The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-07-12

filed with beautiful flowers and palms
is chapel. Here devoted priest is
said to have slept on board with
another for his pillow just back of a
crucifx in a small alcove for 40 years.
A tablet marks the place where his
body was inferred. just where he had
slept. We also drove to the ancient
bridge on the edge Of the city. This
was built in 1900, so it is over 300
years old. It is so constructed appar-
emily to last through coming ages.
Street car tracks are on many streets,
but no cars have run since the 10-years'
war. Electric lights are used in many
houses and in hotels.
Ice is made but from refuse dirty
water, and, hence, cannot be used in
water or any food. It can be utilized
for freezing, and, by the way, their
ice cream is kind Of custard, favored
with nutmeg. Another dessert liked
very much was called dulce-grated
cocoanut, cooked with jelly to the con-
sistency of marmalade.
After we had been at the hotel three
weeks some Of the ladies rented s.
handsome mansion together and went
to housekeeping. Others have since
followed their example, aud quite an
American colony is now there. Some
have returned to the United States for
the summer, others mean to stay, still
more like myself, mean to move over
next fall.
A great deal of our time was spent
going to and from camp to the city.
The Eighth cavalry and One Hundred
and Fifty-ninth infantry camps were
very near, only separated by a small
stream, and they made big settle
nent of canvas. There was good
deal of typhoid fever and several
deaths. The camps we're the cleanest
ever saw, and so pronounced by the
inspector, who thought the fever was
contracted in the United States before
the troops went over. [ visited the
sick several times in the hospital and
felt so sorry to see the poor soldiers
ill and dying alone in foreign coun-
try. No loved ones near; no chaplain
or ministers to even read the burial
service or soothe their last moments.
One of the saddest sights I saw was
cavalry funeral. First came the
band mounted, then the coffin wrapped
in flag on the caisson drawn by
mules, then the dead mans horse,
draped in black with reversed boots
followed his troop and any friends who
wished to attend. When we reached
the cemetery all dismounted and the
body was carried to the vault, then
the officer Of the dead mans troop
read our burial service, tie band played
'sNearer My God to Thee exquisitely,
taps was blown and we left the Cubans
to finish cementing the opening.
TIE custom there is to inter in
vaults and rent is paid for certain
period. IF this is not renewed the
body is taken out and formally thrown
in the bone yard. Now they are
buried in trenches.
AS to temperature, the time l was
at Puerto Principe was very pleasant.
It was warm in the day but cool and
even cold some nights, and Mr.. Don
aldson wrote recently that blankets at
night are comfortable. The Cubans
say there is no difference between
summer and winter except nights are
cooler during the latter. White dresses
and thin clothes are always worn, and
no one except our people had woolen
dresses.
The cavalry and infantry bands come
in to play twice week at the Plaza Or
Park. There the Cuban senoritas are
out in all their glory, looking their best
in mantillas; thin dresses, ribbons,
lace and powder. The last named they
use in quantities, one could scrape it
off. The difference in appearance of
these bellies by night and day is mar
velous. Their complexion, toilets,
hair, etc., do not bear the light Of
day.
There are SO many mixed bloods,
from white, all shades Of mulattoes to
black negroes, also full and mixed
Indian blood.
One of the most interesting trips |
took was down to Sanchez immense
sugar mill and plantation. This is
about &c miles from Puerto Principe
on the railroad and six miles from