri
can officer of the guard orders that it he
poured out into the street Then followed
a scramble which reminds me of that pic
ture which Dickens draws of a similar
event in front of Madame Defarge's wine
shop in the Fauberg st. Antoine during
TIC rEeHcN TSVoiutlon. Men, women and
children fall over each other in their
eagerness TO get some of the coveted
liquor. They get down on all fours and
try to drink 1t as 1t streams along the dirty
ground into the cutters. Some SCOOP it I'D
in their hands and try to gulp it down
before it trickles through their fingers. 1
see one man trying to get away with a
Panama hat filed with the stuff, and a
sentry knocks it out of his hand A wall
of anguish follows, with a look in which
there was murder If free vent to the
owners feelings were possible. The guard
with fixed bayonets try to drive the mad
mob away. AS well try to drive hungry
hogs from a slop trough.
Farther up the city We run across many
Spanish soldiers who have surrendered
They very decorous and deferential to
the American officers in our party Their
officers and men always salute when any
attention is paid them. Occasionally we
meet some officer who is recognized as an
acquaintance made out on the lines during
the surrender of yesterday. The greetings
in such cases are most cordial. Indeed, on
all hands are evidences of good feeling be-