The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-31
Santiago Soldiers on Cuban Conditions.

A Virginia member OF tne no0pi'"
department of the Second Division o.
. the Fifth army corps, who was in 20
lumbia on his way home on furlough
chasted interestingly to a representa-
tive of The State yesterday about the
state of affairs in Cuba. He had been
in the Santiago district, arriving there
the day after the big fight, and is no"
off on furlough to try and recover
from an attack of intermittent fever.
which he contracted in Cuba.
"Yes," said he, II will talk to you
about Cuba, provided you don't use
my name, because I am still member
of the United States Army, and |
might be punished for what I say.
"Conditions in Cuba Well, they
are horrible. The Cubans are starv-
ing to death every day and their plight
is growing more and more serious. l
cannot see anything for them in the
future but wholesale death, unless our
government promptly sends them food
and clothing. The imagination can
hardly take in the completeness OF the
devastation of the country there. The
armies of Spain and Cuba have swept
back and forth over the land, carrying
ruin with the torch at every trip, so
that now there is nothing but few
cocoanuts for the natives to maintain
themselves on. What was missed by
one army was picked up by the other.
| I cannot see how the Cubans are to
keep alive much longer. They are
starving by the hundreds daily now.
II was pitiable to see those poor crea-
lures hanging about our camps, pick
ing up hard tack and old clothes the
soldiers threw them. The women and
children, as well as the men, were
either ragged or altogether naked; and
with their faces sunken and haggard
from want of food. They were the
impersonation Of misery
ssThere is no crop on the island, and
| all We had for roads were bitches,
some 16 and 20 feet deep, which had
been washed out among the under
growth by the heavy rains.
"Of course the soil is very fertile,
and Cuba ought to make rich and
prosperous place, but it will be'a long
time yet before residence there by civ
ilized people will be possible, though
it doubtless will in time be of great
commercial importance, especially to
the South. The lumber market there
is especially rich. But I would not
advise any one to go there just now,
because of the conditions [ have just
told you about.
"The health conditions in Cuba,
however, are not any worse than they
are among the soldiers in Florida.
There are prevalent in Cuba all styles
Of fever, but there is no smallpox, and
the yellow fever is of mild type. In
Florida malarial fever, and especially
typhoid fever, is playing havoc among
the troops, and deaths are becoming
alarmingly frequent. Every day
large number Of sick are transferred
to Atlanta and elsewhere, but the hos
pisal fills up as fast as it is emptied.
T will tell you two interesting Incl
dents that grew out Of the Santiago
fight among the wounded.
zone of these occurrences shows
the unique effect of the present day
steel bullet. A private in front
rank was shot through the right lung,
and, though the bullet that passed
through this vital part Of the body
killed the fellow just behind him in
the rear rank, the man with the wound
through his lung is to-day as well and
lively as a jay bird. The clean, sharp
wound healed without suppuration
and when I left him in Florida he was
walking about out of doors as if moth
ing had happened to him.
"The other incident is this A
North Carolina regular just before be
left for Cuba had talk with his girl
and she advised him to take squire.
along with him to Cuba as mascot
He protested against the absurdity
and nuisance Of such an awkward mas
cot, but when she insisted with tears
in her eyes and declared she would
never again see him alive unless HI
carried the squirrel with him, he con
sented, although she could give nj
other reason than that she felt thi
would be his only salvation. The sol
dier kept his promise to always hav
the little pet near him, and it rod
upon his shoulder when he went int