The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-09
lssn Spain and Uncle Sam, trunks are

tt1een Spain and Uncle Sam, trunks are
~ cited In hundreds OF homes. and ar
rEfngemerts secretly completed. SO for
n4 possible. for immediate fitting. Ac-
ctlrdlng to the usages OF civilized war
fare, should the city be bombnrded By
tile United States bnttleships, due no.
+ be would be given the American clu.
q ms and means for their Transportation
~ other points provided. With .war.vcs-
ksl lis in front, insurgents pouring in
IN BIN the rear, and desperate Spauiards
ia their last gasp In the midst, "a hot
= lnc In the old town. would feebly ex-
iPtess the situation In doomed Havana;
Y psf nov the one predomlnatIng elc-
lent Ia The military The 'streets are
" terally lined with men and boys In
Sfaips blue cotton uniforms. hotels are
hcked with officers and the quietest
PEDESTRIAN Is jostled on the streets by
fldiers aud halted at every corner after
fghttall by the click Of the musket and
Ole stern query "Qulen Vlve?" The av-
efdse Spanish soldier Is not an object
~ Inspire terror or even respect. He Is
nfders!zee. often manlfestly under fed,
Squeezing In gait and hang-dos in gen.
teifal dppearance-about as wide a con-
5atast us can well be imagined to "the
(INest Point cut" which Is the American
Ifandard OF what warrior should be.
These may understand the theory and
practice OF war all right, but somehow
the true martial ardor does not seem TO
etterd down Into their backbone and
lfgs. But do not imagine that America
Ill have any easy walk-over If she
;cPues Gown here to settle the Cuban
Question by force OF arms! These
sfouchy-!ooking fellows fight like crazy
dltnds under excitement and the Span
grds are certain to do Wild things whea
tfe crisis comes.
Y The tragedy OF the Maine, In a tone OF
Tranquility, Is a faint foreshadowlng OF
lr9hati may be expected in the expiring
ttfoes of outraged national honor"
. Fifteen thousand new recruits have
Irfcentlv arrived from Spain. fresh and
We'll equipped. The hungry army has
iG,en having extra rauons OF late and
ipEainly show the brac!ng qualities OF a
ffR square meals. and tho halt-starved
hPrses of the cavalry have been replac-
ED by well fed ones, stolen from Gu
4 fin hcciendas. The uniforms OF on
etrs and men arc evidently cut from the
5s Eme piece-coat and trousers OF blue
AID white striped denim. Nobody can
al cuse any OF them OF wearing corscts,
az do some OF our !ledslings In the MIL
i3ary service; but why, in Heavens
rlam-wil somebody tell us whv--do
Sairmy tailors. the wide world over, put
THE seat of the trousers near the curve
oh; the knee-joints and the waists OF the
tickets midway to thp a-mpIts? The
Officers wear 4 few Silt stars on their
Chat sleeves and white canvas hat:
while the enlisted men wear hats OF
lHanaina straw. turned up on one side
aInd fastened with a rosette. The VOL
upteers, corresponding 20 our National
Guard. act as adjuncts to the city po-
lice. Their guard mounting and inspec-
Stlon every morning In the Prado. Is
Worth coming far to see. It seems to
lieia sort OF go as you please" ar
Management. each man choosing his own
idaits and department. Talking in the
RANKS ut nil times. and even cigarette
Smoking. Is allowed.
( ,,At Inspection tho men become silent
and immoyable. only when the officer
approaches them and relax into socia-
Utility the Instant his back Is turned.
There Is no asserting OF sizes; perhaps
u Ave foot boy between meh six or
eight inches taller, haphazard down the
line. Some have leggings. some have
mot: some have shoes, some sandals;
Some are bare-footed, and like the ur-
dhlu5 OF the story. are "glad TO come of
3fp.e"33 In short. they look like job-loi
idf insists, OF mixed sizes aad colors and
CONDITIONS. between the ages OF fifteen
Slnd fifty. The rank and file of the reg
Etliars" have had the worst time OF Il.
5past summer fully 50 per cent OF them
f!ckened and died and the hospital de
Ban AmbrosIo is crowded with their
lsVins skeletons. Until lately It was no
Uncommon sight 20 see soldiers begging
On the streets. as they have not re-
telyed q cent Of pay In six months. The
mounted police of Havana are very
lhuch In evidence. They are distinguish
|9sdSby suits OF dark blue denim. with
Crimson bands around the hats and
down the trousers legs. They generally
fhnnt In couples" SO to say--two at
krery street crossing, at the door OF
| Hery public house. at frequent inter-
| balls around the plaza, patrolllng every
| 1ook ond corner around the city. 1t Is
I hey who demand, who goes there?"
IS you pass along the streets. and who
| insists upon examining all questionable
ooking packages and bundles. They
Il TO- much OF the spying, too. which leads
/ o)arrests and dcportations, and tho
/ spectacle Of a blue denim soldier on
| horseback peering into window. ''or
The Successful Remedy for