The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-28
An Abundance of Both Found in Vicinity
OF Santiago.

From the Forest and Stream.
As a member of the Sir Thomas Upton
war relief eomuittee. it wes my fortune
to pass about a fortnight in Santiago har-
Dor, and l employed a portion of my time
in looking up the game and fish. On
either side of the Yellow Fever Island
there come in two small rivers, navigable
in canoes for about five miles, Wheg we
reach the lofty mountains. The wtt4r is
cool and clear, and quantities of fine fish
could be seen. None was taken by our
party, on account of the lack of tackle.
The bushy soes contained sRipe, quail, and
guinea fowl in abundance. No hawks
were visible but the air was dark with
buZzards around about the city. The
hunters all said that the buzzards did no
harm TO the game birds or their eggs, but
were merely scavengers. The waters of
the harBOr are pretty sluggish. and the
bottom is covered deep with greasy mud.
but the sailors managed to catch some
fish enc day, including a big red snapper.
which were served in the Captains cabin
and pronounced excellent In the harbors
of San Juan, Ponce. and Santiago, the
gars seemed fairly TO swarm. These fish
ran from one 10 three feet in length. At
night there were many large fish about,
judging from the splashing.
One day party of US, including Cant
Alexander, Of the Rough Riders, went to
San Juan Hill on horseback, as there are
no roads in that part of the country
While the Captain was trying 10 find the
body Of Capt. Buck O'Neal of Prescott
AriZ.,, one Of his comrades who had fallen
there, the rest Of US wandered around in
the mule trails, now nearly oblterated
and grown up to bushes and tall weeds
From time TO time the sound of some
thing familiar would come 10 the ear, Gre
6ting the impression that a farmyard was
near "Buckwheat! buckwheatr was the
cry, and as We drew near up went score
Of guir ca fowl, the regular dark gray va
riety, with white spots on each feather
The birds didn't go far, so we employed
our time chasing them from place TO place.
In doing so we saw a lot Of quail. somewhat
larger than our Bob White These, too.
were very tame and would let you ap-
proach very near. The boys got out their
revOlvers and hlazed away. but as no one
had any shot cartridges, nothing came TO
bag.
The utter absence of airy venomous
snakes or insects made US all the more
anxious TO hunt all that evening in San
tisgO to get decent shotgun. More than
ever did mourn for my new Baker ham
mer gun. lying in its case in New York
City. How 1 should have enjoyed a glance
along that cylinder" Damascus right
loaded with "E. c." smokaless and No &
shot No one cared 10 try Mausers on the
game, aid as no amount Of persuasion
could induce Gen. Wood 70 loan his valua-
BILE dou5le-bGrrel, We had 20 give up all
thoughts OF hunting. Capt Brickley and
the Port Victor's doctor. AcClintic, both
vowed that their guns would be on board
.ext trip, and l expect 10 hear from IheEa
soon.
The dogs in Santiago are mostly short
legged hounds With long ears. This I
wondered at until ! learned that ;he
mountains ara fun OF deer. There is q
railway running hack 10 some iron mines
at FirneZa. thirty miles distant. where
there Is excellent deer hunting. The ami
mails are similar in form and color to our
deer. but are smaller. The flesh is excel
lent. They are killed BY still hunting.