Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-06-30
An ANCIENT CITY.


soon Float, one OF lie Oldest in the New
Word.
New York Herald.
With the news that orr amy under
Gen. Shafter is approaching santiago
dc Cuba ami tho possibility that within
u weekit may be occupied ny American
troops, citizens of the United Ststes VIII
take new interest IN that ancient city
tho oldest standing city in the New
World, except Santo Domingo, which
was established by Columbus 400 yeafs
ago. Santiago itself was founded only
Is years after Santa Domingo. Ii was
the former capital and is the third
city Of commercial importance 90 the
Island OF Cuba
Tins name Santiago given to the
former capital signifies in English ST.
Jnmes, and has, ut various times been
called San Jago, San Diego and San.
tiago, all with the same meaning. Ii 10
situated 400 miles in a direct limo
suutheast Of Havana. and is still the
chief city Of the eastern department Of
Cuba. 1t III the residential town of
the Archbishop and is the seat OF
several yearly religious festivals which
uNu AFl'hlulpd WIN dhA ApiphbhNs
Santiago is the terminus nj two rnll-
road lines, one Of which is Enc outlet
OF Tomas de Cohre. the celebrated
copper mines situated several miles
inland. Tho second railroad passes
through the rich sugar country, afford
ing transportation for that staple article
OF expectation The exports from San
tiago are said to reach tho sum Of
So. 600, 600 annually Tobacco, honsy,
rum, cocoon and mahogany are also OK
ported 10 great quantities. Santiago is
inGluspd on three Rides by hills rising
RAPIDLY from inc bay to mountains Of
great hcigh; una beauty, which besdes
being lovely 10 look upon afford per
fort drainage to the city. ihs streets
are all alike Rnd apparently have not
been repaired 5fncn first constructed,
400 years ago Starting al tbs shore,
the streets, which are very narrow. run
directly w the hiisiue, distance Of
100 feet or more. Tropical rains have
washed greRt cutters down the roads,
in some places three and fOtf feet
deHp, and tbs trntlic has upruoteH tho
cob1estonca laid hundre,ln Of yesrs
ago and left inc the road pitfalls and
manirars for tho unwnry. The main
street, upon which the American consul
lived, is in Ruuh a coGdltion Ut decay
that no effort is made TO drive vehiule
through ii, and oven horseman cannot
ride through it aftor dark, There is
risk in attempting to navigate tho
street M foot in brnud daylight. Most
of tho streeta have cenonted sidewalks
~ or - inches wide hut in some
streets even this accommodation is done
away with.
Santiago has the reputation of being
the moat unhealthy CITY ~ CUBA.
ilemmnd in by mountains, with all the
clty's nth fostering 10 the sun, II is
surprising that yellow fever docs not
make tine city lis regular abiding place,
instead OF visiting IL annually, as il
does. Children OF both sexea to the
age of 10 or II years totally dispenee
with clothing and chase about in the
streets and highways in costumes akin
to those worn !iy tho only residents of
the Garden of Eden.
Houses OF the better clasa in the CITY
are as alike as two meas, and ieserip-
tiOn OF enc answers for ALL lake tne
building which was occupied by tbs
American CONSUL situated in a street
absolutely impassable for anything brt
pedestrians. 1t is necessary, should
one he driving, to leave the carrinpe at
tho corner OF the street and pick mis-
way down the so called sidewalk to tho
old-fashioned building recognized az
the consul's home by the American
eagle, which surmounts the keystone.
Ths walls of the building are three
fest thick, Of solid cement, hardened
to tho soidity of marble. with windows
one foot square set in at various and
unexpected places ina ita front wall
Tbs door posts are sat in the ground 10
feet, and the builuing, as is evidenced
by its strength was nuilt TO Tesist tina
frequent earthquakes.
In the business district OF the CITY
one cannot hut be interested with the
quaint and peculiar appearance af the
shops, The 'front.' of the shop building
is entirely open, and inside can be seen
the clerk diyested of every particlp Of
clothing. except such as is absolutsEy,
necessary for covering nakedness, ca.
gusttIng with bright, gaylylatfir6tl
mulatto girls. Al the Hhonpipe is jone
by servants, the women OF the aristor.
racy never visiting the shops, but send
ing Tor everything headed either for
dress or for household PURPOSES Much
OF the shopping isadone on the corners
oil the street, whore heavy ncgrosses slt
on the ground, surrounded hy huge
baskets containing fruit, vegetables end
yams.
Re" vehicles are seen in the stteets.
ami when seen the poor beasts of bur.
non are 10 be commiserateti. as there Ia
absolutely no care given to he animals.
the owners apparently dsaIriAp only ia
GET rs much work us possible our of tbey
teaslH before they surrender 10 fate ami
drop dead in THAR tracks Es
han way up the hin, back of tia,
Guy, Sitnated unon a plaza, whore the
military baud plays nm certain even
pngg, HtanGs the cathedral, the most
IfetentIous structure in Santiago. The
ehthrdrhl is the largest and finest on
'the island Uf Cuhaf but its walls, built
OF porous stone, which il stradiIy
crumblins away, givsAit tho anpesranca
of beng mutheaten. Tho city abounds
IN clubhouseR, there heipg six for \ nons
ulation of only 40, 900. Gamhling
houses are wide omen, and antuno,'
atsnelea view .cnn,ie obtained from the
streets Of the interiors OF thesv resorts
where the Spanisrd and Cuban can al
rid Of his surplus cash. 3 o.
Santiago il memorable historicallv
mainly for the French occuuation n
lo13 and the affair of the Virp biusI
Just 20 years ago, which rasutsd NJ
the payment by the Spanisn goyetG
ment TO the Unitoi States of an in.
uennity for the murder of Cant. Fry
and the crew of that vessel. siaptinoo
mas also heen tho seat Of most Of tSe
political uprisings against tina unnscs.
slye rule OF the homo gngsrnnent and
a long line of putrlots have hoen shot
on the ramparts Of the Moro CnstIs
oVerhanging the harbor
the city contains theatre. n Gus.