The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-04
A SOLDIERS TRIP TO SANTIAGO.
Ran the Guard, Saw the Sights and Bought
n Spanish Oficer'A sword for $40.

A SOLDIERS TRIP TO SANTIAGO.
Ran tho Guard. Saw the Sights and Bought
Spanish Oficer'H Sword for SO.
DULUTH. Mimi. Sept. 3.-Julius v. stixrud
Of this city. who enlisted at the beginning Of
the war and was in at the death at Santiago.
has written a letter to a friend here about an
excursion into Santiago. He says:
Il want to tell you about how Axel Trebbin
and 1 ran tho guard and wont to Santiago
sightseeing. You must know that the lines
are very strictly kept. But 1 wanted to see
Santiago. and determined to go and take my
chances of being caught. The first and one OF
the main difficulties was to get out OF our W
camp. In order to carry out this part Of our
plan I told the Captain that Trebbin and 1
wanted to go to a creek two miles away to
wash our clothes. When you say wash to the
officers it is like q key to anything: they are so
afraid of typhoid fever and other dirt diseases
among the men that they are glad to do any
thing to aid in washing. no matter how fire.
quent. We offered to take the Captains clothes
along and wash them. too. and he was happy
to give us an unlimited time pass.
THE main road leading to Santiago from the
camp is guarded at five different points by
squads Of troops looking for just such fellows
as we were. and in consequence we had to
make our way as best We could Off from the
rOau. travelling OH Ine rOdu IN southern CuDa
is a different proposition from travelling over
fields in Minnesota, or even in the densest
forests. 1t is crawling here and squeezing
through there and forcing your way through
the dense growth of prickly cactus and spiny
Spanish bayonet plant and clinging creepers
everywhere. Wading swamps and streams
and climbing rocky points make it worse.
These things did not deter us at all. for we re-
membered the old sayings Of the woodmen. to
Keep on neverminding,' and Off we started on
our flve-mile trip.
About a mile from town we met n Sergeant
OF a regular company. a Swede. who was carry
ing some Spanish ammunition. After being
told where we were going he said: You better
look out. If you are caught it means n month
in the guardhouse and n months pay. too But
this did not scare us; we were too far along for
that then. The Sergeant then tried to sell us a
set of Spanish bullets, and when We refused
that he wanted to show us the way into the
city for 81, and we were SO mad that we offered
to smash him for half that; l suggested that
pawnbroker's three balls;
Soon we were climbing through some
the. suburbs. The houses thereabouts were
nothing but wooden sheds. some with only
t throS RR" the filt iRyis Streets e and alleys Ill psI til we We
ings. though old and dilapidated, showed signs
ship. We walked by the Governors mansion
hurriedly. but with the air of those who owned
his staff officers, and to take a look at them We
ventured into, the, hall of the palace, 1t was
any and rosewood furniture and had many pic
lures on the walls, mostly PORTRAITS OF Spanish
n3I6iemen and officials nota at home on ana IN the
tions and uniforms. The General was busy in
one of the rooms. and We were In too, much Of
I'VE hunted up one Of tho finest restaurants
In the city. FL Venus de Plaza. for we were very
Gen. SKATER and four Of his staff officers being
there at the time. The waiter was about to
ing. 1, suppose. that our American, soldiers
we're OF the same breed Of cattle as the Span;
1sn; 6 SHt 9tihali 70 @ onr eat IeR' in sh the same n ne pI sse
as himself, and when the genial commander
answered Certainly not we were ushered in.
We regaled ourselves as only camping SOL
diers can. had wine and everything the house
could afford, and at a total cost for us both of
where. they arc 6nsslooEInF fellows. Wen
air that makes one very, tired. specially When
he has been helping to whip them. Picking up
usually friendly, m9nnor. snying, 'lMuGho
in the afternoon. meeting him again. he in
vited us in, broken English to take q glass OF
y SS as best we Soaid. He ended By cutting
silk handkerchiefs. Then he added that
Americans were fine gentlemen, but Cubans
were dirt rolling out the dirt TO make 1t as
expressive Of contempt MS the word could we'll
be-. l could not help, indorsing, the statement
as far as the mountaineers and soldiers were
concerned, for they arc worse than our negroes
Of the South. but not as TO the better class. who
are quite good looking.
I'm a little fruit store we met a Spanish off,
TO raise money 10 keep on playing he offered
us some costly Spanish jewelry; but we did
equivalent Of $40 for his sword, which he at
last accepted. and ! have the sword as a relic
Of the trip. 1t is a battered old thing. that has
seen a lot Of service but It seems strange that
to continue gambling with. But despite their
so-called high sense OF honor, that Is not an
uncommon thing for n S~paniard 70 do, L
sword In that way"