Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-08-06

offered Nevis a tow, but he replied with
a joke, and declined the proffered as
sistance. Then 1t developed that in go
ing in to anchor he had observed tive
other small Spanish boats near the
wreck Of the Santo Domingo. and had
resolved to capture them, too. He knew
1t was hazardous work, but blur car
red him through. He took the Spanish
coors of the schooner, ran them up and
boldly sailed in. There were six men on
the two other boats. and they watched
the approach of their supposed compat
riots with calmness that speedily
changed to CONSERVATION when Nevis
and the other Jackie" suddenly whip
ped their rifles to their shoulders and
demanded an immediate surrender.
The scared Spanish seamen lost no time
in complying. and had the unique ex-
perence Of surrendering to their own
flag. Then, scorning all aid, Nevis took
them out to his ship, and in the most
matter of fact manner reported his ad-
venture to his astonished commander.
The capture was no mean one. for
these six men gave important informa-
ton to the American ship. They We're
province Of Pnar del Rio. situated
about two miles from the Santo Do
mingo wreck on what is called Pirates
lagoon. because in ancient days it was
a faeorite resort of the brethren of Cap
tain Kidd. The twon has population of
1900, and the only reason for its exist
ence Is that it serves as a depot for the
Vuelta tobacco district. The Ban
croft and Eagle would have taken the
town, which Is defended only by hun
bred soldiers, but they could not spare a
permanent force to protect the nom
cOmbatant women and children.
Santiago, Aug. 4.-Sa ntiagos principal
castle, built on the rocks and Of the
rocks, is rich in meats and frowning
battlements, drawbridges and sulter-
ranean passages, dungeons and remind
ers Of the age of helmets and rapicrs.
Moreover it is surrounded by confused
mass of barbedwire fencing, apparent
ly erected to keep out the American
soldiers and marines. 1t is now deserted
| and silent
One searches along through the pas
sages and over the roof for signs of the
guns that are said to have replied so
valiantly to the fire of the American
fleet. On the top battlement are small
mortars, made of bronze and cast in
Spain in the early part of the seven
tenth century. On the same roof are
two mounted cannon of bronze, about
II feet long, one of them bearing the
following inscriptions: " Mars Ultima
Ratio Regum. Louis Charles de bourbon,
Comte DEu, Due DAumale. Nee
Pluribus Impair, II JUN. 174S. Jean
Maritz." The other cannon, bearing
similar inscription, is dedicated to
the Count of Provence and was cast n
few years before. Both are on iliinsy
wheels and probably have not been fired
for years. The old fashioned mortars
show signs of having been shifted and
handled. Misunderstanding guns of Il
| lygOne age are also to be found un-
mounted their rusty mouths pointed
helplessly against the castles battle
,, ments.
Through the bare chambers are scat
| tered some signs of the recent presence
| of the Spanish soldiery. The steps that
! lead from the bastion to turret are
| strange apartments hang open. Tho
| southeast bastion that formerly up
held the Spanish flag was knocked into
dust by the shot that carried down the
banner. There are signs of shots that
have pecked at the solid walls; a shell
carried away the drawbridge and broke
through the main entrance, but other
wise the defense bears no noticeable
evidence of bomba rdment.
| A few hundred yards to the east and
still on the height is the eastern battery.
Between it and the castle stood the
lighthouse that marked the harbor en-
trance-now shattered and twisted Ivy
the fire from the American ships. The
eastern battery is of earth, barrels of
cement and sacks of dirt protecting the
| guns. Here are two small field pieces
made In Sevilla in 1870, and five bronze
muzzle-oading cannon bearing dates OF
their casting, 116s 171S, 1913, 1888 and
1859. These however are mounted on
modern iron carriages and they have
been used. One of the bronze cannon
was dismOunted by a. shot from the
fleet. The carriage was wrecked and
but the gun appears to be uninjured.
This is the only visible damage done.
At this battery there are two mortars,
evidently of modern make, and the fact
that a similar gun is lying unmounted
at the foot of the road which leads up
to the Notifications shows that the
arms had been recently landed.
All along the road from the dock in
the sheltered cove behind the old for
tiess up to the castle entrance are
broken and half filled boxes of ammu-
milton and cartridges with brass Goa ted
bullets, going to show that these pro-
jectiles, which inflict a poisoned wound,
were used by the Spaniards.
The Socapa battery is on the western
side OF the mouth Of the harbor Here
are the two modern 16-centimetre rifles
which were among the most active in
replying to the American fire and three
3l-centimetre mortars, similar to those
at the eastern battery. The carriage
of the easternmost rifle was struck and
very slightly damaged. Here the hill
shows some signs Of fire. Shells have
ploughed UP the earth and cleared out
bits of shells that had torn through the
underbrush. Just behind this battery,
on small island inside the larbor
mouth. nestles fishing village that for
weeks had been deserted. Now it's
people are beginning to return to their
homes to find them almost intact.
Men who We're around the harbOr dur
ing the firing have many tales to tell
There Is too a local tale of how Cervera
advised Linares to surrender the city
TO the Americans, telling him his case
was hopeless and that he would only
continue to lose men and be forced to
give in at the end. There is also
story that the Spaniards carried their
wounded from the batteries into the
city hospitals during the night in order
that the people and the army might he
| kent in ignpra nf ttciv.