Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-09-22
Letter From Santiago de Cuba.

Randolph, who was trusted clerk In the
Boston postoffice until ordered to Cuba
when the army OF invasion landed, has
been appointed postmaster at Guantana-
mo, Cuba. The former postmaster was
found BY the military authorities to be
Spanish sympathizer and not safe person
to handle the mails. A recent letter to
his father shows that Walter has seen
much OF the war-more even than many
of the soldiers. 1t is In part as foliows:-
Santiago de Cuba, Agasto y, 1888.
MY DEAR FATHER:-I am AFRAID you
have been looking for letter from me ior
some time and perhaps feel disappointed
10 not hearing from me. will tell you |
have been very busy, for we have had so
much to do and SO few to do 1t that We
have not been able to keep track OF the
days of the week and pretty hard work
some times to keep track OF the days OF
the month.
war, of course not all that goes to make
up war, but enough, for all that. Of
course | was not In the heat Of battle, but
have been ON the fighting line while the
troops were there, have been in the
trenches and slept with the 9th Mass, IN
camp one night at the front. Have seen
most OF the generals, including Miles ana
Shafter. Colonies, captains and lieuten-
ants are stopping at the same house In
Santiago that do, even Spanish ofiicers
are stopping there, one OF them, cap
tain, Is brother of duke.
have been all over the ground where
the Rough Riders had their battle. Mr..
Fish, the father OF Hamilton Fish, Jr.,
was after his sons BODY who was killed at
that battle while we were at Siboney and
be stayed over night with US at the z. 0.
building. Clara Barton of Red Cross
fame stayed one night with US. After
they burned all the buildings at Siboney,
we lived in tents just the same as the sol
diers, had the same to eat and ate on the
same kind OF dishes.
We landed at Baiquiri the last OF June
(the place where the most OF Skaters
army landed.) We went from there to
siboney by mule trains, six mules to
wagon, troops marching ahead OF US and
troops behind us. One OF the wagons
turned completely over on the trip. 4.
had couple OF small mortars in 1t. The
} roads are something awful no bridges
have to ford all streams. walked nall
, OF the way at different times. IL was
easier than riding on such rough roads
with wagons without springs.
While at Siboney We saw more camI
, life than we do here, for we are quarteref
: In the city, but OF course 1t Is full OF sol
} diers, horses and mules. The hospitals
! were pitched at SiDoney. saw sick ano
wounded by the score. Then the yellow
fever struck us. Our head man, Mr.
Brewer. the postal agent for Cuba, died o.
yellow fever while we were there. Oul
: negro cook and two others OF our party
I went to the hospital. / was glad to &c
: away from the place. We lett there 10
. Santiago the sd OF July. Have got tb'
Spanish postoffice for our use. We have
: got more men now and many OF the troop
2 are going away, 80 1t Will be great dea
was down to siboney two weeks ags
/. ON p. o. business. Went down by raj
early one morning and came back horse
back the next day. 1t was over the entir'
battle ground between Siboney and san
tfago. Soldiers graves everywhere. Cam'
/ over the famous San Juan hills and int
Santiago, distance OF % miles, good
> / saw the destruction OF Cervera's fleet
i. OF course 1t was exciting, but ! was no
, near enough to make 1t highly interest
' ing. We could see the ships, the puffs 0
smoke and hear the boom OF the guns, Du
r were not 80 close as we would like to hav'
: been.
8 | get ont Of here into Havana. Ii 50 Will o.
nearer home, so perhaps / can get hom
8 twice a year. l am too far away here. IN
!. u. 8. is going to establish U. 8. postoff1ce
all over the island, so II we stay IN IN
Cuban service we will be here a numbe
J, OF years. -,
The streets here are something awful
), The houses are mostly ne-story, som
Q two, tiled roofs, the rooms being opel
o clear into the rafters, making them seer
very nigh, large courts in the center, IN
2 | houses or rooms running all around them
5 Most of the courts have tropical plants \
: them, banana trees, ETC., and soms nav
fountains playing in them. Most every
o body here has Cuban pony and all rio
e horseback. They hitch them anywner
: and everyw here, keep them in thel
q houses and il they are going into some {
a the stores to make purchases they RIO
j. right in. All of the houses have larg'
v fat stone or brick tiles for flooring an
g all you get in the shape of carpet IS a RI
q before your bed.
Oh, by the way, saw and shook hand
u with Lieut.. Hobson the day he was ex
v changed. am well and feeling first rat
i Was on the docks all the morning trans
l. ferring a mail that had just arrived 10 IL
t office l1O5 sacks.) Out In the hot sun
u too much. 1t uses a man up. III one ca
keep in the shade and do nothing he WI
J. be more comfortable here than in Ne
:. England at this time of year, for there
l. always a breeze. The nights are muc
IT cooler than at home. Good bye, no
vonr son- WALTER.
Z. rn.ho- I~oof- ~, uorr naoa1