The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-03-22

vile, Fla, l was sent 10 fOrt NC
Phsrson hospital, Atlanta, Ga. Ire
joined my regiment on December 20,
at Savannah, Ca, jast in tine to
take the transport for Caba.
Col. Jones gave US fne New
Year turkey dinner before leaving,
Tae Savannah ladies had given us a
royal feast short time before.
It took forty eight hours to set
our regiment loaded on the big ship
Ronmaniap, $50 feet long. We had
aboard 1000 men and 375 horses.
The 4sh and 9th Illinois regiments,
on the ship Mobile, left port at the
same time as we. As we steamed
away the 5000 soldiers, with shouts
loud and long, answered back the
good-byes from the great throng that
stood on shore, with waving hats and
banners. The many big steamers in
port gave US a pleasant salute, which
our Captain returned.
L. was not long till our good ship
was far cut at sea, and soon, all Of
our fair land was lid beyond the
crest of the waves. The first day
our ship met heavy gale. In rid
ing the big waves she rocked from
side to side, making horses frantic
and men sick, not even sailors could
then walk the deck without holding
to something, sometimes the spray
would splash over the bridge. This
gale made the snow white foaming
pillows appear as great snow-clad
city all around US as far as the eye
could reach. Some of US that had
hammocks hung them on the masts
and bo8rails SO as to swing and not
get 80 bad drunk as the old trans
port rolled and seemed to try to
dump US into the sea.
During the three days we were out
at ses, the time was whiled away
looking for land and at the passing
ships, porpoise, sharks, flying fish,
gulls and sea eagles. The third
night our ship plowed through the
frey phospborescence of Florida
strait. The long wake CT the ship
and the course OF the swift whiriipg
sharks in the PHOSPHORUS appeared
as so many streams Of gold.
At II p. M, January 9Th, the re-
volving light in the tower of Moro
Castle was sighted, and soon the
thousands of electric lights of Hs-
vana were in full view. At sunrise
the next morning we steamed inside
of the beautiful bay. On the east
side opposite the city the great lime
cliffs rise very abruptly. On these
are built many strong fortresses that
guard this grand old city. 1t made
me feel chilly to look up there at the
long line of big cannons looking
down so gtimly upon US from their
deep embrasures.
Some foreign bst:leships and all
of Sampon's squadron are now here.
The wreck of the Maine is now
guarded to keep eff souvenir collec-
tors.
The city of Havana is very crowd
ed. The area being three miles
square and the population 100000
There are no houses of modern archi-
lecture. That grand old Spanish style
is still the go. All buildings are of
concrete, covered with pretty red
tile. Very little lumber is used as it
is very scarce. Many of the public
buildings and residences are inpos-
iug structures, they are long and
fatroofed with many tail columns IN
front, inside of this colonade, the
walls for four feet above the floor
are lined with beautifully pictured
glazed tiles, in many co!ors, while
some have large oil paintings instead.
There is one perpetual spring time
here. The green lawns, shady
streets, large blooming flower yards,
and elegantly kept parks with hun
drsds CT strange tropical trees, make
this an Elem in winter.
The city is rapidly recovering from
the effects OF the recent long siege.
The stores and markets are well
stocked. Ga these same streets one
year ago the vultures ate the bodies
of starved people. There are still
hundred Of poorly clad hungry peo,
pie on every hand. Many Of them
come to our camps begging. Small
children Of the poor may be seen on
the streets, not clothed with even fig
leaves. All streets and roads are
mecademised. Some of the size
walks are only two feet wide.
There ale many American visitors
to the place where the remains o