The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-11

cost him twenty pesos. and he was as
happy over It as child over new
toy. But | was thoughtiess enough 10
tell him that there were S2-cm. ones.
and lie was inconsoIable. II will be ur-
dersteod from the above that the fad
was being paid for dearly; and as capt.
tai Is always made cut of everything,
many people made a business OF gath
erlng up and dischargius projectiles and
selling them. That was the cause OF
the unfortunate occurrence on board the
Trafalgar: a shell had been discharged
without the necessary care, and what
happened was but the natural conse-
quence. sa
Another monomanin o; this period:
As the Americans kept up the bonn
bardments all through the month OF
June. so that there hardly was day
when gunshots were not heard at a
greater or less distance, people were
hearing them all the time; the falling OF
chair. the closing OF door or win
dow. the noise of carriage wheels In the
distance, the crying OF n child-erery-
thing was taken for gunshots. and gum
shots was all that was being talked
about. When they finally ceased Santl-
ago had become so identified with them
that people almost missed them, and
were surprised 10 hear them 10 longer
When the American movement against
Santiago was progressing much was
said ABOUT the Importance to the garri-
son of the Spanish volunteers. 1t was
assumed that the volunteers TO the
number of several thousands must be
taken into account in the estimate OF
the strength of the defense OF Santiago.
Lieutenant Teleiro devoted one OF his
most interesting collections OF notes"
10 the Spanish volunteers and the part
they played IN the campaign. He wrote:
Although the comparison may per-
haps not be considered very apt, might
say that the month Of May was the par
adise OF the blockade, while the month
OF June was its purgatory, and the
month Of July its hell.
The appearance Of the first hostile
SHIPS before the Moro OF Santiago, as
the NATURAL result OF the war decided
upon by the government OF the United
States and accepted by ours. and the
noise of the first gunshots caused both
CONSERVATION and curiosity among the
Inhabitants OF the city: but as man be-
comes accustomed 10 everything, so the
situation, which at that time was, ir not
dangerous, yet certainly very ulpleas-
ant and disagreeable, was finally looked
upon with indifference.
The boats Of the fleet were constant
~ going back and forth between the
ships and the piers 10 supply the In
Vulnerable wants OF the former, and
gave to the marina an aspect 81 anima-
ton which 1t never wore in normal
times. The Alameda, where the music
OF the Santiago regiment played. as
usual, on Sunday evenings. By order OF
the military authorities, who were desir-
Gus of raising the spirit OF the Inhabi-
tants as much as possible, and the
Plaza de Armas. where the drums con-
tiaued to beat the tattoo every Thurs
day and Sunday. were always full OF
people. although so many had left the
citv, People fond OF giving sensational
news. especially those who took pleas
ure in inventins 1t. had a wide field and
plenty of mater!a! to satisfy their de-
sire; and any one having patience and
curiosity enough tc collect the news
floating through the city might have
written a very original and amusing
book.
The children we're playing war. pe!t-
ing each other with stones inside and
around the city, divided into parties. in
command Of Il Cervera OF ten summers
o. Sampson Of twelve Aprils
The different corps OF volunteers
were considerably increased by the
many men who came TO swell their
ranks. especially chiefs and officers: the
city was full OF sabers, machetes. stars
and GALLONS, and I believe not even in
Berlin, the capital of the most military
nation OF Europe, axe as many uniforms
seen as we saw in this city, usually so
quiet. Even the clerks of the custom.
house and employees OF the civil guard
armed themselves with carbnes and
macheteS.
And while am talking OF the volun-
teers will finish their history to the
end. which is not without interest.
after sunset and during the first
hours of the night the volunteers would
gather at the Alameda. which they fill
ed completely. divided into more or less
numerous platoons. which officers Of the
regular army. or their own officers. I'M
dcrtook 10 drill. and at the first gun or
the first blast of the busle they reported
promptly. especially the chiefs and off,
GERS. at the posts which had been as
signed 10 them beforehand.
Every night a guard OF twenty-five
men. commanded By an officer. occupied
a large shed OF the Alameda and placed
its scntinels, and from that time until
dawn the noise of musket butts Strik-
Ing on the wooden floor was constantly
heard. and by many people mistaken for
Eunshots. and the Who goes there? ad-
dressed 10 every moving object was an
evident proof OF the extreme vigilance
observed. and showed that 1t would not
be easy ID surprise them.
THE iiremcn were always on hand
whenever they were needed al the pier
10 take the wounded from the Moro
and Socapa TO the hospital on the
stretchers. and their energy. good will
and zeal can not be sufficiently praised.
"On the lst, I'd and Sd OF July, as will
be seen !aier. a large number OF volun-
teers hurried 10 the trenches OF the
third line. where they fought the enemy
like brave men. and where some OF
them were wounded.
Unfortunately after that day. with
n few honorable exceptions, the spirit
aaImating them underwent n complete
change; their enthusiasm became indif-
ference. their valor prudence: they left
the trenches. to which they never re-
turned. and exchanged the uniform for
civilians clothes and the gun or ma
chetc for the measuring stick or weigh
ing scales.
why this change? There is an en-
PLANTATION for Il. 1t is an error to sup