The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-14
HORSE STEAKS FOR AMERICANS
HOW THE sPANIARDS FOOLED
OUR SOLDIERS.
Animals That Should Have Been
Turned Over to Shafter Were
Served Up at the, Restaurants.

Copyright. 1SyS, by the Associated Press)
Santiago, July 26.-There are two
ways of looking at the value of horse
flesh here since the war began. You
can buy an animal. for a IS gold piece,
with all the trappings thrown in. Dead,
as meat. at SO much a pound in the
market, it comes high-in more ways
than one. TIE reasons. for the discrep-
ancy in values between a live and a
dead horse just now are obvious. Gen
eral Skaters report says that on July
"a. 143 horses We're turned over by Gen
eral Toral as the sum total of the
Spanish cavalry under his command.
1t is well known that LOCO is nearer
the number that should have been
turned over.
When Santiago surrendered, on July
Il, lI,U0O Spanlards stood in urgent
need, first, of food, second, of cash.
These crafty Castilians bethought
themselves of an ingenious plan for
satisfying their lust of flesh and gold
They knew our boys would enjoy a re-
past os fresh meat" after their Sc
we're diet of bacon and hard tack, and
would be glad to pay almost any price
in the local restaurants for it. So a
goodly number of fine chargers and
tough old war horses were put to the
sword and distributed at fancy prices
to the inns and chop houses of the dis
trict for the special benefit OF the Am
orleans.
For time this horse feesh brought
excellent prices, but after many equine
steaks had been served, devoured and
paid for. the American troops gradually
began to realize what they were eat
ing and would have no more of it. A
slump in the market followed.
In the chaotic condition of SPANS
military regime in the city, orderlies
would mount their officers steeds and
ride into the market place, offering
their mounts to the first conner for al
most anything they could get. In this
simple manner, unhampered by the
formality of bill of sale, many horses
changed hands. always to the advant-
age of the seller, who was getting
something for what had cost him moth
ing, and incidentally deprived Uncle
Sam of lawful prizes of war. And thus,
at least partially, is explained the fact
that the Spanish cavalry horses turned
over to General Shafter had dWindled
to the ridiculous figure of 143.
FIRST POsTOFFICE.
The first American postoffice in Cuba
was opened on June %, at Baiuuiri
Eben Brewer was the postal agent
From the first day United States post
age stamps were sold and money orders
issued. An immense amount of mail
had accumulated at Tampa since the
departure of the army, and it's prompt
delivery to the men at the front after
its arrival at BaiGuiri was a task of
some magnitude. After sorting the mail
by regiments and companies. Mr.
Brewer bought horse, loaded the ami
NAL with heavy pouch of mail and
started for the front to make deliveries.
1t was the first mail in Cuba under
American auscpices. He was gone SO
hours, and Immediately after his re-
turn made another trip, this time hir-
ing two mules. on which he loaded the
nail matter, riding on the back of one
himself. He was gone four days, and
besides delivering his mail he assisted
in caring for the wounded on the bat
tlefield and helped the field surgeons
in their task. Mr.. Brewer, during these
four days. took neither sleep nor rest,
and the officers and soldiers agree that
he was as self-sacrificing on the fed of
battle as the brave men whom he
helped during several days of fierce
fighting.
In the meantime 400 sacks of mail
had, accumulated at Baiquiri, and an
in the system of mail dis
tribution became imperative. 1t was
decided to move the postoffice closer to
the front, and on July the Siboney
postoffice was opened in place of the
old Baicuiri office. BY this time Mr..
Kempner had arrived as assistant to
MIR. Brewer. and in two days every
piece of mail matter was at the front.
sent there by pack mules, wagons and
carts.
Three DAYS later Mr.. Brewer was
taken sick and removed to the yellow
fever hospital, where he died July A.
The dreaded fever had begun ITO
spread so rapidly that an order was is
sued to burn every building and hut at
Siboney. Consequently the postof1ice
building went with the others, and on
July II the office was moved into a can
vas tent. where business went on until
July 81 when the postoffice was finally
moved into the building occupied by the
Spanish postoffice, with Mr. Kempner
as United States postal agent, at its
head. In the short space of time since
the establishment of the office consid-
cradle business has been transacted.
Money orders to the amount of more
than $4,000 have been issued, and 5000
worth of stamps and stamped envel-
Opes have been sold
A million pieces of mail matter have
thus far been received and distributed.
and more than half a million letters