The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-20
The Siege Has Left Il in alTerribIy
Filthy Condition.
THERE is NO SEWAGE SYSTEM.
The Drainage is Altogether ON the
Surface-Thc stencil That Arises
from the Streets Is stifling, Com
ing from the Seed Centre OF
Fever-Lepers arc Found
i'm the Strcets-

SANTIAGO, July &-vIA KINGSTON.
July 1s.-Noon.-General Shafter has had
thorough examination made OF tina
sanitary condition OF Santiago. The work
was done by DR.. Goodfellow. of tho Gen-
erals staff. and by civilian physician.
Or. Orlando Dwiker. They fnd that. all
though there are at present but six cases
of yellow fever in the city in addition to
two suspects. the town is ripe Tor en-
epidemic. Santiago and Rio Janeiro are
considered the greatest fever breeding
centres IN the world. This town lacks
every sanitary feature at its best and
now, after two months siege. leaving II
dirty and repellant Il Is a vsrltable pest
hole. The awful stenches that arise from
the streets stagger and choke one.
A PICTURESQUE CITY.
The city OF Santiago is a typical tropl-
cal place with narrow crooked streets
and low, one-storied dwellings, and stores.
Many OF the houses are succeed and
painted with startling colors sky blue
and vivid shades OF green predomtnating.
These, with tho red tiles Of tho roofs and
tho quaint verandas show evidences OF
past picturesqueness. but everything Is
now in a state OF dllapidation and decay
and the city is but shadow OF its FOR
mer self. The majority of the houses are
absolute ruins and public squares, once
green with fountains playing IN their
centre are now neglected.
But here and there, through the open
doors OF more pretentious dwellings one
meets with the vision OF an open court
filed with palms, brilliant hued pouch
ianos and other Towering trees and
plants. II Is like brief glimpses OF hap
py past. long gone.
NO SEWAGE SYSTEM
There Is no sewage system. The city
drainage is all from the surface into the
harbor and the lower part OF the city.
through which much OF the drainage
runs, especially from the poor quarter
around the bull-ring to the northwest of
the city. is the seeding centre OF malaria.
typhoid and other low feyers.
There are four hospitals In the city. the
Civil Hospital, presided over by the Sis
ters OF Charity, and the Military. Mer-
cedes and Conchas Hospitals In these
hospitals are l.7H patients which Is
comparatively small number. considering
the lack OF food and long Siege. IL must
be remembered hat the recOncentradoes
were never admitted to the hospitals and
when the notifications OF the proposed
bombardment by our batteries wore re-
ceIved, every patient who could stagser
out was driven into the streets.
LEPERS TURNED LOOSE.
Twenty lepers who were I'm the Civil
hospital were turned into the streets and
they have been roaming about ever since.
The largest number OF patients are In
the Military hospital, where there are
thirty-seven wounded Spanish officers and
iSl wounded soldiers and sailors. In addi-
tion there are hundreds OF cases OF mala-
ria and dysentery and six cases OF yell
low fever.
CERVER.AS SAILORS.
The sailors were wounded in the battle
OF July lst and Sd. They were dissm-
barked from the ships OF Admiral Ger
vera's fleet in order 20 assist In resist 1g
the attack OF tho American troops ~
land These sailors say that when the
Spanish feet sailed out OF the harb pr
half Of the sailors and marines on board
had been fighting and working In the
trenches ashore for fotry-eight hours
previously Admiral Cervera. they also
assert sacrificed his fleet IN obedience 10
the popular clamor both In Spain and
Cuba. including Santiago. that he should
give battle 20 the American feet