New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-05
BEAUTIES OF SANTIAGO.
OBSERVATIONS OF CHARLES STEWART
SMITH. WHO WAS A PASSENGER
On THE PARIS

On March % there was published In The irlouhe
a letter received by George Wilson. the secretary
OF the Chamber OF Commerce. from Charles stew
ar, Smith chairman Of the Executive COMMITTEE
OF the Chamber who was one Of the passengers on
the steamship Paris on her trip to places In south
ern waters made historical by the happenings y,
the recent With Spain. Mr.. Snith mas au
TO the observations described in that letter IN an
other communication dated at Santiago on MAI.
q and also addressed to Mr. Wilson Inns e''''
is as follows:
Santiago de cuba. March e. 1892 .,
seorse Wilson. ESQ. Secretary chamber OF COM
Dear Sir The approach to Santiago from nr i sSa
presents formidable coast line OF high mountain, s
e.nne pvaried and beautiful medium-szed harbors
in the world. Until the harhor Is enterta IL" nc Vs
eSinping " As The steamer affords a near view an
enhance about COO feet wide IS discovered; WIN
Ssfe nosts from go TO 100 feet high. ON the hi on
The right stands Moro Castle. built IN 1911 OF NO
walls hoary AID moss covered; with occasloha,
ivy vines like the San Juan MOTTO, p'f TorfunS
or a Viieeas a visit to Moro under the guidance
Of Capsai o pySr yer onhs engaged in surveying the
ha 0y yoor, IN which Hobson was first confined and
witch looks out upon the sea is eagerly sought BY
ali Americans II is now bare OF all furniture. but
has a clean new coat Of whitewash, as has in,
upon the uppermosi hattementS upon o d Eva
harhor spreading before one the bay stretching
six miles beyond TO the city. the sight upon an
only the more striking features which command
On the same side as MORO about three hundred
yards beyond and divided only by small inlet
of approach IN the steep MI TO MORO Is located
the Estrella fort. extending from the water-ne up
The former on the opposite side from Moro and
a little further up the channel Is La Socapa
the harbor which was mounted with Krupp guns
The great steamer Paris steamed slowly through
frHt M
Hobsons Merrimac which shows above the wafer
line only a ne be WTeck s of the S Mrac is the
place where the Reina Mercedes was scutted and
sunk by her crew when the guns OF our ships dis;
form out Of the water. having been raised by the
fee, passed through the vessel, OF them com
pletely wreckng her boilers: Her hull however: is
raised her estimated that she could be made fit
Merritt Wrecking Company's bin for raising her
several small islands. notably the Cayo Smith;
which is the Coney Island Of Santiago A small
do%n upon S Snd va Saes
and vilaa We next passed rock. apparently
Contains a small white shaft designed to record
duel duel fought by two spaniards, both OF whom were
Arriving in The main bay We came upon on nae NAG
drawing twenty.seven feet, could anchor within q
quarter OF mile OF the docks. From the deck OF
Compass as bseksr 1oIri the blue line Of the
Sierra Maestro range iacloses as in a bowl the
The town covers the northeastern part OF the bay,
snHiir the effect was | very beauG on the
lower hillside surrounding the harbor. hockhouses
spaniards for signal stations and for defence
Every one asked how i was possible for the
under and within FIVE hundred feet Of their guns,
when the water-line also was defended on both
sides by masked companies OF rinemen concealed
in the bushes. Moro Castle was found. upon our
qakns possession to be mounted only with old
n abn To-
IN conspicuous positions so as 10 he seen from ne
La Socapa battery NAV have been too high 10 get
the range OF the Merrimac with her guns. and the
the MORO. l, is said that sampsc MS fleet did not
much fear the guns. although t,ose on La SEQ
capa battery must have been formidable, as they
were Krupp guns. The danger feared by Sampson
%ss from 9rped0eS IN the he harG0r eeL
About 1--WE hundred yards beyond Moro and
opens out into a large bay completely landlocked
and sheltered by the nils as is the main harbor.
The streets Of the city have been thoroughly,
cleaned as have been those Of all the Of her Span
ish cities occupied by forces General Wood
6 one Hundred miles Of road leading to the na papia
tons. removed the filth from the streets and pub
lie places. reopened the schools. reorganized the
courts had paid all expenses incident to this work
and had balance: W to December 81 last OF $3.50
tons IN his department. which comprises
fourth OF the whole island. He employs the ex-
day and their oficers as superintendents at 81 %
per day. Spanish money General Wood has had
no riots instructions. and trouble except
from a few bandits, and with them ne has made
short work. He has the fun confidence OF all the
old residents. and is entirely worthy OF all the en-
oomiums which his old friend and associate Gov
ernor Roosevelt has so heartily lavished upon
him All OF VINO in contact with Cen
eral Woodland ! had the pleasure of an hours
conversation with him I'm which he explained most
fully his system and methods-heleve him to be
pre-eminenty the for the place
OF course the principal objects of interest con-
nected with visit to Santiago the battle
feds OF FL Caney and San Juan As the carriages
OF the city were insufficient. General Wood kindly
placed at the disposal Of his visitors all the Gov
eminent aTnbulanCes possible. Our party had an
ambulance drawn by four mules and under the
intelligent guidance Of Captain Dyer we visited
these historic hills the bloody ford and the beaui-
Sul treaty tree whose trunk had been mangled
by souvenir cuttings. but is now protected by a
high wire fence The graphic descriptions which
we had all read Of these battles and their sur
roundngs made real and impressive Two
thousand OF our countrymen died by wounds or dis
ease In the vicinity of Santiago to save the honor
OF their country and 10 add to the renown OF the
American soldier Yours cordially
CHARLES STEWART SMITH