The age-herald., 1899-02-10
CAPTAIN WALKER
 TELLS OF SANTIAGO
He Has Resigned and Will Prac-
 tice Law.
OFFICER IN FIFTH IMMUNES
How Americans Enjoy Themselves Dancing With Spanish Senoritas- Souvenir Hunters Stripped the
 Battlefelds of All Relics.

.The Fifth United States volunteers are in excellent condition, all things consid- cred" said Captain W. M. Walker of that regiment, who has just returned from San tiago, where the regiment is stationed. "Of course the inactivity of garrison life is very monotonous, and at times grows very disagreeable, but we haven't been in nearly so bad a fix as are some of the regiments that are stationed off in the interior towns, where they haven't thing to do, day in and day out, but lie up in their tents out of the sun. We arrived in Santiago about the middle of August and at that time the whole city was torn up with the departure of the Spaniards and of the regiments com posing General Shafter's army, who were leaving for Montauk Point. Everything was in great confusion, as be imagined, and for a month or more we fared very badly. Since that time we have been very fortunate, however"
 Captain Walker refused to discuss the 'embalmed beef" question, which is being so much discussed in this country He did say, however, that it was very hard to keep meat in the extreme heat of the Santiago climate.
 He Has Resigned
 Captain Walker has resigned his position in the army, and will resume the practice of law in this city. He Is now waiting for his resignation to be accepted in Washing ton. He says that it is the prevailing opin- ion in Santiago that 1t will be only three or four months before the whole regiment is brought back to the states to be mustered out. This opinion is based on the presi- dents statement that he would have the volunteers mustered out as soon as regulars could be obtained to take their places. Speaking of other officers in the regiment he said that Chaplain Simpson and his wife had returned from Santiago on the same transport with him, and that they were nov stopping short time in Tennessee before coming to Birmingham MT Simpson has not resigned his commission, as has been reported
 Four officers have resigned since the regl- ment has been in Santiago-Captain Whita- ker, of Louisiana; Captain Walker, of Ala bama; Lieutenant Whitehead and Lieuten- ant Jennings, of Mississippi. Lieutenants Crossland, Trainer and Tom Anglen have been promoted in their places. Lieutenant Wright, of Washington, has taken Captain Walkers place.
 
 Captain Shelley was ordered back to his company, he having been detached ser- vice for several months taking provisions to the Cubans in the interior and along the coast, and attending to other missions. The government stopped giving the Cubans free rations about Christmas time, and since then they have had to shift for themselves. Lieutenant Norman Jones is se--- in con- ' mand of a big pack train, taking provisions to the regiments in the interior. Since Lieutenant-Colonel Wiley returned to Alabama several months ago, Captain Captain Vardeman has been in command of the First battalion.
 Lieutenant Claude Allen is on detached duty in the city looking after Red Cross supplies. Captain Shields is in the depart ment which looks after the special license taxes in the city. These and other officers serving in the city have rented one of the handsomest houses in Santiago where they keep bachelors quarters.
 Gave Dance
 "A short time before left, these officers gave dance," said Captain Walker. "They had the band of the Fifth infantry and Gen. eral Garcias Cuban band to make the mu- sic for the occasion. As their guests, these
 
 ladies who were visiting in Santiago, a number of the Spanish and Cuban senoritas, and number of other officers. First the American band would play spirited two- step, which the Santiago belles could not dance very successfully. Then the Cuban band would play of their peculiar waltzes, which we danced about as poorly l suppose, as they did our dances. The officers have some very enjoyable enter- tainments down in Santiago"
 Captain Walker says that the weather in Santiago was even in the middle of winter very warm, the thermometer ranging about Ss or 90 in the shade. But at night it was very cool and pleasant, blankets being nec- essary for comfort.
 Adventurers Seeking Fortunes
 He says there are a number of specula- tors and adventurers continually arriving in Santiago, with hopes of making fortunes in short order. But so far he hasnf heard of any being made. There has been no very decided increase in the value of property and the citizens have so nearly resumed their former habits and customs that there is not much to be made in trading The impression in Santiago, he says, is that tht