The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-05
oLrMPsEs OF krBoxEE.
The Town on III Cuban Coast where Z
Smaller Part Of Our Troops Were Lnnde'

Or SANTIAGO. June 2A.-No doubt the best
story OF to-dny's happenings at siboney has
been told by those who took part in them, but
there are many points OF view for every occur
renee. and a majority OF the inactive spectators
OF the operations to-day were on the vessels
lying near the landing place. The scene con-
tanned much OF wonderful interest. and every
glass on the ships was focused on one point or
another almost constantly.
Tho town OF Siboney IL In two very distinct
parts. One. lying to the west, consists OF low
wooden houses. painted white. for the most
part, with paleNblue trimmings. They form q
neat row something over a half mile long.
In front OF them runs the railroad from Santi-
ago. with its shops and sheds and a litter OF
cars. Two locomotives were in sight. both ap-
parently more or less wrecked. One was an or
binary engine and the other was a smaller
switch engine. There were q few small box
cars and over a hundred ore cars. This west
ern part OF the town is on the top Of a
blufH about fifteen feet high. whose rock
face rises perpendicularly from the ocean.
The chief vegetation on 1t is q scrubby brush.
which has evidently been cleared away from
the spots occupied by the houses and their
small yards. as on the hillside back Of the town
1t is impenetrably thick. Opposite this portion
Of the town the hills rise directly from the
NuIoE W u COuSluSIuDIo htlknNt III uuN6 lOJ
been built upon to any extent.
At the inner end OF the bay Is q fat. sandy
beach. giving way TO a rich bottomland thickly
overGrown with tropical vegetation. Cocoanut
palms rise above the big-leaved brush, all OF q
deep dark green, very different from that OF the
harder species along the more exposed coast.
Here is the second part OF the town, consisting
OF huts made OF poles and matched. They are
beautiful to look at, but hardly desirable as
dwellings, for in the sodden, rotting walls and
roofs Turk vermin and disease germs. This
portion OF the town is not 30 large as the other.
though its population was probably greater.
From the bay nine Spanish blockhouses can
be seen. They are all alike and identical with
thousands of others throughout the island.
There is one on top Of the hill to the east and
another to the west: one half way up the west
ern hill. two in the foothills TO the north and
one on top OF a mountain miles beyond. and
two In the western and one In the eastern part
Of the tow itself. Those in the town and to
the east show the effect OF our bombardment
yesterday and are deserted. On the one
among the palm trees an American flag can be
seen.
Your correspondents flrst view Of the town
to-day was about 10 o'clock this morning. The
landing had been in progress all night aud was
still going on. The st. Louis was at anchor in
the bay and eight transports were nearby.
From these. boatload after boatload of soldiers
were going ashore. TIL landings were made
on the sandy beach right In the surf. The st.
Louis and the Wompatuck were dropping shells
In the hills occasionally. There was a white
camp among the railroad tracks and sheds, and
Cuban flags loated from two Of the larger
buildings nearby.
Along the beach and the sea cliff soldiers were
bathing. and knots OF them were to be seen
among the houses and the cars.
The advance up the hill had already begun.
Three columns were in motion. advancing and
resting alternately. The largest column was
following a well-deflned trail up the face OF a
spur OF the western hill. while the other two
took more circuitous routes to either side. The
side column marched in single file and were
frequently lost to sight in their twistings. At
times the men were seen to stoop in passing
under low-hanging branches. and to leap over
breaks and barriers in their path. Every step
was a climb. and hard. rough work it looked to
be. Every man carried his gun and other ac-
coutrements. and across one shoulder carried
his camp roll.
At this time the head OF the column was about
half way between tho blockhouse part way ur
and the crest of the hill. From below the men
who had been sleeping. eating. bathing or
foraging about near the landing place kept fall
ing in behind those who had already begun the
ascent. Company after company took its place
in one or another OF the columns and started on
the big climb.
The last half of the climb was accomplished
in about two hours, and shortly before noon
the heads Of the columns were seen to reach
the crest Of the hill. and disappeared beyond it.
By this time the Decentralization Of men was
nearly completed. and belated boatloads were
arriving only at considerable intervals.
1t was still early in the afternoon when the
report OF fighting ashore began to spread
among the ships. Rumor in such a case is moi
so rapid as on shore. but the facts grow more
distorted in a short passage afloat than on land
The first report Of the rough riders" hap,
tism Of fire to reach the flagship New York was
TO the effect that 300 had been killed. and Other
details equally extravagant were given. THAI
there had been an engagement was soon ap'
parent from the quick raising OF u hospital flag
on one Of the larger houses next to the Cuban
headquarters. and the transfer OF mon thither
The red cross OF the medical corps was the only
sign of the engagement to be seen from out,