The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-07-27
A KENOSHA SOLDIER.
CAPT. C. ]. SYMMONDS is WORKING
HIS WAY TO FAME IN ARMY.
HIS WORK IN RECONSTRUCTION
AS Quartermaster of Volunteers at Puerto
Principe He Has Done Work Which
Should win Official Recognition
Praise From a subordinate.

"A SI0db U0dI Las U00u WFlGG0u III 6u0
last few months in regard to the work
of Kenosha soldiers in the late war with
Spain, and while Kenosha bad no com
pany in the field it is evident that the
brave boys from this city marching
under the banners of other companies
have won for themselves a name and
have assisted materially in winning the
victories of the nation.
But peace has her victories and
glorious achievements as we'll as war,
and the recent news from Cuba indi-
Gates that one Kenosha boy is taking
an important place in the aftermath.
The stirring times Of war are now over
and the trying days of reconstruction
are now engaging the attention of the
army in Cuba. The Generals who led
the men upon the field are now the civil
engineers and the Captains have become
the directors of the work of making
Cuba, the f" Gem of the Antilles" a
suitable place for the residence of civ
ilized mankind.
Among these reconstruction heroes
no one is making more brilliant record
than Captain Charles j. Symmonds,
one of the old Kenosha boys, and a son
of Capt. Symmonds, now residing in
this city. The mention of the name of
Charley Symmonds will bring back
memories to all the younger men of the
city and they will be pleased to know
that their companion of a few years ago
is rapidly making himself a power to
the United States army in Cuba. A few
days ago Lanier Craven, who is at
present chief clerk in the Office of
Quartermaster Capt. Charles j. Sym
mOnds, returned to this country and
gives the correspondent of the Kansas
City Journal ia Washington some facts
which will be very interesting to the
friends of Capt. Symmonds in this city.
AS Quartermaster of the Volunteers
Capt. Symmonds is now located at
Puerto Principe, Cuba. The province
of Puerto Principe is the second largest
III the Island and in his quarters in the
old Spanish barracks in the city the
Kenosha soldier finds a great deal to
take his attention. While it may be
that his technical duty is to only look
after the distribution of supplies and
money, Mr.. Craven states that the
Kenosha boy is doing a much wider
work. He has taken real interest in
the country and is beginning the work
of making Puerto Principe model for
other Cuban cities. Mr. Craven states
that Mr.. Symmonds holds very i'm.
portant position. He says: =" We have
been spending custom funds to the
amount of $4,000 to $4,000 each
month in improving the sanitary and
physical condition of che country and
it's Inhabitants. There are 10000 peo-
pie living in Puerto Principe. When
our army took possession there the
place was in most deplorable condi-
ton. We have paved miles and miles
of street with granite blocks, put in
sewerage, renovated the buildings and
improved the place until il would
hardly be recognized as the same
place..
" Under the rule of such men as
Capt. Symmonds," says Mr.. Craven,
there has been great change in the
feelings of the mass of poor Cubans to
this country. The Spaniards used to
rob them of large per cent. of what
they made and at first they had ex-
pected sope similar treatment from our
soldiers. When they discovered that
an Americans word was worth more
than Spaniard's written contract the
people began to changs wonderfully in
their attitude towards the Americans.
The average Cuban is little more than
a child in his ignorance He is that
sort of a fellow that an officer can kiclz
him and he will turn around and smile
and say very good but he will stick
knife into chat same officer if he finds
him asleep and unprotected. Butthey
can hardly be blamed after what they
have suffered at the hands of Spanish
officers, civil and military"
Mr.. Craven said: "The business
men and laborers are in favor of an
nexation because they want protection
and pay for their work. The Spanish
element on the Islands want annexa-
ton for the sake of preservation The
professional men are mostly in favor OF
Free Cuba because they want pro
fessional jobs"
In concluding his interview Mr..
Craven said: While the outside
world has not heard much of US, our
army is doing bigger job in the way
of practical philanthropy than any
other organization in the history of the
world Gen. Carpenters right hand
man is Capt. Charles Symmonds,
Quartermaster of the Volunteers and
First Lieutenant of the Seventh Cav
airy. The government will never know
what it owes to him for his tireless en-
ergy and ceaseless efforts in superin