The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-12-29

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half hour we were under way for Cas-.
ida, four miles distant, where we land
ed an hour later. A Capt. Morton Of
G Co was the first man to Jump ashore;
| was the second, but got my company
off first and was lined up on the wharf
before the Others could disembark from
the upper deck. Our Captain was on
the upper deck and did not get down
until the second company came. We
had quite a hearty reception from the
natives. They had several small Ameri-
can flags flying, one of which was on a
Spanish gun-5oat which was sunk at
the dock.
returned to the Manitoba and re-
NAMED two days getting the e~quipage
Of division ashore. We had to load
on lighters and the Manteo tOwed them
to the wharf. l left the Manitoba on
Friday and joined the company in their
temporary camp. The camp was in u
very poor situation and on Saturday
we changed it to new ground, near the
old Spanish Barracks on n high level
plateau, north of the bay, and about
four miles distant therefrom. A strong
breeze is constantly blowing which is
very refreshing III this hot cline.
So long as We keep in the shade We
are perfectly comfortable, and you may
rest assured that We go into the sup a'
little as possible. We are having but
few drills, and they are in the early
morning and late evening. Commenc.
ing yesterday we are using the insur-
gent troops for guards during the hot
part of the day, and the damp time
at night. e. 8 a. m. to 4 p. IN,
and 8 p, m. to 6 n. M, they make ex.
cellent guards, though they are a sorry
looking lot. On Monday L was sem
out on an exploring expedition. Had 6
guard of six insurgents and one inter
prefer. Could not use our own horses
had to get ponies accustomed to trave
the mountain trails and paths. There
are no woods after you get a mile OF
two from the city. Even the paths
have hardly been used for four years.
and as a consequence they are over
grown with a deep evergreen brush
about six feet high-which has to b,
cut as you advance. My guard was
armed with .carbines and the noteC
machete, the latter is g great tool as {
Weapon. 1t is nothing for the natives
to cut down a four inch sapling witt
them, in two or three blows, and they
do it without dismounting. ] had {
rough, but with all, a pleasant trip,
and accomplished the purpose for
which / was detailed. Passed through
two insurgents camps; they were very
comfortably quartered in Bamboo hats.
but were short on provisions. | di,
tributed some bareback among then
from our packmule, which was yer
thankfully received.
They were very curious in their { q
animation Of me, nothing escaped then
from my shoes to my hat. 1t was the
first time they had ever seen an Ameri
can officer, and I understand I am the
first to have been in the San Juan Riv
err district and to cross the mountains
The greater part Of the outlying coun-
try is a scene of desolation. The su-
gar, coffee and other plantations, OF
like character, have not been worked
for years, and is now overgrown with
brush of various kinds. Their house,
have been destroyed. Sugar mills torn
down and machinery.broken.
Their fruit FARMS. e., oranges, lem.
ons, bananas, &c, have been let grow
wild, and now they are but tangled,
thorny thickets. 1t will take at leas'
two if not four years, to bring ordel
out of the chaos that now exists. A
majority of the inhabitants look as il
they were half starved. Their clothing
is nothing. The children from birtl
to about eight years wear nothing
Many of the men have their pants mad
from cotton bagging and for a shir
they use an old sack, with arm ant
head holes cut therein. The wOmel
wear but n gown, and it resembles
night-gown made of any material the,
are fortunate enough to find. This i
! in the outlying districts. In the cit,
the better class Of people dress very
respectfully and look neat and clean
r but they are in the great minority
Trinidad with all its ruins, and tn
\ havoc made by the Spanish troops, i
still q lovely old city. The streets ar
narrow, but farely clean. With tn
exception Of q few, the houses loo