New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-30
THE COUNTRY ABOUT SANTIAGO.
CONDITION OF ROADS FROM THE SEA-
SITUATION OF THE FEVER CAMP
AND TROOPS

Santiago de Cuba, July 19--The little Bay Of
Jurasua has been the Army's base OF supplies
Tor several weeks. but tomorrow the Commits
sary Department will establish headquarters
at Santiago Most OF the transports which
have been waiting off Juragua to discharge
their cargoes are at anchor IN this harbor They
Will go up to the wharves and unload, and as
much stuff will be put ashore in one hour here
as could be landed in twcnty-four hours at
Juragua. The cove at Juragua does not afford
even an anchorage. 1t IS a mere linden tation in
the rugged coast. caused by the debouching Of
the Juragua River.
The valley OF the Juragua winds back through
the hills. To the westward Of the river Is a
stretch Of lard about fifty feet above the sea
On this land was situated the town Of Siboney.
consisting Of a few dozen one-story houses well
stocked with disease germs Happily the town
is more, having been burned after II had
caused dozens of cases of yellow fever
A little to the east Of the mouth Of the river
Is a wharf made OF heavy timbers boted to-
gether and the outer end OF which, being In
deep water. floats, rising and falling with the
surf One steam lighter discharged supplies
from the transports at this rude wharf night
and day. which supplies pushed 10 The
comnlissary building on a car Many thousands
Of men landed from small boats In III /,
surf or at this wharf and here was landed
most o. General Skaters artillery. The process
was tedious, and while men at the front we're
nursing sores caused by lack OF vegetable food
the crews Of transports were heavtng overheard
hundreds Of barrels Of potatoes and onions.
which had spoiled on board.
CAMPS AT MOUTH OF RIVER
On the sandy fat about the mouth Of the
river were camped the men who looked after
the supplies Of the various regiments. The
beach to the westward contained the hospital
tents. the doctors tents and the abodes Of the
newspaper correspondents and is occupied
by the yellow fever detention camp, guarded and
policed by the oath (coored) Infantry.
The railroad Of the Juragua Iron Company
crosses the Juragua River an iron bridge.
passes In front Of the detention camp. continues
westward along the cliff top to Aguadores. then
finds a way inland among the hills to Santiago
Harbor. The railroad has been repaired the
Spaniards having been unable to destroy the
bridges or the locomotives West Of where the
town Of Siboney stood is q roundhouse Of the
railroad and still further west IS the camp Of
the 33d Michigan Volunteers
Back Of the site Of the town OF Siboney rise
the heights Of Altares. reached by mule train.
Once at the summit. path is reached on which
an expert bicyclist could ride all the way TO
Santiago. It was this road. few miles from
Siboney. that the Rough Riders were ambushed.
II zigzag road had been built up the hillside
at Siboney and the trail widened In few places.
It might have been used by the army wagons
and thus the quagnlires of the main wagon road.
that follows the valley of the Juragua. avoided
The Rough Riders road joins the main road at
a point a little beyond the battle-ground.
LOCATION OF SOLDIERS GRAVES.
Six Rough Riders are buried near where the
roads meet and close by. under a spreading
tree. is the grave OF artilIeryman named
Ruhel. OF Elizabethport. n. j.. who died Of fever
while being taken from the front to a hospital
Beside the main road. a little to the east Of
the junction Of the roads Just mentioned. half a
score Of men are buried, the mounds being
marked by numbered pine boards A mile above
children and women are still living in palm
matched huts.
The country between sboney and Santiago
has been described as rugged and mountainous.
but man from the Far West would say 1t was
billy The country rock Is a coral limestone.
which presents a steep front to the sea, It's
shades Of red giving 1t burned and bleak ap-
pearance Between the seaside heights and the
lofty hills far inland is a depression the val
leys OF the Guiana and Juragua rivers and their
tributaries
The hills are we'll rounded. and a Cuban pony
could go up or down any OF them. The marshy
places contain a dense growth Of shrubs but
the hillsides. being not too thickly covered witk
SOIL are somewhat bare. being not more heavily
wooded than Bronx Park New-York. There are.
however no trees so lofty as those Of the East
ern United States The aspect OF the whole
country Is parkike.
General Skaters headquarters were pitched
on a level grassy area through which a crystal
branch OF the Guiana flowed Trees and
bushes gave a grateful shade. Here General
Shafter was accustomed to sit outdoors. bare
headed. stripped to his shirt md trousers. &C.
cupying n strong campchair. under the spread
ing branches Of a tree behind his tent letting
the wind blow on him Here dispatches from
the front describing the negotiations for the
surrender Of Santiago. were handed to him
from time to time, and General Shafter dc
tated messages to General Miles at Siboney.
which were telegraphed from a tent near by.
Aside from the wagon road. the only evil
dences Of settlement between the Guiana and
Siboney the Spanish blockhouses on every
point and the barbed wire fence
along the roadside. This fence part OF
General Weyler's scheme for the subjugation OF
Cuba. Cubans were forbidden to travel except
on the road and we're forbidden to leave IT at
all The wire was an obstacle to crossing the
road or leaving II.
The Spanish bockhouses may be seen from
90 Cuh the other They small
souare wooden structures. situated on height
and surrounded by a trench as to be easily
defended The houses are all OF the same size.
Tho, command the trails. and are useful as
signal stations.
AUXILIARY SAILORS TO JOIN SAMPSON.
u.ashanr,nn Iuly 2a-Being able 10 diminish