The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-16

til we dropped anchor in Santiago haf-
Dor. was most enjoyable. The morning
was perfect, the scenery grand. The sky
line of Cuba from the south is one long
range of high mountains rising in some
places perpendicular from the waters edge.
Imasiue a hundred Youalis and Trays
stretched from Tybee TO Warsaw and get
some idea of the grandeur of the scenery.
At "a point just opposite Santiago the shore
line comes inward, forming a bay with
the entrance to the harbor of Santiago.
IL The center were 1t not for the yellow
stone fertilization, El Moro, which
crowns the top of a perpendicular cliff,
go feet above the sea, the entrance would
be passed unnouced. Being only about
as wide as the Savannah river opposite
the city and facing westward so decidedly
that approaching from the east the break
in the shore liue IS unnotceable Though
all who had or could obtain, glasses
searched for the remains Of the Spanish
fleet, none could be discerned, though IL
is said Tie torpedo boats were sunk be-
fore they had gone more than a couple OF
miles from the entrance. The plot,
Cuban, boarded us from a double-ended
skiff, pulled by Two negroes with nothing
on but their pants, a short distance from
the harbcr mouth. We did not stop but
steamed on and up to the city
We found the harbor-an immense land
locked harbor, with Santiago at the eX-
IRENE CuQ-IQll Oh transports. AhAti ~
our disgust, we found that the MluneWas-
ka could get within only a half mile OF
the nearest wharf Then came long
wait while arrangements could be per-
fected for two smaller boats to unload u.s.
take US less than a half-miie and I'M
load again. The Berkshire, an old
friend of some of us was one of the two
selected. After transferring ourselves and
as much cargo as could be carried 10 the
dock, ii was so late that it was decided
to remain aboard and get an early start
the next morning All agreed that after
a night spent alongside a wharf in san
tiago, we could justly be called immunes
if no bad results followed.
The march to camp was made early
the place selected being just outside the
city limits near the Spanish trenches, at
FL Caney, aud our headquarter tents be-
ing just inside the lines, with a cannon
on both sides. No more charming place
could have been selected. 1t combines
hight, road facilities with Santiago a very
important item in q country covered with
an impossible growth of vegetation-and
water connection with the city water
works.
After a long wait, spent by the major
ity in searching the entertainments for
souvenirs, ranging anywhere from a Maui
ser rife to a Spanish button, the tents
arrived, but not in time to prevent an
The three following days We're days of
hard work for every one. 1t is no easy
task to transfer one thousand men and
supplies from shpboard to camp five
miles aWay-especially when the daily de-
parture OF thousands of men render it
almost impossible to get the necessary
means. Soon after landing we found,
much to our surprise that the regiment
would in time be divided into attachments
for garrison duty at various other points.
Company d was the first to CO. They
are at point some fifty mics in the in
terror, the place being on the only rail-
road connection with Santiago. All dis
liked to see them leave us-especially as
Capt. Wilson and Lieuts. Mcbride and
McCool are favorites with all. Col. Ray,
with one battalion, went next to Guam
tanamo tt is said that another battalion
viii soon leave for some point on the north
coast, leaving only Mai. WHY'S battal-
ion to be stationed. The seven companies
still here are under his command, and
so well has he cared and provided for
them that as the time for separation APP
proaches all regret that he can take but
four companies with him. So far our
duties have been exceedingly light. We
guard the road near our camp leading
from over the mountains to the north into
Santiago Seeing that no one goes in arm
ed and arrestng all suspicious characters.
A day or SO ago our duties were increas-
ed by having to send details TO the aban-
doned camps along the hillsides across the
valley in order to protect the tents and
other government property indiscriminate-
ly left by the regiments sent back to the
United States. So anxious were they to
return, and so hurriedly did they depart,
that they left everything but what was
absolutely necessary. Blankets, cartridges
by the thousands, equipments and, in
some instances, clothes were left to rot
and ruin. 1t did not take our
boys long to discover the shells, and a
shorter time to begin to use them so reck-
lessly that a mule belonging to an officer
of Gen. Skaters staff was kill
ed, and now no one is al
lowed 10 have loaded shell in his pos
session. American-like they turned their
attention to something else, and now near
Is one-half have marsh tackles herds
of which roam the hills and mountains
across the valley. What the result of such
persistent depredatlons will be is yet to be
seen. In the meanwhile, they get The full
benefit of the annual riding throughout the
camp ana into town when granted passes.
At night they turn them loose back of
camp to take care of themselves
OF Santiago much of interest could be
written. So decidedly foreign is it to US
all that everything is interesting. The city
is built on a sloping hillside, heading up
from the bay-the principal streets run
ming straight up from the wharf to the
plaza and Polata," which crown the hill
top. The latter being now occupied by
Gen. Lawton as headquarters. There has
not been sufficient time yet for some en-
terprsng Americans 10 start into business
of any kind here, so you have as much
| trouble in restaurant and cafe in getting
what you want as you would in Europe
We feel outside of the world" here
there being no regular mail service No
mail has yet been received here for the
| Third Some of the boys begin TO show
! the thoughtfulness indicative of a touch
! of home sickness. II is just as bad on
the other hand; letters sent away remain
| in the postofce a week, consequently the
news that Uncle Sam is 20 start a regu-
lar mail service soon is welcomed by all.
| ID. c. B.
THE NEWS In LAURENS.