Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-04-13
col. .wllls5 JONES INTERVIEWED.
Return Of Second Regiment South Carolina
E .5NE ..A Volunteers. lsE t.s

~ = rF
Return Of Second Regiment, South Carolina
Volunteers. =! a
| In an interview of Col Willie Jones q
commanding officer Of the I'd South
Carolina regiment, by the Columbia cor
respondent of che News and Courier, he
says .H.,
( Col. Willie Jones, commanding officer
of the I'd South Carolina regiment, ar
rived in the city Sunday night, after SEQ
ing that tho regiment was we'll quartered
in Augusta. The regiment viii be mus
tered out on tho 10th of the month, If
the present calculations are carried out.
The mastering officers are Lieut.. New
man and Lieut.. Frederick, and the books
of tho eascers arc now being prepared
for muster out.
Col. Jones Is looking splendidly, and
says that he ought to feel we'll after hav-
ing Cotton his regiment out of Cuba,
Col. Jones admits that he was very much
worried about tho men of the I'd regi-
mont He says that some tew of tho
rogularG ID Havana developed cases of
yellow fever, and two of his men were
put IN side tonts as suspects" and that
he was dreadfully worried lest the mon
might develop yellow fover, and If tho
disease had broken out in tho Damp he
did not know whore it would end, or
how the mon would get home. He says
that ever since tho hot weather set in he
has been working to havo tho regiment
brought back to tho States, because of
fear of disease and nothing olse.
Col. Jones said that tho present
strength of tho rogiment is $40, and he
thinks that is remarkable, and inoiden-
tally it may bo mentioned that it speaks
finely for Col Jones' administration that
during tho entire stay lin Cuba only
three mon In tho regiment died. Thoy
were Mckay, Trevtetto and Epting. Col.
Jones still has nine mon in the hospital
in Cuba, and ho is satisfied that all of
those there now will recover and Join
tho regiment, or be mustered out later.
Col. Jones said that in his opinion, as
well as that Of Gen. Loo and othor Off
GERS, tho I'd Sonth Carolina hal tho fin
est camp of any of tho regiments of the
7th army corps.
Col. Jones talked q lityie about tho
politics Of tho island, and il. his opinion
Con. Gomez will be elected President of
tho now republic. He says that tho
Cubans generally, tho army, the Span
iards and tho Americans arc all in favor
of tho election of Gen. Gomez as Presi-
don't OF tho island. Ho says that tho
Spaniards favor Gomoz's election be-
cause thoy think the United States want
it, and whatever the United States wants
is agreeable to the Spaniards. Gen.
Gomez is tho great favorite in Cuba, and
overy Sunday afternoon bands of Cubans
march through tho streets and 20 to
Gomez's home to hear him speak. Tho
American, Cuban and San Domingo flags
arc displayed in the parades. Gel. Jones
says that tho United States will give tho
Gomez administration trial, and if it ia
too expensive or is not satisfactory then
the likelihood is that thore will be ano-
thcr election Oh tho matter of annexation.
Tho election for President of tho repub-
lie is expected to come off in June.
Col. Jones says that as soon as tho
government becomes moro stable Cuba
will be an elegant field for Investment.
Tho lands are beautiful and fertile, and
Col. Jones thinks that money Is to be
made there. Farm lands, near Havana,
arc worth from 50 to So per acre. In tho
city of Havana property is exceedingly
high. The city has q large population,
and everything is very much crowded.
Col. Jones said that at the outset tho
military rules wero very rigid, and the
men were not given much opportunity
Of seeing tho city of Havana, but later
thore was considerable license granted
and tho mon were generally allowed the
liberty of the city.
Col. jones said that there was nevor q
finer body Of mon together, in his opin-
ion, than tho men of tho 7th army corps, |
under command of Gen. Leo. Io says
that tho members Of tho I'd regiment arc
all delighted to got back to the States, |
and for overy man in tho regiment South |
Carolina is good enough.
The health of the regiment is now OK
cellent, and thore is no sickness what |
ever at this time.
Immediately on being mustered ont of |
VIZ 'oA fiSo C',i' JULIUS VIII resume his |
duties as cashier of the Carolina National |
Bank of this city.
''Ino ultimate salvation of the island |
and it's people," said Col. Jones, "lies in |
tho retention of tho United States troops |
and tho continuance of q military govorn-
mcnt. Tho island has boon so COM
pletcly demoralized that tho people arc
untitled for government, and need the |
supervision of somo power sufficiently |
strong to Iuoll promptly tho first out
break of insurrection or disorder, and |
with disposition to do it without fear
or favor. My conviction is that if tho |
troops arc withdrawn or civil admins
tration substituted all the good that has |
been done will be nndono and Cuba |
revert to its old condition of lawlessness |
and i'll government"