Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-07-22

nave been nQuct no more success
fully and satisfactorily than it has been.
SOMETHING ABOUT SANTIAGO.
The territory surrendered by General
Toral includes about one-third of the
province of Santiago de Cuba. 1t COM
prises something like five thousand
square miles, with a population Of about
$4,000 when the country is in it's
normal state. 1t includes the city of
Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Sagua
de Panama and Baracoa.
The Spaniards founded the town of
Santiago de Cuba soon after Diego
Velasquez landed at Baracoa, neal the
eastern end of the island. in 1911. It
was the first permanent settlement in
Cuba. The town is admirably fortified
by nature to repel attacks either by
land or sea. High hills surround the
place completely on the shore side.
while the narrow entrance of the bay,
bordered ty mountain sp1rs, permits Il
plunging fire to be directed from the
batteries against vessels attempting to
enter. About 1922 the city became the
capital of the island. Thirty years
later French pirates succeeded in cap
turing the city, remaining a month in
possession, and retiring on payment of a
ransom The latter part of the seven
teenth century saw it's rapid growth.
Notifications, which were supposed to
make the place impregnable, were built
at this time, but were unable to resist
an attack of the English in 1862, when
the town was captured and the cathed-
raj destroyed. Another attack by the
English, under Admiral Knowles, three
years later, was unsuccessful.
In the ten years war Santiago took
active part. Maceo was a native of
Santiago, and it was due to his efforts
that SO many of the population joined
the insurgent forces. In 1873 Santiago
was the scene of the shooting of the
prisoners of the Virginius, which so
nearly resulted in war with Spain.
The city is built on a series of hills,
the streets in the southern and eastern
parts having the adjective "alta' (high)
placed before their names, while those
in the northern and western districts are
called "baja" low).
The general appearance of Santiago
is unpleasing. The streets, though
lighted by gas throughout, are dirty
and many are SO steep that passage for
vehicles is impossible. The many earth.
quakes which have occurred taught the
inhabitants the lesson of building low
houses of himsy construction. The
cathedral, the only handsome building
of which the city can boast, was de.
stroyed in this way several times, ano
was rebuilt, the last time in 1919.
About one-half of Santiago's popula
ton consists of negroes. The tota
number of inhabitants is about $4,000
Race prejudice has little hold, and the
negroes enjoy practically the same
privileges as the Spaniards.
No railroads connect Santiago will
the western provinces, and the onl.
, means of reaching distant points is b!
means of wagon roads. Part of tn,
year heavy rains make these impossible
and the city is compelled to depend OF
supplies brought into the harbor.
Travellers seldom visit the eastern
> part of the island, now in possession o
the American troops, but stories of it
rugged, mountainous character and it
beauty are told by those who have pen
. etrated into the region.