The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-05
SCENES AFTER A BATTLE.
TRAMP In A CUBAN WILDERNESS

O0lup mOOh4lo, OuuubdudIuO udrOOK,
writing under the date of June 30 about
an expedition to the battlefield, says:
Over the valley Of Cuzco. four miles
back of the hilltop on which flies the
American flag. hundreds of vultures are
swarming and circling, scenting the
Spanish dead which lie below amid the
cacti and the chaparral. American bull
let's stretched them there, and the panic
among tho Spaniards which the slaugh-
ter caused was so thorough that they
have not even come back to the battle
field to bury their dead. For three days
not q single Spaniard has been seen or
heard from anywhere in the vicinity of
the camp, save across the bay, where
communication with Caimanera is easy
and whence the march to the wooded
hills and gorges back of the camp is
long and difficult.
SO thoroughly rested have the marines
become since the Spaniards ceased to
annoy them and 90 far has the work of
fortifying the camp progressed that yes
terday an expedition to the battlefield
gar was mainly instrumental in plan
ming the expedition, as he was particu-
larly dcsirous of'examining the wounds
inflicted upon the dead and determining
something Of the character Of wounds
inflicted by our navy rife. Accordingly
90 volunteers were called for and speed
lily obtained and put In command Of
Lieutenant Lewis O. Lucas.
With 80 of Lieutenant Colonel En-
rique Tomaso's Cubans to act as scouts
and guides, the little party started out,
accompanied by the correspondent. Ev-
cry one was armed as though expecting
to meet the enemy, even the newspaper
man carrying an enormous revolver in
his belt. While it was not deemed
probable that the enemy would make
trouble, there was no way to tell, and
every one felt better st the thought that
there were 80 rifles, along with 80 belts,
each holding $50 rounds Of ammuni-
tion.
The road taken led down the rocky
hillside and into the brush and out of
sight of the men above. The soldiers
moved single file, Of necessity, the path
being wide enough for no more They
moved in silence too, for the walking
was not conducive to conversation. The
Cubans skirted ahead quite jauntily,
looking neat and clean in new white
Jack Tar suits-presents from Com
mander McCalla of the Marblehead. Be-
hind them moved the volunteer marines
in their now warworn campaign suits
Of crash. The red gravel Of the trenches
and the profuse perspiration of the men
have worked sad havoc with the thin
light stuff of which the suits are made.
1t was terribly hot in the gorge below
the camp hill, for it was not yet 8
o'clock in the morning, and the breeze
from the sea was still loafing of to the
southwark. Both sides Of the path were
closely lined with cactus and other trop-
ical growths. Underneath the feet were
rolling stones which made ones footing
insecure. The bushes caught at your
eyes with every stumble and the utmost
care was essential to prevent mishaps.
About 1900 yards from the camp the
expedition came upon what is known
as the wharf, overlooking what is called
the salt pond. This is a long, wide
stretch of sand ON which the sea from
the bay backs and, receding, leaves
thin veneer Of salt On this wharf and
half blockhouse was found an outpost
Of marines guarding the approach to
the camp by this path. The salt pond is
perhaps 500 yards long. 1t was perfect
ly dry when the expedition reached it,
the tide being out, and from it arose
heat waves that made it fairly dance
before the eyes. With the march across
it began the emptying of the canteens,
for as fast % the tepid water was taken
in through the mouth it poured out
through the pores. Already the clothing
of the whole party was wringing wet
Past the salt pond the path led
through more brush, winding in and
out along the line Of least resistance,
and then we came upon the hills. There
were still the brush, the stones and the
heat, with the added burden of precip-
itous incline, up which it was necessary
to Chamber. Over one and down il,
across gorge, up another hill and
down it, and we were in the valley Of
Cuzco. Up rose the rocky brush covered
hillsides all about us, with the vultures
circling and circling about and then
settling eat Of sight They told the
story, and the scent that the varying
winds blew down upon us from all sides
only served to intensity the most dis
gusting of all Of warfare s many phases.
This was worse than blood and death.
On the sea side of this little basin, up
just gentle slope commanding good
view Of both the basin and the sea on
the other side, were the ruins of the
blockbouse which had been destroyed
ON the day of the fight. The soldiers
swarmed around it, for it was cool here,
the breeze now sweeping In from the
sea. All about were pots and kettles Of
the Spanish soldiers lying just where
they had left them when they fled. To
one side was the head of horse which
in their hunger the Spaniards had kill
cd and eaten. A little farther on toward
the beach could be seen the windraill