The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-20
Funny Scenes at Tampa.
Writes correspondent to the New 70
Evening Post.

Frlvately the officers Of the army put
term OF ten days on these preparations
Lor CUBA that are unmis takably going on
vi course, they know no more than any
one else when they will really be ordered
10 move; but they know something of the
difficulties of moving BY sea even a small
army that never has been on a war foot
Ing and never has had the slightest exper-
fence In embarking for a sea voyage
| some OF the men at Washington who
spoke glibly Of a start with 1000 men for
| cuba in a few days" might have taken
the trouble TO look up the history Of the
| great expedition across the English Chan
| mel with very able general. one Ma
poieon Bonaparte. one time projected and
| organized. | 90 not pretend 10 say that
| the army here viii not sail for Cuba; in
| fact. there is every indication that il viii
sail. But II is safe to say that il will
| not sail without places on ships TO put its
| horses and mules and artillery, that ii will
! not sail and leave its ambuianceS and
| medical stores behind. and that il will
! not in any sense go off half-cocked. if IL is
| permitted to complete its preparations
| This being the case, IL does not appear
| to me that start can be expected before
| May q.
The fact that ammunition is being
| loaded on the steamers Berkshire and
| Comal, and that ice has been seen going
| upon one or. another OF these steamers.
have been telegraphed north I saw am
| munition being loaded on the Berkshire,
but every box of it was marked ~. NJ.
! c., ard the Union Metallic Cartridge
/ company does not make any cartridges
| suited to the Krag-JOrgensen rife, which
| is used by the United States troops. The
| inference is fair that the cartridges which
| were being loaded were intended for our
| friends, the Cubans, and that there may
be other departures for the shore of Cuba.
| like that of the small steamer Gussie,
| before any part of the main expedition
| sails. Meantime, as more troops arrive
| from the north, more transports are or
! dered hither from the Atlantic seaboard.
! And as every day brings US nearer the
| rainy season in Cuba, when by all ac-
| counts it will be almost impossible for an
| army to move on land on that island, 1t
| becomes more and more a question wheth-
er any expedition at all should go before
early autumn.
I find that some of the officers OF the
medical department are most honestly
pessimistc about a summer campaign in
Cuba. The habit and cast of mind of a
physician impel him to say what ne thinks
in matters which involve the lives of hu-
man beings. Yet the question. it is plain,
can not be determined by the physicians.
The case has gone beyond their control,
and they can only do their best to reduce
III
undertaken. They disagree, as their pro-
fession are apt to do, as to just what may
be expected, and I note with some sa tis-
faction that the physicians who have the
most expert knowledge of yellow fever
are strongest in the belief that the danger
Of an epidemic Of this disease can be min
imized by proper precautions. Perhaps
the greatest fear of this disease is enter
tanned by what may be called the general
practitioners Of the army.
Meantime the Cuban question may be
studied here, with a degree of advantage
second only to that which might be OBJ
tanned in Cuba itself in the persons of
very large Cuban population and ecu
ban regiment" which began with being
nominally some twelve hundred strong
and has now diminished to something
nearer one-half that number. Personally.
1 like these Cubans very much. and ! do
not see how any one can help liking them.
They are a most amiable and pleasant
race of little people intelligent to all ap-
pearance, grateful for any favors and
patronage from Americans, and more
than indulgent with regard to the slight
ing remarks that are made about them
and the sighting things that are done
toward them. They are patient, enthu-
siastic and cheerful. But their revolution
airy regiment, officially the Cuerpo Expe-
dicionario, is distinctly opera bouffe. Go
to the large hall where 1t is CHARTERED, and
you find a sentinel, generally standing
very erect, with the stock of his gun rest
ing on the ground at each of the four
corners of the building. They seem to be
there for symmetry, as the most conven-
lent means of entrance are not at the
corners, but in the middle, where there
is no sentinel. However, the main en-
trance is near one of the corners. and
there the sentinel respectfully introduces
you to an official in a white uniform and
gorgeous scarf labelled "Jefe de Dia." or
chief of the day. This official receives
you most politely and Hospitality, and
sometimes, without asking your name or
business, proceeds to do the honors of the
establishment.
All about you are officers and aids in
great numbers. Lieutenants wear two
stars, like our major-generals, only the
stars are on their breasts; and captains
wear three stars, thus in the matter of
emblazonry surprising any existing grade
Of the American army II you have a
camera with you, you are thrice the OBJ
ject of attention that you would other
wise be, though no fault in any case
whatever can be found with the cordality
of the reception. You and your camera
are taken up stairs to large han whose
windows admit food of sunlight. Thith-
er the Cubans flock in great numbers.
They marshal themselves In warlike
alignment they draw their machetes. |
brandish them, and put expressions of
great ferocity on their ordinarily gentle, |
semi-Asiatic faces. They become some
thing terrible to see. But snap your cam
era and instantly they put away their !
Characteristic Cuban weapons (all made |
in Connectieu). and relax into the cheer !
full and amiable guise which is really nat |
ural 10 them
But I do not believe It follows that |
simply because the Cuban volunteers have I
these opera-bo characteristics. they |
would not fight on occasion. Their sim !
cerity IN the cause they have undertaken |
is unQuesuOnable. Beyond all doubt they !
have made great sacrifices in behalf of it |
Those same spectacular young men of the /
hall at West Tampa fully intend 10 go TO !
the war, and I believe they would fight |
there and fight well. II they were given !
a chance by their leaders The Cuban |
people here are apparently absolutely /
unanimous in the movement. They come /
from all parts OF Cuba, and FAKE one !
wonder how IL Is that since all Cubans /
outside their country are so revolutionary, /
the Cubans within the Spanish lines in .
Cuba are on the whole so doctle. They 1
waive their race pretudices completely, so 4
far as one can Judge. In behalf OF the
cause OF their Island. II is certainly /
mistake 70 suppose that white Cubans sre /
without prejudice against the blacks; and I
vet they admit negroes on equal terns 4
to their comps MES: whites and blacks 4
drill together, and they dsclsim together
in the most fraternai manner IN the street
cars concerning the death that they are
Jointly going 20 visit upon the Spsniards.
Their contingent certainly contributes
much 20 the gayety OF this expedition in
its present state Not thai the expedi-
ti0u appears 70 be IN much need OF ma
teriaI for Eaysty. The town is the scene
OF nigh.ly festivities OF social sort
Tampa Is a bright town. with many at
tractive women. Cuban and ATneric2n-the
Cuban Girls Il must - confessed Tar