New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-15
THE RAINY SEASON.
,-xprp1rNCE OF THE TROOPS WITH THE
HEAVY SHOWERS.
NOT so MUCH WORSE THAN IN THE UNITED

Advance Post United States Army on River
Guiana. Province Of Santiago de Cuba June %
The rainy season in Cuba was the subject OF
countless descriptions before the United states
,roops sailed from Tampa To-day Is the eighth
once the first regiments were landed at Altares
Cove and up to the experience with the
ra,ns has been by means terrifying There
have been two heavy downpours and two or
.,-ss lighter ones but they have been no worse
than might happen in a Northern climate. OF
COURSE no judgment can Re formed from so
sbort an observation. but at any rate the series
n rainy days which fell to NewYorks lot in
the spring can have no parallel here. II
shower comes IL is over In an hour or two. and
the SIN II il be up, wipes out oil vestiges
OF IL.
The official advices to the Fifth Army Corps
were that the rains usually fell after o'clock
IN the afternoon. The first heavy downfall
about S o'clock In the evening. and last night
AT IL o'clock there was a slighter one. A few
DAVIS ago a light shower fell in the middle Of
the afternoon. Yesterday there after
noon deuge. OF course. the night rains have
been exceptional. Several days. at
o'clock there have been thunder and lightning
and becouding Of the heavens that
on,nous but these ended in nothing. Doubt
less the Army will have Its I'LL OF transforms
before the is over
Those who believed that the Cuban climate
was not Of Itself sufficient reason for putting
off the invasion until fall may well say II told
you so" II the present anomalous conditions
grow no worse than they are. This Is noun
famous region. and more heathful. therefore.
than swampy lovlands would be. The weather
is hot OF course, but not more trying. according
10 various persons than in certain parts OF the
United States. 1t is vastly pleasanter than the
alkai lands OF the West. Good water Is abun-
dant and so are certain fruits. which may
may not appeal to your palate. There is lots
OF shade. Whatever may be the personal dis
comfort Of marching with forty fifty pounds
Of baggage, little actual illness has resulted
from it. Under the protection of the Navy the
landings were made at short distance from
Santiago and comparatively little marching has
been or will be necessary.
To return TO the rain the shelter tents have
afforded excellent protection when properly
pitched and ditched Soldiers who are on guard
in the liveliest showers merely get wet. and in
due season get dry again. It's extremely simple:
you seldom catch cold and the bodily incon-
venience is about all there is to consider. Some
soldiers in the hot marches have thrown away
shelter tents and blankets, when IL rains their
only protection is a rubber blanket If they lie
the ground they get soaked. II they take It
standing, they fare pretty we'll
The GOODNESS Of the nights here has not been
exaggerated. No one is kept awake on account
Of heat. often happens in a hot spell in New
York Indeed. the early morning hours
chilly that blanket Is Indispensable for com
fort to many. The night rains have been rather
a trial TO the correspondents who have been
caught in them. certain number OF these have
discreety housed themselves at Bajquri or
Siboney. depending on the constant communica-
ton with the front for their Information. Some
make daily trips from the coast 10 the advance
guard. starting at or o'clock in the morning
and returning in the afternoon. They cannot
stand this long however. for the strain Of four
teen or sixteen miles Of tramping. with perhaps
an excursion up a steep hill for purposes OF OBJ
servation. is too much. Some have gone home
sick A number camped with the outpost
and make their expeditions from there. These
have not even shelter tents. having provided
themselves with regular wall tents and being
unable to have them transported from the land
ing place. rain Is little more serious to
them than 10 soder-frst. because they are
not hardened to exposure and second. because
they have articles with them which they cannot |
afford to get wet. AS It is. paper is scarce as |
hundred dollar bills IN NewYork. and en- |
yeopes are even more precious. as nine-tenths
Of them are now sealed by the rain and moist
ure and can hardly be used.
There are several ways Of taking a night rain
II you have no tent one is TO enjoy what Army |
officers call a cadet bath-that is to strip and |
have a refreshing shower th. You wrap your
in your poncho and your macintosh.
II you have one. and they keep comparatively |
dry. Your hammock II Of canvas will remain
dry on the under side N an ordinary down. Jur
II you empty ii at intervals. Another plan Is
to SIT pile Of stones. to keep off the ground.
gather all your possessions in your lap and
cover all with your pOncho. This is rather
tedious for after the rain the trees drop moist
ure for an hour or two, and the ground is so wet
that you must not lie on It for some time. 1t Is
then that a campfire Ia most cheerful. You can
dry your things by IT, but what is more I'M
portant. it is a great comfort.
The showers that are foretold but do not
rome are a great nuisance The downpour be-
comes heavy quickly that ut the first warn
Ing il is advisable TO prepare for the worst. So
half the party strips and tucks away all cloth
ing In pOnchOs the other half mounts stone
heaps and gathers its effects under the rubber
cloths There flashes Of lightning and the
thunder rolls but the rain holds o.. Just as all
are about 70 don their clothes again the clouds
grow murky. and there is another wait. After
half an hour the skies clear, and you are safe
The feeling of disgust at having TO undress un-
almost OVercOfne3 me JOY dt HdNlHB
escaped the rain
When the Indications for light shower
1t is customary merely to seek tree for shelter.
II the downpour is Unexpectedly heavy you
suner And when you once get wet it is not
easy TO get dry. The dew Ia extra ord inarily
heaVy. You might well put your shirts and
underwear IN a tub Of water at once es 10 hang
'Hem out over night. After ALL the walking nec-
essary not only TO keep up with the main army.
put 70 go with scouting parties and TO send dis
atches and letters back. keeps the correspond
en's about as wet as they can be. go the rains
are accepted with philosophy
You can hear anything you please here There
Is the best authority for every statement how