The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-21
CITY OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA
Hard Place for Americans to lombard
With Serious Results.


Washington, May 21,-santiago de Cuba
bay, which is said to harbor the Spanish
armada, is equally as impregnable to as
saults from enemies on the sea as is Ha-
vana- Two hills that look as If nature
had intended they should meet precipi-
lately end within 800 feet of each other at
the entrance to the harbor. One may
stand on one side of the channel and con-
verse with another on the other side
1t is of narrower width than the en-
| trance to Havana bay. The points widen
gradually for 800 yards and then the eye
gets full sweep of the blue bay that seems
to sleep like tired child. Just now
many MAJ guns there are at shg 9aYaI enploy
have accurate knowledge.
| landed and added to MORO castle. At the
time the correspondent was there
were as many cannon inside the fort then
as Grant used in Smelling Vicksburg.
Many of them are of ancient make. how
Moro castle guards the sea A tower
$50 feet high sits back of the Qualifications,
in which there are always observers with
far reaching glasses; Just a 3ir5 the
| Blanca battery is located inside the bay
and has something like twenty cannon;
This battery placed there in 1868,
| and intended for use in event of local
uprising against the crown; It's numer1-
cal strength in the way Of oo ofhcers and
c n9n IS are ust 70 the north of BIancs
battery, where at most seasons body of
from 5000 to 5000 troops is always station
ed.
The city of Santiago de. Cuba is some
SIX or seven miles ,t from the entrance 10
| laid out in irregular style. Narrow streets
n6h IN ana and Ddn TO sta s1 TfG
places OF all spots on the island Santi-
fearing unhealthy climate, lazy men, in
sulting soldiers, greedy priests and treach-
throughout ali the city's ramifications.
Looking out toward the sea from one
city, Mr.. Hyatt remarked one day: LAS
DR.. Ben Jonson once said, God Almighty,
Strength might have made a better berry
than the strawberry, but he never did,
makes Strawberries might have, if he
wished, made a more veritable saturnalia
haven't heard of his doing it,
The Caribbean sea, whose waters wash
mother of storms There is ever the dull
roar of the sobbing discomfort Of the
blows upon the Santiagans and induces
lethargy and drunkenness. American tour
lists never remain in such waters longer
For an american fleet to lombard the
city it would first have to silence the guns
of Moro, which could only be done by
would be difficuit The castle is made of
stone dug from the mountains therea-
ing the guns varies from 10 to 40 feet.
Some of the cannonS are supplied with
disappearing apparatus. The big ones are
It was said by member of Consul Hy-
simultaneously thrown a distance of twelve
miles. The guns are so arranged that
they can be pointed to any direction sea-
ward. The castle resembles some anti
quated church cathedral; 1t rises up so
chanicaI arrangements are such that guns
may be lifted to the roof, where better
The castle contains subterranean cells,
narrow and gloomy passage ways, where
sounds of ever dripping water never leave
the ears of those imprisoned there. The
capacity of the prison is about 1000. The
full complement of naval officers; military
commandments and men is about 200.
Communication between the governors
away, is of hourly occurrence, even dur
1 na 6iSs e 1t a PeaGef hePe may De Pot
to the Notifications are never given to
crowns service.
The bay spreads out, making v-lil1e |
ways calm and placid. They are too far |
away from the convulsive sea to be af- !
times sail about in the basin in dingy col |
ored yachts and go home with empty |
lated filth that daily finds its way to the |
bottom of the bay is sickening.
Spanish history that many hundreds of !
years ago there was an earthquake at |
bay. The stranger visiting the place |
would not dispute the statement. but |
An American fleet sailing toward San
A4ON
In MOI surrounding r., them until within
penetrate. Indeed it is difficult to distin- |
guish objects hundred yards away. A
Sound travels until it is lost far away, |
o. PUT tne Imes OF Tlslon are cirfumscrlped:
as a wise provision that the rascality of
Historically, Santiago de Cuba cuts an
important part in the affairs of the island
INCORPORATE a Ia !
of Cuba. It is now the capital Of the
ernor controlling the affairs of the two
The population does not exceed $1,000
and is made up of a heterogeneous mass
Of negros; cubans, spaniards, Chinese,
ians: The natives seem to go on the theo-
They get in such condition by frequent
visits to rum shops, which are as thick
The streets are poorly lighted, the air
always hot and heavy, the houses built
eity's sanitary condition in good Shape
report to the governor seIni-annually get
their appropriation and then return to the
To the west are the immense mountains
ed. The valleys abound in marshes, small
lakes 1lled with alligators and reptiles, big
and and POISONOUS lSo In 1922 20 miles away. a
surrounded by a detachment from Cen
eraI w eyer S command. There | ,
way of escape except to jump in the lake
which was about three and one-half feet
deep, and then wade to the other side
This the Cubans did. The following day
the story was printed in Santiago. that
more than so Cubans had been caught by
and literally devoured.
OF all of Spain's possessions, the name
Of Santiago de Cuba is the most offensive
to Americans, for it was there, in Novem- i,
crew and passengers of the steamer Vir- ,
ginius were tried by a farcical military :
board and shot |
The vessel had been captured off ia ]
naica by the Spanish steamer Tornado