Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-20
Opinion of the Physicians Who E1-
amined Santiago's Condition.
SIX CASES OF YELLOW FEVER THERE
Fight for Supplies by the Half
Starved People Of the City.
THE DEADLY DEFEN SEES
Copyright, 1898, by the Associated Press.)

tCOpyr1gnt, 1888, py tue AsSoclateu fresst
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July 1s.-Gen.
Shafter has had a thorough examination
made of the sanitary condition of Santiago.
The work was done by DR.. Goodfellow OF
the generals staff and by a civilian physi-
clan. DIR. Orlando Dwiker. They find that
although there are at present but six cases
of yellow fever In the city, in addition to
two suspects, the town is ripe for an cpl
demic.
Santiago and Rio Janeiro are considered
the greatest fever-breeding centers in the
world This town lacks every sanitary
feature at its best, and now, after two
months siege, leaving it dirty and repel-
liant it is a Yeritabie pest hole. The awful
stenches that arise from the streets stag
ger and choke one. No cordial in Santiago
has the power to wash out this odor from
ones throat.
The majority of the houses are absolute
ruins, and public squares. once green, with
fountains playing in their centers, are now
utterly neglected. The iron fences are
broken and rusted, while the fountains, on
account of the dearth of the water supply.
have long been dry.
A Disease Breeder.
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 breeding center of malaria, typhoid
and other low fevers.
There are four hospitals in the city, the
Civil Hospital, presided over by the Sisters
of Charity and the Military, Mercedes and
Conchas Hospitals. In these four hospitals
are l. III patients which is comparatively
small number considering the lack of food
and long siege, but 1t must be remembered
that the reconcentrados were never admit
ted to the hospitals. and when the notihca-
lions of the proposed bOmbardment by our
batteries were received every patient who
could stagger out was driven into the
streets. Twenty lepers who were in the
Civil Hospital were turned into the streets,
and they have been roaming in the streets
ever since
Military Hospital, where are thirty-seven
wounded Spanish officers and 431 wounded
soldiers and sailors. In addition there are
hundreds of cases of malaria and dysen-
terry and six cases of yellow fever.
Fought for Supplies.
The Red Cross Society's steamer State o.
Texas arrived yesterday at o'clock in the
afternoon, and this morning at daybreak
DR.. ElwelI who was in charge of the work
CT unloading, secured eight stores in the
heart of the city and one large shed on the
to unload the steamer about o'clock. She
had LOO tons of provisions on board.
The distribution began at , o'clock, al
lowing pound and a half of rations to
each citizen. When the unloading began
crowds of haif-starved citizens rushed to
the dock. fighting. trampling one another
under foot, breaking open the cases, and
stealing the supplies Finally picket of
troops was placed on the wharf, refusing
admittance to any one.
The entire cargo had been landed before
the distribution began. Each applicant
was furnished with ration ticket. sup
piled by the local commissioners, with Gen.
MckIbbin's Endorsement.
The water supply of the city, which was
cut off on July 2, above Ell Caney, by Gen.
Garcia's troops, leaving the town without
water, will be turned again tonight
The ice factory resumed work today, using
the rain water supply in the cisterns.
All the liquor stores, wholesale and retail
are closed under Gen. Skaters orders. but
the Spanish soldiers have large stock of
rum on hand, which they are exchanging
for our bareback and corned beef.
Before the Surrender.
The events preceding the hosting of the
American flag over the governors palace
here, amid the booming of guns the strains
of martial music. and the wild cheering
of 20,tW men along seven miles of intrench-
ments. were full of interest
Shortly after o'clock on Sunday morn
ing Lieut.. Crook of Gen. Skaters staff
entered the city, and all the arms in the
arsenal were turned over to him The
work of removing the mines which OBJ
structei ne vigation at the entrance Of the
harb0r had been progressing all night At
O'Clock Gen. Toral, the Spanish COM
mander. sent his sword to Gen. Shafter as
evidence of his submission. and at S:45 a m
ali the general officers and their STATS as
seynbled at Gen. Skaters Headquarters
Each regiment was drawn up along the
crest of the heights.
Gen. Shafter and his generals. with
mounted escorts of 100 picked men of the
I'd Cavalry, then rode over our trenches to
the open ground at the foot of the hill on
the main road to Santiago, midway to the
then deserted Spanish works There they
We're met by Gen. Toral and his staff all
IN full uniform and mounted. ana a select
detacame of Spanish troops.
Felt Their Disgrace.
Gen. Toral personally ordered the Span
ish company, which, in miniature, repre-
sented the forces under his command to
ground arms. Next, by his direction. the
company wheeled and marched across our
line into the road and thence to the place
selected for camping them. The Spaniards
moved rapidly, to the quick notes of the
Spanish march. played by the trumpeters.
but 1t impressed one like the Dead March
from Saul"
Although no attempt was made to HUI
initiate them, the Spanish soldiers seemed
to feel their disgrace keenly and scarcely
glanced at their cOnquerors as they passed
by.
But this apparent depth of feeling was
not displayed by the other regiments
Without being sullen, the Spaniards az
peared to be utterly Indifferent to the re-
verses suffered by the Spanish arms. and
some of them, when not under the ewes of
their officers, seemed to rejoice at the pros
peCt of good food and an immediate yeturn
- Spain
When he accompanied Gen. Shafter. at
the head of the escort, into the city to take
formal possession of Santiago Cen ToraI
spoke but few words. The appealing faces
Of the starving refugees streaming back
into the city did net move him, nor did the
groups of Spanish soldiers lining the road
and gazing curiously at the fair-skinned
stalwart-framed conquerors. Only once did
the faint shadow of smile Turk about the
corners of his mouth. This was when the
cavalcade passed through barbed wire
ENHANCEMENT. No body of infantry could
ever have got through this defense alive.
and Gen. Skaters remark about its resist
ing power found the first gratifying echo in
the defeated generals heart.
Amazed Our Officers.
Further along the desperate character OF
the Spanish resistance, as planned. amazed