Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-06-05

fires OF the burning plantations are being
extinguished. and luxuriant nature Is rap
idly healing many Of the ravages Of the
war.
These tropical storms at night are Won
derful exhibitions of electrical pyrotech-
horizon line look like the regular firing Of
guns from distant fort. Again, the en-
tire heavens seem afame in vivid glare,
and forked tongues Of fire appear to run
down the mountain slopes. A drenching
rain falls for an hour or two, and then the
skies clear and all Is serene. and tho calm.
full moon and brilliant consultations Of the
tropics appear in all their glory as the
black clouds roll away on the horizon. Such
storms are confined almost wholly to the
coast, only going out to sea occasionally
of cape or headland to kick up squall.
The boats sailing along the coasts in clear
skies are witnesses to the beauty and
grandeur of the land storms without feel
ing the slightest effect Of these disturb
ances Of nature q few miles distant.
Sixteen warships Of the United States and
1000 men are drifting here under the shad-
ow of Cuba's towering mountains.
In the mountain side is small opening,
rift that leads away, twisting and turn-
ing, up to the city Of Santiago. fifteen
miles from the sea. In this narrow har-
bor stream lies the fleet Of Admiral Ger
vera. All day and all night the eyes Of
the American sailors are fixed upon the
narrow entrance to the harbor rs the war
ships slowly drift up and down past 1t.
Perched high on the side Of the entrance
to the harbor is MORO castle. which for
two centuries has looked down upon all
vessels entering there. On the opposite
side small palms and tropical shrubbery
grow rank and green, almost hiding the
battery that has been placed at that point.
Sailing along the shore, four miles OF.
one would scarcely distinguish Morro
castle. It looks like a thousand other rocky
spurs that project from the mountain sides
all along the Eastern shore Of the island.
This il the picture Of the Santiago block
ade to-day.
|. The landscape is one Of great beauty.
The mountain scenery Is majestic. Great
peaks. green robed, rise 5000 feet above the
sea, with sunlit clouds obscuring them and
then drifting away from their cleaning
submits.
Down in the deep shadowed blue at their
base are the warships. silent and grim.
drifting, waiting for the battle.
At night the moonlight makes q beauti-
full picture of the mountains and sea.
Imagine the ocean washing the foothills
OF the Rocky mountains, with a tropical
sky. above all. and you have a picture of
Santiago do Cuba.
No attempt Is made by the fleet to get
into the harbor. Mines are near the en-
trance, and it would be suicidal for large
ships to enter. So. there is nothing to do
but sail up and down past the harbor
mouth, hoping the Spanish ships may again
show themselves. or come out for an open
combat.
The spaniards have plainly laid trap
for the American ships. Harbors are
mined; batteries have been planted all
along it on either side, and the spaniards
are well equipped with good guns and
smokeless powder. But the Americans will
not fall into the trap. One ship may be
sacrificed, but If 1t is blown up and sunk.
It will block the harbor and prevent the
spaniards from getting out.