The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-16
HUMAN CARBON.
TOrtures Unsheltered Women
and Children Refugees
Among Wounded and Dead at
Ell Caney.
1T is A MOTLEY CROWD
Carry Their Valuables in Small
Bundles
But Desert Homes and Property
In Haste.
New ,Ork Herald's Graphic
Description of the Scene.
1T is A MOTLEY CROWD

With the army, before Santiago,
July Gel Caney, which was hornets
nest in last Fridays battle, is now a
haven to which thousands of refugees
are fleeing from doomed Santiago and
the wrath to come All yesterday, last
night and to-day the broad, white road
winding between sweet-scented hedges
through coffee plantations and cocoanut
groves was crowded with a steady
stream Of men, women and children,
eagerly taking advantage of the arnnis-
tice to escape from the threatened hail
of lead.
1t is a motley crowd. Its appearance
is the best evidence that it's departure
was hasty; that it stood not on the or
der of it's going. Refined women, clad
in wrappers and tea gowns, with man
tillas flung over their heads. walk in
the dusty road. A few vehicles drawn
by decrepit horses and mules appear
now and then. They are laden with
hastily prepared bundles.
Hidden in these forlOrn equipages are
bags and boxes filed with Spanish
gold, diamonds and jewelry-the valu-
ables which the weather. residents
gathered before their hasty fight. Two
miserable burrOs brought away the
contents of the vault of the largest
banking house in Santiago. Sheets and
squares of canvas conceal costly plate.
Little children, cHng1ng to their
mothers gowns, gaze in piteous timid-
ity at the horrors of war. This woefuI
procession for the last As hours has
been struggling through Gen. LawtOn's
lines, which occupy the road from San
tiagO to Ell Caney. At times its flow
almost ceases; again it quickens with
chattering groups, who see in our lines
salvation.
Occasionally in this hurrying throng
may be detected smooth shaver young
men in wOmen's clothes who have es-
capped conscription. Linares and his
provost guards are looking for recruits
to fill the depleted ranks in the
trenches.
At first these refugees go with joyous
tread. They are glad because they
have seen danger pass them by. It is
not until they reach Ell Caney that the
awakening comes. Before them is
thrust a CHASTITY picture A hamlet
which a few days ago nestled peace
fully among the green foothills is now
bloody landmark in the path of war.
The wanderers expected to find peace
and shelter until Santiago fell. Instead
they see houses shattered by shells,
holes torn through roofs, walls rent by
shot. The plaza, once a pretty plot of
fresh green in the center of the village,
where mothers and children sat at eve
ming, is plowed up by trenches and
filled with significant piles of yellow
earth-the graves of the defenders who
fell last Friday.
DlSluFD Inc fultuTeS.
Here and there vultures perch upon
the rude mounds. If disturbed they
flap lazily away, to alight upon the
roof of some nearby cottage, their
flight revealing a hand, a head, a foot,
protruding from the heap of earth.
Every street in the village Friday
had its trench, manned by brave de-
tenders. They rest now where they
fell. The breastworks behind which |
they fought cover them over.
has re aF
wounded prisoners, who cannot be re- |
moved to SibOney on account of lack Of !
transportation. In some huts rest the |
bodies of those who have Just died, ne
watcher. awaiting a place in the |
trenches and the shelter OF a lew
shovelfuls of earth. Broken furniture, |
scattered household goods are every /
where.
Above all under all, permeating all. |
is the sickening. penetrating stencil of |
human carrion, rotting under a tropical /
sun. Most of the Inhabitants have long !
since fed, but hundreds remain who !
have no will to move and no place to /
go Clustered in doorways are groups /
of frightened women, their faces de- |
plotting anxiety and horror.
Under the shady arches of the plaza |
colonnade children play at soldering /
with abandoned guns, bayonets and |
the smiles from these baby faces, al !
though on many a cheek are the chan /
nels of tears shed yesterday for a faith
er's death.
Whenever a strong gust of wind |
comes from the north it brings an odor |
even more nauseating than that which |
fills the streets. 1t comes from the |
blOckhOuse, where the garrison made |
its last stand There lie 40 Spanish dead.
BlOOd-SpIashed Steps.
In the shadowy aisles of the old adobe |
church one must tread carefully lest he +
step upon a wounded man. The Span /
ash sharpshOOterS made havoc among [
our men from its steepIe, and their i
blood splashed the steps when the I
American fire brought them down. An /
aged priest moves about, giving such 1
consolation as his trembling voice can /
make into words
What wonder is it that scores of reru- |
gees turned back to Santiago, and then !
turned again when they thought that /
perhaps tomorrow Santiago might null |
tiply these horrors a hundredfOld?
Brave men took Ell Caney, The Hor- /
nets Nest" Brave men defended it, /
and died there. No man can pass /
through the hamlet today without hav- /
ing these truths placed before him with /
We'll improved, makes the place won |
derfully strong. Yet the garrison did /
its whole duty. To defend Ell Caney was |
a hopeless task, with almost the GER /
tainty of death or capture. 1t was well /
done, no matter by what military |
standard that deed was measured.
Al midnight the full moon peeped /
through heecy clouds upon 5000 refu- |
gees, who camped as best they could |
amid the accumulated horrors of war. |
Women dressed in silk gowns, with |
fingers covered with glittering jewels, |
slept in ShaWlS in the mud. Babies, |
nestled in odd corners, quietly slept or /
Vainly screamed an infantile protest |
against mans inhumanity to man. Ev- |