Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-01
TWO OFFICERS FIRED UPON.
Prisoner-COntinu Scarcity
Correspondence of the Dispatch)
Wood and Water.

| CAMP COLUMBIA, HABANA, CUBA.
December 27.-For the last two days we
have been having severe wind and rain.
| The atmosphere has become damp and
chilly, while the red clay soil. on which
our camp is laid. becoming soggy, has
shown its early attachment TO the Viz
ginians in clinging in heavy Jumps to
| their shoe-soes. thus making drilling
very tedious. Below the clay there is a
| large quantity of limestone rock. which
| fertilizes the soil. The men have been
pning rocks ever since we have been
here. clearing the camp and backgrounds.
The limestone rock figures very extern
svely in the building of the Cuban
houses; very little lumber being used,
as building timber is quite scarce on the
island.
The design Of all the houses is TO keep
the cool air in and the hot air out, and
also for protection against cyclones. They
are rarely over one story high. The roofs
drop low, and shut out the sun. while
there is no metal used in them, terra
Gotta thing being better adapted.
There is rarely seen any glass to shut
out the air, iron bars being the only en-
closure for the windows. One fellow
greenly remarked, when we started on
our march through Habana: "My, those
are pretty girls to be locked up in PRISON.
1t is said that there is more marble
used in Habana than In New York. The
floors Of the fine houses are always of
marble. while the more humble have
limestone and dirt.
| In both Habana and Marianao there
are a large numser Of handsome dwell
ings. finished beautifully in marble, with
| stately columns magnificent fronts, and
| large courts, while the drawing-rooms
| and halls being open show up in rich
| and bold relief.
A QUIET TOWN.
Many Of the rich businessmen OF Ha-
bana and those who have large planta-
| lions in the country live in Marlanao'
which is a quiet town in healthy loca-
ton five niles from the turmoil, filth, and
poverty Of Habana. large number oil
the best Cubans in Mariana and other
places have quit their fine mansions and
fled 10 America to stay until the stormy
| DAYS assume a calm aspect leaving their
property I'm the hands Of trusted servants.
The Spaniard's idea is 10 have every
| thing where he can easily put his hands
on il. In the best and finest residences
in Habana the horse and carriage IS
driven directly in through the front en-
trance of the house, the carriage being
| left i'm the hall near the door, while the
horse is led back to the rear end of the
house to his stall, under the last cham
Der. Cows also occupy prominent places
| i'm the household arrangements of the
! Spaniard They are hOnored with stalls
| and troughs in the back portion OF his
| dwelling. so that the little maid, pretty
maid in Habana" doesn't have TO go
| away down in the meadow and bother
| with the gate TO milk her COW. but all
she has to do is to go into the back room.
A great deal of ASS milk is used in
| Habana, this long-eared Spanish favorite
being driven around to the houses and
MIXED at the door of the customers.
STABBING OF LARSEN.
Sunday night, in Quemadis. a small
| town this side of Mariana. while the sol
dieTs from different regiments were freely
| INDUCING in Christmas cheer, one OF
| them. Private a. c. Larsen, of the Sc
| cond Division Hospital Corps, while under
| the influence of liquor. went into house
and made some remarks to Cuban lady,
| which her husband understood TO be an
| insult. He followed the soldier, with
IL
him three times in the back and side.
Larsen. who is from Chicago. was taken
! to the Second Division Hospital, where
| his wounds were dressed. This morning
his condition bids fair for an early re-
| coyery.
on Christmas Day we took our first
prisoner. Spaniard in the hospital SER
vice, who came TO the guard-house of the
Fourth Virginia, and delivered himself
y fx~ 90
| guard.
| The Don said that he had become sepa-
rated from his corps and was afraid OF
| the Cubans, who threatened to waylay
| him. He was put into the guard-house,
| and seemed happy among the Virginians,
| exchanging autographs and buttons with
them. Another Spaniard has applied for
admission into our band, and has been
| furnishing US with a few samples of his
| notes" for several days.
! The other day Major Blow and Major
| Tarrall were ambushed, and stood fire
for the first time in the Spanish-American
| war They went down to a stream near
| the camp for bath, and just as they
| were making ready to plunge In. two bull
| let's whizzed by between their heads. They
| didn't take time to give the order,
"Change direction by the left flank" but
| instinctively "to the rear marched" and
| left their baths behind. They evidently
| came to the conclusion, az they didn't
| have their battalions with them, that
discretion was the better part OF vaior."
| We have received about seventy-five re-
| cruits since being in Habana and our
| regiment lacks only about 100 men OF
| having the maximum number, comparing
favorably in this respect with the other
| regiments. Recruiting stopped when We
| left the United States. and Captain Wyatt
was ordered TO rejoin his company we
have been expecting him on every trans
| port from Savannah.
The Virgnians are gradually resuming
| routine duties This morning We had orr
| first drill since we began preparation Tor
| leaving Savannah three weeks ago. Dress
| parade was dispensed with this after
| noon on account of the rain.
The men have chosen congeuial tent
mates. and live six together very COM
| fortably, going In and out az the large