The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-18
A woman's visit to Santiago.

Santiago surrendered in the nick OF
time for them, and for US also. The
city was on the brink of starvation.
The market stalls were empty; the
bake shops turned out a few biscuits
worth almost their weight in silver.
The people, hungry eyed, roamed the
streets. Supplies from Jamaica had
been shut off for long time by the
blockade, the large Spanish force had
eaten up all that was reserved, and.
lust previous TO the surrender. had
plundered many of the houses and car
ried off all that was left In the way of
eatables and personal property. Money
was valueless. The wealthiest citizens
could not manufacture food with their
gold and silver. We are among the
first American civilians to set foot here
after the surrender.
The city seems still to be filed with
Spanish soldiers. dressed in their cool
suits of blue with q fine white stripe in
1t; more like our bed ticking than any
thing else, only lighter Their cam
paign hats are made of straw, and
some wear cocSade at the side. Chew
rons are indicated by two or three
gold stripes near the cuff, or two long
red strips hanging loose from the
shoulder to the bottom of the sleeve,
where they meet In a point. We came
i'm to the dock beside a Spanish prize
steamer. There was prize crew as
we'll as the native crew aboard. The
latter hung over the side and attempted
to talk with some of our sailors. The
wharf was soon filed with soldiers and
little fellows who came there to beg
for bread. We handed hard tack and
slices of bread to a few. They munchcd
them eagerly, but stored the most away
within their shirts. Some took money,
but most of them shock their forehnger
as a sign OF refusal. IL was not money
they wanted, but bread. Money does
flour is all that is left, and little cake
made of that costs one peseta--20 cents
in our money. The small boys who
crowded to the side of the boat were
clad mostly in ragged garments, ap-
parently in no case exceeding two in
number. The city lies at one side of
the bay and is built back over several
hills. The two cathedral spires rise
above the city at it's loftiest point, and
the red tiled roofs throw out ruddy
gleamD in the sunlight. Santiago Is
typically Spanish. from its tiled gate
way leading TO our wharf to It's Plaza
del Toro and its orphan asylum. II
seemed strange to wander through it,
the day after the surrender. and find
everything at peace. We were greeted
with smiles. not frowns. Spanish and
American soldiers hobnobbed together
and endesvored to converse in COM
mon lingo of Spanish. American and
gestures. The governors palace. on the
cathedral plaza, Is our headquarters.
Here the Ninth Infantry are stationed
as a guard for the city. IL Is q great.
deep. cool building. A damp. MOSS
grown courtyard. with a large foun-
tain. Is i'm the centre. The floors are
all paved with stone. IL wns here that
the capitulntion papers were signed.
Opposite. across the square. is the cath
edral OF Santiago de Cuba over 200
years old. At the right is the famous
cafe Venus: at tho left. a well known
cuban club. one OF the finest buildings
in the city.--Anna ~. Renjamin's SAM
tiago letter In Leslic's Weekly.