The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-03-04

darker than the average American
on account of the climate, hut
many of we Americans who tan
easily could scarcely be told from
Cubans Is we dressed the same.
They are as much caucassion as we
are, and they favor very much our
brunetts, of the South, who have
black eyes and hair. OF course there
are mixed breed, such as we see in
almost every town In Tennessee,
and then there is the black negro,
but there is the same social dlstinc-
ton here as in our country. We
have our good old colored Uncles
and Aunties in America, that we
are glad to have come to our homes
and see us, and so far az L can see,
it is the same here.
The army was, indeed, mixture
as no questions were asked as to
mans color when he offered himself
to fight for Cuban liberty and the
white and colored patriot fought
side by side.
The ways of the people here and
eur ways are not the same, but the
difference between the Latins and
the Anglo-Saxions explains that
and also the pitiable conditin of
poverty and slavery to which these
were reduced. The Climatic con-
ditions here are not conducive to
energy and they never will be as
energetic as the Americans, but
less energy is needed here to pro-
duce good living than in the
United States.
So much for the character of the
people from my point of observa-
ton. They are very human here
all the vices of Americans and
most Of their good qualities, modi-
fed by the the surrounding con-
ditions.
Now as to their condition aside
from morality, it can not be
painted too darkly. The starvation
and Wrechedness we found when
We landed cannot be exaggerated
and if any people ever needed the
sacrifice Of American lives and
American money these, people did
Our boys who lost their lives, OF
who do die here in Cuba deserve tt
have their names go down in
history as martyrs, for they are
as much so, as any missionary who
died while carrying the gospel into
the dark places of the earth.
| Tunas, as you will see on the
map, is sea coast town. We are
quartered in y long old warehouse
within twenty-five yards of the sea
and every night the steady swash
swash!! of the waves lulls us into 8
sweet and refreshing sleep. We
have had fish every day since com
/ ing here and one day had a big
stew of oysters. Some of the boys
are nearly always out fishing
Sergt. Broyles shot one fine fish
weighing about eighty pounds
which made the whole company &
| good dinner. The Sergt. also sho
a shark about five feet long. Sew
eral Allegators have been killed
and John McNeal has small live
one which he intends taking bach
to the states with him when hi
| goes. The sea bathing is another
enjoyable feature of our stay here
1t is very uncertain how long we
will stay here. Capt. Blair has only
been with us two days as his duties
keep him at Sancti Spiritus, so Of
course / have charge of the Com.
pany. Lieut.. Rodgers has, also
been in Sancti Spirltus for severa
days so 1 am now the only Officer
with the company az present, eX
cept the doctor, who is c0ntrac
surgeon, with the nominal rank o
a first lieutenant, that is he re
ceives the pay of that rank.
Only one of our boys is in tn
hospital, George Riddle, whose
home is out near Seaton. George
has lung trouble and the measles
which he took recently, has beer
giving him great deal of trouble
George is a good boy and has made
as good soldier as we have had il
the company and we all hope to se
him out of the hospital when w
! return to Sancti Spiritus. Corr
Guy Badgett and Ellis Stations
whom we left in the hospital a
Sancti Spiritus joined us yesterday