The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-13
SPAIN'S COAST DEFENDERS.
Chara cteristics of the Patrol which
Watches Out for Americans.

we noticed a marked difference In the
police or frontier guard the moneht
we touched tn coast. In the INTERIOR 'ne
gondarmes were our friends, with ~nom
we exchanged cigarettes ana wine shihs'
tc whom we appealed for information,
On the coast, however, we were met "
a reserved not TO say SUSPICIOUS ni ,'
nor on the part OF the policemen. lney
are a national force, armed with rifles,
and intended primarily 10 prevent sul-
prise by an enemy, whether mat enemy
take the form OF smuggler OF d CRUISER
with the Stars and Stripes al lhS PSoA'
II would be mighty hard Work LOT
boats crew TO land anywhere along thls
coast without the knowledge OF the coast
guard, and smuggling must De d w. w.
profitable thing, 10 judge by me co '',.a
arrangements Involved in its discourage
ment. We passed the quarters OF TINS
coast patrol at every point wnere nsh,
boat could possibly make landlis' anu
when we would be taking a Walk alohs
the shore line and imagine ourselves ~
culiarly alone we would suddenly coiilu
upon a sentry crOuchins under tne re
side of a rock with rihe Det"eeH his
knees watching the movement Oh thc
fishing craft In the offing. one sSntIy
that | stumbled upon near near npe G "a rs aa a
tin had his little boy with him. II Wa "
bitterly cold day, by reason OK moron
wester that blew down upon us from the
snow mountains. The uniform OF ms
soldier was full of holes which deheu
ordinary repairing. IL was InIeauD 49,
ragged garment AZ only for the paper
mill on his head he wore the regulation
hat OF the Spanish infantry-a sort oi
stiff glazed thing, which might De user y,
In bailing out a canoe, Dut OF no ca ~
use in cold weather as a head-dress. rms
day the soldier had put on a nisht-cSp
underneath his shake. on MS rect ne
wore the mOccasns common 10 the peas
ants. and for overcoat he had the rasstd-
est sort Of horse blanket But LOT ms
modern breech-loading rlhe ana ms um,
comfortable glazed hat. one might nave
mistaken him for r mendicant 70 WhoH
a discharged soldier had given cast
away uniform.
Here was a man with honesty stamped
upon every inch Of his meager attire. l
don't know what the government pays
him for giving his life 70 the protecuon
of the national treasury. but Whatever
the amount may be, II obviously does hol
suffice 10 give him an overcOat IN WINTER
or even a blanket fit for a New YORK
ash-cart. IL this man chose TO be ulshoh,
est. he certainly could dress warmly, ana
also dress his child. | had pOcketful OF
peanuts, and offered some 10 the hltiS
boy. who seized them eagerly ana ave
with evident satisfaction. Ihen we hdi
down to rest on a rock by his side ana
offered some 10 the father. lie Declined
with thanks, In manner 10 snow cieally
that he could not afford TO encourage the
advances Of strangers VINO appiotCuVu
we're following intently the meneuyers
of small schooner which was standing
on and off beyond the fishing heet, ana
he no doubt suspected that | was con
cerned In some plot 10 bride MN. ne
uyas a rough simple peasant. or honest
and loyal nature. who would embark Tor
cuba tomorrow did his duty call MN.
lie was III paid and iIl clothed but what
OF that? In his veins ran me MooIisn
blood of fatallsm. and Il would not alter
his creed 10 see his comrades rottlng IKE
dead dogs In a cause they cared nothing
about This Is the soldier OF Spain with
whom we must reckon in the present
war; this Is the type OF man that
knows nothing of government machinery
and asks nothing OF public sentiment: ne
is loyal to government. whatever form
that may take. and will march agains.
Cuba or against men on strike in the next
town or against foreign foe, with equal
enthusiasm or Indifference
Begelow in Harper's Weekly.