The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-26
United States Troops with Customary
Spirit Found Ways TO Celebrate
the Holiday Event.
COL. DURBIN'S MEN ARE HAPPY
COMPANY r HAD MOCK PRESENTS
HUNG ON A CACTUS TREE.
Turkeys at 81 Apiece Made Big Dim
ncr. Rare-First Regular Patrol
in City Of Havana.

HAVANA, Dec. 25, s p. m.-The United
States troops have begun this evening a
fegular patrol OF the city of Havana i'm or
der to guard against possible disorders The
day, however, passed in comparative quiet.
The bando issued on Friday by Captain
eneral Jiminez Castellanos prohibiting
crowds from assembling in the streets has
been generally observed. Last night there
was some disturbance, said to have been
paused by liquor, in Montserrat place. A
Shot was fired about midnight from a roof
at group of people below, ard many shots
were returned at figures vaguely seen on the
roof. An unidentified man was killed and
three were wounded in other affrays.
Christmas at Camp Quemados was as
lively as the troops could make it with
slender materials. Turkeys at 81 apiece were
scarce, and everybody said that with the
heat at q summer temperature and the
hedge rows brilliant with flowers the day
did not seem much like Christmas.
All the company messes of the Forty
ninth Iowa. the First North Carolina, the
Fourth Virginia, the Second Illinois and the
ndred-and-sixty-first Indiana regi-
ments had extra spreads out Of company
funds. with gifts from well-to-do members.
The atmy ration was suppleme ~. fruit,
chicken. The Sixth Missouri Regiment, the
last to arrive, had no chance to prepare an
extra dinner, so the men dined on fresh
beef, rice and beans. One battalion reached
camp yesterday, the other two marching to-
day distance of eight miles over a dusty
road.
All the regimental bands played and the
men were granted leave within a mile radius
of the camp. Company Il of the One-hun-
dred-andrsi rsixty-first Indiana Regiment had a.
cactus Christmas tree, with a present for
everybody stuck on the points, as, for i'm
stance, hardtack, beans, salt pork and can
dies. The officers Of the One-hundred-and-
sixty-first Indiana indulged after dinner in
songs and speech making with several solo
dances.
At EI Vedado the Eighth and Tenth regu-
lar infantry regiments dined well at the ex-
.scnse of the company funds
Major General Lee and his staff partool
of a modest dinner. General Lee had .
llliIAber of live turkeys available but as
the birds are very lean he decided to keep
them on the chance of Improvement for the
New Years feast after the nag-raising.
General Lee spent most of the day on horse
back studying the best route for the New
Years day parade. The streets are too mar
NV ~ oaAON tHS LtOppS 10 past the
palace, so that the route will probably be
through the Prado and Central Park to
Cerro the Havana suburb. General Lee ex-
poets to have 11ooO men. including the Gu
bans. In the military procession.
Major General Butler will go to Matanzas
and Cienfuegos tomorrow night on official
business. The American troops are about
10 take possession Of the San Ambrosios
Hospital.
G. 5. Beaver, the United States postal
agent in Havana. has complained to the
postmaster general of the irregularity in the
arrival of the mails from the United States.
SANTIAGO DIE CUBA, Dec. 25.-Christ-
mas has passed. without local disorder.
There were few private dinners given to
celebrate the day among the Americans,
as most of them prefer to hold their festiv-
tiles Tomorrow. Last evening three COM
panies of United States troops guarded the
city. as precaution against possible DIS
turbanees, some Of the Cuban negroes Eay-
ing made threats against Spaniards and
Spanish property; but the night went ty
quietly. .a.as,s