The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-15

This morning the InteIligeneer prints
Interesting letters OF correspondence
from two Of the West indies Islands,
cuba and Porto Rico. Writing from
Ponce, Porto Rico. Mr.. Ross D. Robin
on formerly the Ineelligencers repre-
gentatlve at Martins Ferry, who went
there several months ago in search Of
opportunities for success IN life. writes
ofSthe customs Of the Porto Rican peo-
pie. and II VIII be noted that he does
not make out the5e children Of Spain q
very desirable population; their princl-
pal characteristics. he says, are vim
fiIctlyeness and treachery. From Man
Emilio. Cuba, Private Ben. s. Honecker,
Of the wheeling company Of the Fourth
Immunes, writes another Of his inter-
esting and neWsy letters, dealing nain-
- With The boys OF Company G, who
have thousands Of friends In this city.
PONCE, PUERTO RICO, Dec. e..
Since our arrival, my time has been so
taken up in pleasure seeking and sight
seeing, land truly there are many cur
ious sights to be seen in this new terri
tory OF the United States), that have
scarcely found time to write to the 'Old
forks at home" suppose one OF the
most, Il not the most curious sights to
De seen here Is the people, their dress
and form OF living. The people are
small. Vert' dirk large black eyes set
well into their heads. very small nose
and mouth. aud black curly hair. They
arc very lazy and consequently very
poor.
The Porto Rlcans do what little work
they accomplish early in the morning
ada late In the evening and cOnfine
themselves to the shade during the
heated hours Of the day, and give q
vide berth to the Americans whO pre-
fer to make hay while the sun shlnes.
No wages are paid for labor and they
20 not feel justified in working for their
health. In the cane fields they work
from sun up until sun down for thirty
Spanish centavOs day or little less
than twenty cents in American money;
and board themselves, which IS entire-
~ upon fruit IN many instances. The
United States government pays item
a. laborefs, seventy-five cents daE,
about double what they are actually
worth. They are very treacherous. Il 10
said, mora so than the Indian. II you
ttirt or offend one OF them. he will new
er be satisfied until he has been avenged
and that with his knife. II IN trouble
with them you will find no square deal
1ng, for they are towards and VIII
take anG unfair advantage OF son. On
the other hand II they are gOur friends
they will stay with you 20 the last.
There are no truer friends, IL friends,
than the Porto Ricans.
Little can be said Of their dress They
do not think that clothing adds any
thing to their beauty and consequently
nature Is unadorned until they are well
up IN years, and as It requires more o.
less exertion TO dress and undress daily,
this they are absolutely opposed TO.
Their clothing, which fits them loosely.
IS made OF very thin material mann-
fRctured In Spain and France. The
same kind Of material Is used for cloth
ing both sexes.
The form OF living OF these people is
very peculiar. and Il has often been
said they exist. not live. Their homes
are small wooden constructions, IN size
about ten feet square. consisting OF but
one room which Is covered with the
leaves OF the sugar cane, which serves
a roof. Upon entering these houses
YOU flnd no beds or chairs and nothing
but q few boxes containing food and
clothing. The houses are used only at
night as a place OF rest, the cooking,
etc, being done outside. When per-
son can AFFORD to have q bed in hls
home. he IS looked upon by his fellow
men as being wealthy or at least. well
TO do" They have but one cooked meal
a day, called dinner, served at o'clock
IN the evening, and have nothing to eat
in the morning lunch. consisting OF
bread and coffee, Is served at noon.
They are great meat eaters and all
their dainty dishes. such as custnrds,
puddlngs pies and cakes contain meat.
Fully one-half OF their food IL fruit
which Is to be had the entire year,
ROSS D. ROBINSON.
MANzANILLo, CUBA, PROVINCE
SANTIAGO DE CUBA. Dec. 6.--The
Merritt wrecking Company mas sue
ceeded in raising one OF the Spanish
gunboats, which was sunk here during
the fight with watson's mosquito feet.
Il IS IN fairly good condition and will
be FepaInted and patched up. This
boats the Spanish had.
A part Of the Cu6an army ~ still en-
camped fifteen miles from the city.
They come to town riding their small
ponies and carrying carblnes and revolt
Vers. but they arc not given Tations. as
cations are not issued TO armed men.
Five members of our regiment have
died since we have been here. and the
death OF three has been eaused By
drinking rum, so the doctors say. X
this be true, II ought to be warning
70 drinking men In the regiment 1t ~
said that men who deink cannot stand
the climate as well as a man who does
not.
The mdcicte worn by the cubans i
knife ranging from n foot to three feet
long. It IS worn by all OF the men and
iS used for cutting wood, corn and sugar
can. II the American farmer carried
his corn cutter in a leather sheathe at
tached 10 belt and had II with him
wherever he went, he would look much
like the Cuban. The machete was new
or meant for war, but was intended as
q farming instrument.
Drilling has commenced and We now
have twenty minutes devoted TO eNer-
else and forty minutes to the manual.
The Armour Beef Company Will soon
erect cold storage plant mere anu sup
ply the regiment with fresh meat.
Privntes VIII Smith. SnledeF ana the
King brothers were hunting on THANKS.
giving and while passing smah
stream few miles above the city. dis
covered a huge crocodile In the water.
II vas ilred upon and four bullets Ind
10 he put into It before II was ktlled.
TIE boys hauled him out and had MN
cnnVeYOd TO camp. BY actual meaBOfe-