The times., 1898-06-20
SANTIAGO DE CUBA.
The Second Oldest City in the New
World.

over which the Stars and Stripes will soon
be raised:
with the news that our army, under
Gen. Shafter. is approaching Santiago de
Cuba and the possibility that within a
week 1t may be occupied by American
troops. citizens of the United States will
take new interest in that ancient city-the
oldest standing city in the new world. ex-
cept Santo Domingo. which was estab-
lished by Columbus four hundred years
ago. Santiago itself was founded only
eighteen years after Santo Domingo. 1t
was the former capital and is the third
city of commercial Importance on the
Island of Cuba.
The name Santiago given to the former
capital signifies in English st. James, and
has at various times been called San
Jago. San Diego and Santiago, all with
the same meaning. 1t is situated $50
miles in direct line southeast of Ha-
vana. and is stin the chief city of the
eastern department OF Cuba. 1t is the
residential town of the archbishop and is
the seat of several yearly religious fes-
tiyals which are celebrated with pomp
and ceremony.
Santiago is the terminus of two rail-
road lines, one of which is the outlet of
Lomas de Cobre, the celebrated copper
mines. situated several miles inland. The
second railroad passes through the rich
sugar country, affording transportation
for that staple article of expectation. The
exports from Santiago are said to reach
the sum of SS.O00,e00 annually. Tobacco.
honey, rum. cocoa and mahogany are
also exported in great quantities. San
uago is inclosed on three sides by hills
rising rapidly from the bay TO mountains
of great height and beauty. which. be-
sides being lovely to look upon, afford
perfect drainage to the city.
THE streets are all alike and apparently
have not been repaired since first con-
structed, four hundred years ago. Start
ing at the shore. the streets, which are
very narrow, run directly up the hillside
a distance of one hundred and fifty feet
or more. Tropical rains have washed
great cutters down the roads, in some
places three and four feet deep, and the
traffic has uprooted the coblestoneS laid
hundreds of years ago and left in the road
pitfalls and mantraps for the unwary
The main street. upon which the Ameri-
can consul lived, is in such a condition
of decay that no effort is made to drive
vehicle through it, and even a horse
man cannot ride through it after dark
There is risk in attempting to navigate
the street on foot in broad daylight
Most OF the streets have cemented side
walks ten or fifteen inches wide. but in
some streets even this accommodation is
done away with
Santiago has the reputation of being
the most unhealthy city in Cuba
Hemmed in by mountains. with all the
city's filth fostering in the sun, it Is sur
prising that yellow fever does not make
the city it's regular abiding place. instead
of visiting it annually, as it does. No
charge is made for living pictures in the
streets of Santiago. and children of both
sexes and 10 the age Of ten or twelve
years totally dispense with clothing and
chase about in the streets and highways
in costumes akin to those worn by the
only residents of the Garden of Eden.
Houses of the better class in the city
are as alike as two peas. and a descrip-
llOI VI OllS dIiSHCES IOE ali. lake the
building which was occupied by the
American consul situated in a street alb
solutely impossible for anything but Pc
destrians. II is necessary. should one be
driving. TO leave the carriage at the cor
ner of the street and pick his way down
the so-called sidewalk to the old fash
ioned building recognized as the cousuTs
home by the American eagle which sur
mounts the keystone. The walls of the
building are three feet thick, of solid ce-
ment, hardened to the solidity of marble
with windows one foot square set in at
various and unexpected places in its front
wall. The door posts are set in the
ground ten feet and the building. as is
evidenced by its strength, was built to re-
sist the frequent earthquakes.
In the business district of the city one
cannot but be interested with the quaint
and peculiar appearance of the shops.
The front of the shop building is entirely
open, and inside can be seen the clerk,
divested of every particle of clothing ex-
cept such as is absolutely necessary for
covering nakedneSS, coquetting with
bright, gayly attired mulatto girls All
the shopping is done by servants. the wo-
men of the aristOcracy never visiting the
shops, but sending for everything needed
either for dress or for household purposes.
Much of the shopping is done on the cor
ners of the street where heavy negresses
Slt OI NilS SIOullts DY huRE
baskets containing fruit. vegetables and
yams.
Few vehicles are seen in the streets
and when seen the poor beasts of burden
are to be commiserated, as there is alb
solutely no care given to the animals
the owners apparently only desiring TO
get as much work as possible out of the
beasts before they surrender to fate
and drop dead in their tracks.
stEalf yvav nv, ha hi bac oh, oF+ -, ,{4
situated upon a plaza. where the military
band plays on certain evenings. stands
the Cathedral, the most pretentIous
structure in Santiago. The Cathedral is
the largest and finest on the Island OF
Cuba, but its walls. built of porous stone,
which is steadily crumbling away, give il
the appearance of being motheaten. The
city abounds in clubhouses. there being
six for a population of only 5000. Gam
bling houses are wide open. and an un-
obstructed view can be obtained from the
streets of the interiors of these resorts.
where the Spaniard and Cuban can get
rid of his surplus cash.
Santiago is memorable historically
mainly for the French occupation OF 1853
and the affair of the Vlrginius. lust
twenty-five years ago. which resulted in
the payment by the Spanish government
to the United States of an indemnity for
the murder of Capt. Fry and the crew OF
| that vessel. Santiago has also been the
| seat of most of the political uprisings
| against the oppressive rule OF the home
| government, and long line of patriots
| have been shot on the ramparts of the
| MORO Castle overhanging the harbor.
THE city contains a theater, a custom
house, barracks and hospital. Foundries.
| soap works. tanyards and cigar factories
| are the only industrial establishments.
| The exports have been steadily dacraas