Evening star., 1898-07-25

Urell, who had the slightest fear as to the
ing in the remembrance OF those words
shouted to us through the megaphone by
her intrepid commander.
Well, it soon turned out that the stranger
was friend, and the signals announcing
that fact carried something of disappoint-
ment, perhaps. to all parties concerned.
Going Through Their PAGES.
Though they are taking it easy on board
ship the District men are not without am-
ployment. There are the usual calls sound
ed and reports to be made. The Cats.nia
has three decks, upon which the three bat
talions are slowed away in hammocks To
give all the men a chance for breath of
fresh air on the spar deck a rule has been
established to change berths every two
hours. so that each battalion has two hours
out OF every six on this upper deck. The
men OF each battalion, too, as they come on
this deck are put through a five-minute
drilI IN what is known as the setting-up ex-
erclses Each man thus gets twenty min
utes' drill during the twenty-four hours.
This rule has no doubt been largely re-
sponsible for the good health enjoyed by
the men
Inc omcers have not been idle either
Twice day they meet on the after deck.
where they are put through an hours
course of instruction in military matters
by Maj. Hine, The nou-commissioned Off
GERS go through a similar school. taught by
the officers of their respective companies.
Inc evenings are usually passed in a
pleasant social way, singing being the pro-
Va1lng choice of amusement, though dra-
ratio recitauons and music by the band
are occasional diversions.
Since we got to sea the weather has been
delightful. We have had the strong south
east trade winds dead ahead almost ever
sirce we left Key West and in spite of
the warm gulf stream the ship has cooled
or wonderfully, and a refreshing nights
rest Is obtainable even in the lower hold
Arrival at Siboney.
SlBoNE4, Provinc3 of Santiago de Cuba,
Sunday, July 10, 1898.
The District troops arrived here early
this morning, having been Just one week
out from Port Tampa. About thirty-six
hours of this time however, our engines
were broken down, and we were either
drifting helplessly or barely maintaining
enough speed for steerageway. We came
through the Wirdward passage early yes
terday morning, and nearly all DAY were in
plain sight of the hills of Santiago prov
ince. This is most uninviting looking sec
ton, along the coast at least, and the gen.
erai sentiment OF the District boys was that
II this was Cuba the Spaniards ought to be
CAD to give it up to the insurgents or any
one else who would take 1t.
Ghastly evidence that war, real war. was
on became apparent as we steamed west
ward from Guantanamo. The bodies of
dead sailors. Spaniards I suppose, began
TO be sighted, and it soon became almost
SO common as to cease to arouse interest
among the men.
arrived here at Santiago there was ad-
dItional evidence among our own men that
war was being waged fiercely just UP the
coast at Santiago. They were CARRYING our
poor fellows down from the camp of Gen
81 alter and placing them on the hospital
snip Solace and the Red Cross ship State of
Texas. They were all wounded more or
less severely, and they lay about the
bank on stretchcrs in the broiling hot sun
one was reminded of Gen. Sherman's ia
nous remark about war
This is the point where the reinforce
ments for Shafter are landed and marched
over a mountain road of about seven miles
to where our troops are intrenched before
Santiago. Gen. Guy V. Henry and his com
mand also came in this morning on the
Harvard and ST. Louis, and it is rumored
that there will be 10000 renforcements for
Shafter before the week is over
Col. Harries went ashore soon after our
arrival, but received little encouragement as
to the prospect of getting his regiment
ashore. 1t is really more pleasant on board
oil ship, however so the men will not feel
disappointed if they have to spend the re-
mainder of the day aboard ship.
There are all sorts of rumors afioat as to
what is going on UP at Santiago, but they
are mere rumors. d. l. MERCIER.