The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-09

Surprising Methods of the Native Fire and
Police Departments.

romeo departments.
The Porto Ricans. our new fellow citizens by
act Of Congress. are small OF stature: the
American soldiers are giants in comparison.
The upper classes are SpAniards and dwell in
houses; the middle classes live in shanties.
and the lower classes-the peons-exist where
convenient. Their children go around without
clothes Of any kind until they are 10 or II years
old, and even grown-up persons Of both sexes
battle together IN phriS nutW'dlibns where the
water Is no higher than the knee. The bulk Of
the people are a composite race-Spaniard.
Indian and negro. As regards religion they
are Roman Catholics. although the rules Of the
Church do not bind them overmuch. Indeed.
very few Of the men go to mass.
The churches are not inviting. for. although
universally painted yellow on the outside in
accordance with the Spanish law. the in terror
is rather bare. Three rows Of seats stretch in
front Of the altar and parallel with it. but the
rest OF the space is bare. and the worshippers
who do not bring their own cOnveniences have
to stand or kncel during service. The Spani sh
women of the aristncracy may be seen
negro carrying, u chair, and followed
by another with a priedicu. The men
graMIc!t Of WITH Is the f ieant Of 3fc the "TIi rme
Kings, which we call the Eniphany. That is
the Porto RIcan Christmas. The country, folk
come Down from the mountains to san Juan
and Ponce, and after drinking rum. compared
with which BOwcry whiskcy is Il mild bpvcr-
age. they 60 to church, In church when they
meet old friends they embrace them efIusively;
when they meet old enemies machetcs are
drawn aud used with skill but all the time the
The Fire Department in Porto Rico is in rath-
"r a primitive state: There is no water, avail
able IN, Su~mm"r.treSh water is sold by III"
barrel. bucket and even the gtass-and when II
tire, is discovered the iircneu take their axes
block. is the houses are mere shantics. n few
boards thrown together regardless of archi-
few kick do the business. III" poems do not
IN" in houses at AL; they Just Ii" down when
they are sleepy aud go I" sleep, They are
lazy. hut tho climate * to blame for
that, They work about four months In
tho year. TINT is, to say. in the sugnrcane-"ut-
thug season o,!i spend the other eight, months
playing "lon and other games, including a
sTrt, OF roulette. They quarrel Frequently
most 81 them. carry under their shirts. comes
into play and they slash each other without
f fmssiy; nj WIFI iha T" For rM% r%t," R'r XIV Is I Y"rE
was at 'aRnhs. HumhcGo and other towns, the
%r@%Gtmcnt found no difficulty, in ruling there.
Tn" Police Department il still more sin gu
lar than tn" Fir" Department. Before the
existed under 'Chicf. The dctectiy"s. n hunt
ing a. criminal. wont around in detachmcnts
and looking :" sagg.ious that every one knew
what, they were. or course. they never zap
turrd. ~" criminal, on 9nc occasion u man
went TO Hnmacao for rOncoalmcnt, The Chicf
thought this WAS n case thnt demanded ia"
ability Of 4 master mind. so he went in quest
Of III" thief himself. II" had ON his, person
two reyoIyers, II d1gGeli 2 mnchetc and 4 car
, where the thief was in hiding.
II YOU dom rOmco out. Numbered the Chief,
showing "A pistol through the open window.
IL blow YOU into the Internal regions"
Their" was no answer, aud the Chief emptied
~ his. pistols and carhin" through the window.
the thief all the time lying on the floor,
VIII you Surrenderf' shouted the chief:
=" have 15O rounds more"
For answer the rohber got M from the floor.
went out by the back door. came rO'.nd TO tho
! yeranda, and taking the Chief prlsC ner. bound
! him fast aud left him there.