Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-28
FROM PORTO RICO
Interesting Letters Written by
Soldiers.
GEM OF THE ANTILLES
Customs ana sesncry OF the Island Descrih--
ed. Queer Little Towns and Fccn-
liar Natives. Want to
Return Home. t

The following letter giving 4 descrip-
tion OF Porto Rico, the gem of the An
titles. was written by a member of the
here for Porto Rico several weeks ago.
to a lady of this city:
Camp Guyana, Porto Rico, Aug. H.:
We We're. ordered to cease all HOSTILE
ties on August 18th (nly birthday,
when were ON the road to San Juan
and We're in front OF their first fortifi-
cations on the way. With our first bat
terry numbered and set ready for ac-
ton, and would have fired in five min
utes more. while the Third Illinois,
with my company right in the lead.
We're placed along the road and we
were within four hundred yards of the
breastworks. They We're plainly visible
to US. but Gods hand was again plain
~ shown in this war for humanity. for
just at this trying moment a courier
came up with the news:
Peace has been declared; cease all
hostilities.
Our voyage over was very pleasant
in regards to sea. but our rations were
the most shameful of any we had cXpe-
rienced. and / verify believe that viu-
lence would have been done our quar-
terniaster had the troops had 4 chance
For example OF our fare l might say
we had canned beef that haze worms
craving through it and canned beans
thas had spoiled SO that the stencil
from j can freshly opened was almost
canned tona'oes ever saw ANA sold
groceries for six years and la aided all
grades of canned goods. so that l ann
not an entire stranger to the ua.ties
of such things. Iris. with haru task.
which hau been rnintd upon ana hai III
consequence becon. covered with nil
dew, and srrda ii coffee tina; tasted
900 much like si..t ":..r to be p,lasa-
BILE. was the provision made for our
-sustenance ana had i :4ot been Ter .hc
charitableness aud good feeling IF thu.
crew and marines l rally dc ~. know
what we would have done. We receiy-
cd treatment which a socG many Or our
boys Will never forget as these. s:lm.. of :
ticers who had US in uhei. grasp are not
so FAR from :, good trimming as they
may have thought.
August Is. lsyS:
II did lot finish this las. night W..
4 that 5lime5l- MS dark and ! t!:d moi feel
y itlE 81 cand i. ] Isit Ii wish:
You could see the grand Danorana
situated on a little knoll which is prob
ably 400 or 500 feet high ana in from tho
coast some five or six miles.
Looking away to the southeast we
can see the small but pretty fort of
Arroyo. where we landed and far out
beyond the shore we can plainly See
the white caps OF the breakers aud oc.
casionally get a view of some @: the
many passing boats Which are con-
stantly on the move in these waters:
and somehow. when see one of these
Dig fellows moving away so najestic:,l-
~. also see far beyond our narrow
horizon and see myself approaching in
no SLOW and careless way 4 group Of
large farm buildings nesting in a sra-
oy willow grove, and as I enter the
driveway which leads into the house
yard l can see mother look for a mo-
ment from the kitchen doorway to
make sure that it is my darling boy
and then with a start that is youthful
she is coming 10 meet me and then
Well. 1t is no use to so ON With this KIND
of talk, for you could not see it in the
panorama. Following around to the
right and just to the foo. of the hill
which boasts some 500 feet eninence
IS one OF the large sugar refineries
continuing on our journey we see
low range of hills which are dotted
with different kind of tropical trees.
some covered with bright flowers OF
many co!ors others loaded with some
of the many different tropical fruits.
not half of which ever heard of in the
states and do not call to mind now by
name. The ground everywhere is thick
~ covered with grass and large herds
of fine sleek cattle can be seen on the
hills lazily grazing or laying contented-
~ IN the shade. In the valleys are
generally found little brooks which are
Jed by springs and along the banks are
hundreds OF cocoanut trees. Occasion
these mountains transformed into a
banana grove. but I am sorry to say
the ripe fruit is not to be found
A little west of south you get another
view OF the ocean. but as there is nc
harbor we can see no vessels here, Con-
tinuing we again see hills which, as we
30 further to the west, begin to take on
the appearance of mountains and about
northwest. situated at the summit Of a
high mountain is the only Spanish for.
III WI ,jph ho1y A..
land, and I am glad to say that the
white flag flutters in the breeze from,
this one.
From this point to the starting place
think affords the most beautiful
sights. Steep mountain sides covered
with many different colors of glossy
green, with here and there giant tree
overspreading a great deal of ground,
ana quite often a huge boulder, with
living shrubs springinE from creyJces
deep fertile valleys with MANY a ma
tiye's matched cottage dotting the hill
slde, clouds Heating on the TOPS Of the
higher elevations, and many other
things which make it a most beautiful
and inspiring sight.
AS to the towns have not much to
say. At a distance they look very
bright and lively. Colors of paint on
the houses give them rather gay an
pearance, but on closer Inspections the
openness of everything and the lack OF
arrangement. ETC.. and many other
things which we would characterize as
sloVenly at home, yet here is custom.
\ make one feel g sort of aversion for
the place. 45 5
N Arroyo is place of about / 200 popula-
\ ton, and its Industries are the raising
of cane and making sugar and molas
:ses several thousand f1ogsheads of
each being sent to the United States
each year.
A great deal of wine of a high grade
\ Is made here 1nn1la1lV and frnr, CSN r.,
500 casks of bay rum are exported to
the United States each year.
There are three or four nice homes
X here, mostly French, and a small but
& pretty church with two spores.
The cemeteries In the island tell more
q OF the customs of the people, mean
r Of the age from which the customs were
taken. and one. does not have to look