New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-25
PEACEFUL PINAR DEL RIO.
RECoNsTRUcTING A FERTILE PROVINCE
OF CUBA
TIE PICTURESQUE WELCOME TO GENERAL DAVIS
NO BRfGANDAGE IN THE DISTRICT
THE AMERICAN CAMP

THE AMERICAN CAMP.
Pinar del Rio. Dec. 1s-The reconstruction Of this
great tobacco-ralslng. sugar-growing province has
begun. Absolute peace exists and the people are at
work.
General Davis before he left Havana was told
that brgands would probably ovcrrun the province.
that petty dctators were taxing the villages that
insurrent chiefs had occupied the towns and would
not yield paramount authority 10 the Americans,
and that he would be infinitely vexed by obstacles In
every step toward the restoration of civil order
among restless people.
When General Davis. his staff. a battalion or the
eo2d New-York Regiment and n Signal Corps COM
pany reached the borders Of the province In the
Journey by train from Havana they were received
Mt Santiago de las Vegas by n colonel and nun
dred and fifty Cuban horsemen aligned near tho
station. 4 few yards behind them were hum
dred and twenty-five young Cuban women on horse
back Around and behind this cavalcade the towns
people gathered-shaggy- haired old men,
women In black troops Of children with flowers
and small Cuban and American flags. Az General
Davis and his staff appeared on the platform there
was a passionate burst of "Nivas," and bare ma
chetes flashed in the medley Of color. The cheer
ing was prolonged and so genuine that the
Americans were moved by It. The colonel placed
himself and his men Mt General Daviss disposal.
The alcalde OF the town made an address The
General, who knows some conversational Spanish.
but enough for public speech. replied through
an Interpreter that the Cuban people had won
liberty through great trials and suferngs and that
the Americans were there aid In conserving that
liberty.
MISTOOK THE SURGEON FOR THE GENERAL
Surgeon Major William l.. Kneedler had become
separated IN the crowd from General Davis. and
ono Of a committee OF priests began to read him
nm address of welcome. thinking the physician
WAS the General Major Knceder. who at first
did not perceive the drift Of the address, I'M
able 10 find an opening TO stop the padre before
the welcome had been concluded. The doctor then
through a Cuban who could speak English and
Spanish said that one Of the Americans with
General Davis he regarded the Cubans as men and
brethren and that In all ms travels ne hdn not
seen so fine n country
Tho Americans then swept on through VIDE
spaces of deserted country. From the train they
could sec occasionally the blackened walls and
tall chimney OF a ruined sugar centrale weedy
and shrub-growu fields and at intervals colon
nades OF palms marking the spot where houses
once had been. At each Of the towns tho senior
Cuban officer made known his allegiance 10 the
proposed order OF things under the American pro-
tectorate. Plnar del Rio city gave reception as
enthusiastic that given at Santiago de las Vegas
The Cuban commander turned over the muhlclpdi
and provincial buildings.
General Davis has communicated by letter or ny
messenger with the important towns In the
province. Not an incident OF brgandage or injury
70 personal rights has been reported The most
chickens. The Spanish residents. some OF "hon
nre the well-o-do men Of the city, had lived in
the interregnum between Spanish evacuation ana
American occupation unnamed
NEW USES FOR TROCHAS AND FORTS.
Tho people near Pinar have torn the wire from
the trocha and incloscd yards and fields with It.
The principal storekeeper has painted advertise
.nents on two OF the forts. The town Is well fed
on chickens fresh beef, fruit and vegetables. The
country Is exhausted. but the revivihcation has
begun Palm huts are building on wasted farms
The country people are now living cnlelly on RAD
lshos. sweet potatoes. sugar-cane ana chickens,
and quail shot trapped In the thickets -
Pinar del Rio City has many empty houses. Inc
pOpulafiOn was LOO OF which number 1913 nave
been buried. The women are all In black
Following General Davis's instructlOns' me amer
team officers and priv3tes are careiui 10 return lnc
sa!utes Of the cuban soldiers. who, armed ana IN
armed. are coming and going at al times. ny
necessity, have sold their rifles Mausers captured
from the Spanards selling for i've or SIX silver
dollars In Havana Mausers are surreptiuousy
sold for $50 or s25. - . ~, ,,u-o,.
under Major Wood. is camped on high ground
sboui a mile outside the city. The landscape Of
rolling country and distant mountains ~ most
heautiful The men have been working nara cut
ting grass and organizing the camp. lney nav
not missed having fresh Dread and beef since ue!
lee, Havana Forty-two head OF cattle hrouSht
from Texas for the camp are grazing near py,
maintained at the railway station; ana ano,let -
a. N Ciobo Hotel where General Davis ls STAYING
No her guard duty outside the camp - replr.
The men expect be replaced by Regulars IN me
are told ~ the malaria hat develops around flnar
III %. ,.i,,, tho heginutnz OF hot weather.