Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-06-23
CUsA'S RAINY SEASON.

cording to all reports, has opened this
year with unwonted fury, says the Bal
timore Sun, and is already in posses
sion of the island
Capts. Osmun Latrobe and Stewart
Janney, the two young Baltimoreans
who returned from there last week,
safely passed through two wet seasons,
one rather mild and the other very Sc
we're,
Their experience with the rains, the
fever and the insects is unusually IN
teresting, in view of the possibility
that the Fifth Regement will soon have
to undergo the same hardships with
the army of invasion.
Capt. Jauney, in speaking Of the
wisdom of sending troops to Cuba at
this period, described the wet season
and its effect upon soldiers. He said;
"The rains begin in Cuba about the
first of May. During the last of June
and the first of July there is an ex-
tremely dry period, when everything
is parched and the sun burns fercely.
Then from the latter part Of July clear
up sometimes to Christmas it is so wet
you can almost swim.
at rains every day for five or more
hours, and just simply floods every
thing. When it rains in Cuba it doesn't t
monkey about it, but it comes down
hard and straight in torrents that soak
you to the skin if you happen to be
out in it. 1t doesn't rain at night,
but it gets so chilly that have often
wondered how it could be so cold with
out having frost.
"All night long the dew and rain
drip off these trees so heavily that you
can hardly tell the difference between
it and genuine shower. The roads
get thick and almost impossible with
red clay mud that hangs on like grim
death, and you simply cannot find a
dry spot anywhere.
"The fever, of course, everybody has.
I have never met an American in Cuba
who has not had it. Of course, the
people who stay in the towns have a
good chance of escaping, but men who
have to live the out-of-door life of SOL
diers, campaigning and marching, are
certain to catch it.
eve met fellow who had lived in
Havana for ten years without having
touch of it, but as soon as he joined
the Cubans and got out in the field he
went down and had about as serious a
case as | have ever seen.
"The fever is of a malarial type,
with chills, and it is not often fatal. 1t
need not be serious either if man
takes the proper precautions, but l
don't believe an American soldier can
60 into Cuba in the rainy season for
the first time without getting more
or less serious case.
Every one of our party had it sew
eral times. The most severe attack
that l had was last year, when l was
delirious for a while and had pretty
rough time. The fever sticks to you,
and I expect it is still in my system.
81 do not think it would be very
wise to send troops in Cuba during the
wet season, for the reason that nearly
all of them would be in the hospital
for awhile.
"The roads, while they are passable
for artillery, would be terrible on the
infantry, and progress would necessa-
lily be attended with great difficulties
and delay. However, l don't think the
army will land on the island until fall.
Whenever they go they will have the
same trouble to face, namely, fever.
"In the winter the chances of taking
it are considerably lessened, but it is
still there, and any carelessness will
bring it on.