Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-06
WELCOMED OUR MEN
Mr.. E, R. Hyde Tells About
Porto Rico
AN ISLAND PARADISE
Coast Fever aud Sin.llpux, However. mr.
the scour"ges "r,hc Country. Rail
wny Ordinance Amended.
Other Matters

among the passengers on the United
states transport OLDHAM, from Ponce
ioflo Rico. which arrived in HAMPTON
ROADS yesterday, was MIR Z: r. HYDE
OF the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton. Nh Hyde has been engaged in
relIGious work among the soldiers for
some time and Went to the tropical is
land with General Miles on the auxil-
lary cruiser Yale. He has With him a
number of relics Of the fight at Guena-
ca among which are Mauser bullet
picked up on the battlefield several
buttons fNm the clothing of Spanish
officers and Il waterproof used BY the
Porto Iticans
MI Hyde was witness of the Glou-
testers venture into the harbor of
Gulnaca- He describes it as an act as
daring as it was successful! Iieuten-
ant Wainwright had made up his mind
10 enter the harbor and compel the
town to surrender. and he did so With
out stopping to consider the question as
to how many mines and torpedoes were
under the water ready to blow up his
saucy little ship. The Spaniar,.s had
not forgotten to place them at conyen-
lent points, but the Gloucester was
lucky enough to escape a collision with
any Of them.
Mr.. Hyde says that the people of por-
II Rico as far as the American troops
have gone are extending to them most
enthusiastic welcome. In doing this
they ale not influenced by fear. for the
fNorto 1ticans are Il much more intelli-
gent people than those OF Cuba. They
know that there is no truth in th,
stories OF cruelty practiced by Yankee
according To Spanish arermcnt which
is more than they can say for the rep
fesentatlres of the government under
which they have lived all their lives
Mr. Hyde relates that in every town
which General Miles troops have en-
tered the most joyful tlem3nstra tons
have occurred. The commander OF the
American army is looked upon as 3,
great delirercr In Ponce the people
locked around General Miles by hun
dreds. each eager for the honor Of
shaking hands with him. Some even
sought to embrace him and a few sue
ceedeu in placing their arms around his
neck. The general did not permit his
dignity To get the better of good judg-
ment and patiently submitted to their
aeNuberant manifestationssof friendship,
The news Of the arrival of a body Of
soldiers in one town soon spread to an
other. and prepare tions We're quickly
made to welcome them with Joyful &C
clama tons
MIR. Hyde says that Porto Rico Is an
island paradise. y more beautifui
country was never seen The country
is now passing through the rainy sea
son. CopiouS showers fall every after
noon and come on so suddenly that a
person Il short distance from a house is
drenched before he can reach ITS shell
ter. He says that one does not suffer
as much from heat in Porto Rico as In
this section. During August and Sep
TENDER persons unused to the climate
are likely To fall victims to coast fever,
a disease which hangs on for weeks A
few days after contracting the fever
one feels quite we'll and concludes that
III. has recovered. but in less than TWEEN
tS-iour hours he is likely tn feel like
killing himself. The Porto Ricans.
however. are not troubled by Yellow
Jack. In the mountains smallpox eX-
iSt all The year round.