The evening times., 1898-10-01
"REMINISCENCES OF WAR
Consul Dent Relates Some His.
tory Hitherto Untold.
HOW SPANIARDS GOT FOOD
A Stretch Of Dangerous Keys Not
Recorded on Nautical Maps-Sup-
plies for General TornI, Purchased
in the United States, Were Lying
on the Coast of Jamaica.

Hon. Louis A Dent, United States con-
sui at Kingston, jamaica, who recently
returned to Washington to spend a two
months vacation, brought back with
him many interesting "reminiscences of
the late war. He recalls many incidents
of the period during which hostilities
were in progress almost within hearing of
his post of duty.
OF course. said Mr. Dent last night, Ii
is well known that when war began all
commerce between Cuba and the United
States was shut Oft but Jamaica, being
a British colony, and therefore neutral,
its commerce with America was not af-
fected to any extent. But all CONNER
ciaI intercourse between the United
States and Jamaica was conducted under
the British flag. On account of geo.
sis OF supplies for Cuba and this was
worked advantageously by agents of the
Spanish government.
Kingston and other towns were con-
stantly crowded with agents of SPAIN
who We're most industrious in their ef-
forts TO get supplies through to Havana
and other points in Cuba AT one time
one of Capt Gen Blanco's aides and two
or three agents of the Spanish govern
ment were quartered at the hotel where
I was living. At that time Jamaica was
well supplied with coal and provisions
and other supplies of which Cuba was in
great need.
In the early stages of the war IL was
impossible to prevent blockade running
because of stretch of keys that extend
ed from Cape Cruz To Cape Francis, on
the southern coast or Cuba, and which
was exceedingly dangerous TO navigation,
even for vessels of very light draft. This
line of keys was only eighty miles from
Jamaica and il was an easy matter for
the blockade runners to land supplies at
ManZanillo, Batabano and Cienfuesgos on
the southern coast of Cuba. Batabano is
only two hours ride by rail from Havana
and Cienfuegos about twelve hours.
The United States fleet had no war
vessels light enough in draft to go after
the blockade runners among the keys,
nor could capable pilots be obtained, and
TO maintain the blockade outside the
keys necessitated patrolling a stretch of
water 400 miles in extent.
1T was for these reasons that the
Spanish forces in Cuba were able to hold
out so long when otherwise starvation
would have forced them TO capitulate
long before Santiago surrendered.
THE first bombardment of ManZanilIo,
however, was under different conditions.
In that engagement vessels of small
draught participated, including the VIII
mington, Hornet, Hist, Scorpion, Helena
and Wampatuck and a great factor in
the successful prevention of blockade run
ming which followed was attained by Sc
curing the services of the pilot of the
Shi
which was one of nine vessels burned or
| destroyed during the bombardment of
Manzanillo. To Lieut. Lucien Young. of
the Hist, belongs the credit of securing
this pilot.
The stretch of keys I have spoken Of
the fact that they are not down on nau-
tical maps anG the need of war vessels
of small draught, with trustworthy pilots,
is all that saved Havana from being in a
condition of acute starvation
Another point discussed by Mr.. Dent
was the means by which Capt Gen. Blan-
CO communicated with Spain before the
fan of Santiago, which was by cable from
that city TO Kingston and thence to Hail.
fax.
Kingston" said Mr. Dent. is the CEN
trail cable point of the West Indian Is
lands, and IL was not only the base of
supplies. but the center for newspaper
correspondents AT Kingston are the
headquarters of the West India and Pam
anna Cable Company, and in the circuit
are all of the West Indian Islands, and
when the cable between Key West and
Havana was cut the only outlet for Cuba
by wire was from Santiago to Kingston
The competition among newspaper men
was great and ! heard that on one occas-
ion New York correspondent paid c1 100
over 5000, TO get a dispatch through
Just prior 10 the surrender of Santiago
starvation was staring the Spaniards in
! the face The blockade. of which I have
spoken, had been perfected so that il was
almost impossible to get supplies through
{ When Gen Toral yielded there were a
number of ships heavily laden with sup
plies lying in Kingston Harbor afraid to
attempt TO run the blockade on account
CT abe vigilance Of our fleet, and these
supplies. intended for the relief of our
enemies. We're purchased in the United
States"
Mr.. Dent was instrumental in getting
several hundred American refugees AWAY
from Cuba when hostilities began. He
acted under instructions from this Gov
ernment.
Mr.. Dent left Kingston on September
H. and at that time everything was quiet,
and there was no yellow fever in the is
land
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