Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1905-03-14


verence and awe through His works to
the God of Nature and believes in the
words they speak to us
The hand that made us is divine
Lately dove with Perry and DR.. Lip
pitt to one of the suburbs OF San Juan
which had a peculiar history. When the
English captured this place in 1897. after
a strong defence by the Spaniards. there
was company of African slaves organ
lzed who assisted most bravely in the de-
fence. Their service was so good that
their masters recognized it by giving
them their freedom and large tract of
land upon which to live. Their descen-
dants are still there. and many of them
continue to show the pure African color.
so black as to actually glisten like ebony,
but this cannot be SAID Of all. There is
very great mixture of blood on this is
land, Indian. White and African Even
many of those who clam 10 be Castilians
are SO dark and swarthy as to lead one to
believe that they must bear the mark of
Moors who once dominated Spain
Some OF the dwellings of the people are
very primitive, with no floor but the
ground, the sides and roof being made of
long grass or the leaves of the cocoanut
tree. 1t is not unusual to see the mistress
of the house lolling in a rocking chair,
while the pigs and chickens come and go
in the single room which makes the
home of large family. There are
doubtless many other occupants which
may be felt. if not seen, by visitor. such
as feas, etc. | do not speak from Elk
perience. as have refrained from putting
even foot inside one of those dwellings.
prefer the outside every time. Truth
compels me to say that have seen some
dwellings on the other side OF the Shen-
anoah river and even in our town. that
are not inviting to put it mildly. Rather
than sleep or eat in one of them. would
prefer to adopt the style of the wellknown-
Swiss family Robinson, and sleep in the
branches of big tree or on the ground
beneath.
When the English captured San Juan
in 1897, their attack was made from the
rear and even the Moro was starved into
surrender, But their occupation was
short as the yellow fever soon came to
the aid.of the Spaniards. and the English
after great destruction by this formidable
enemy, were glad to return to their ships
and sail away. The Dutch attempted to
take the Moro in 1925 on the land side. but
were repulsed and forced to reembark
TheSpaniards erected monument which
is still standing near the Moro on the
spot from which the Dutch were driven
in commemoration Ct that important his
torical event.
The capture of San Juan by the Eng
fish led to very great additions to the for
tificatlons of this place. A large amount
are most elaborate in detail. and moHu-
ment to the skill and energy of the Span
ish military engineers. The old records
show that this house. the Casa Blanca.
was the headquarters of those engineers
for three of four centuries and they were
still occupying it when the island passed
into the possession of the United States.
The Moro and San Cristobal, though
much behind the times now, were not
despised by Sampson, as he was at quite
a respectable distance from them when
he was throwing shells over them into the
harbor when it was supposed the fleet OF
Cervera might be within. If equipped
with the best modern guns and mortars.
they could still put up good fight
against any fleet. 1t is understood that a
large sum is soon to be spent here in new
batteries and guns as the importance of
this point. always great to its possessor.
has become greatly more SO since the
United States has undetermined TO make the
Panama Canal, and also insure its not
falling into the hands Of any other nation
in time of war. Once it seemed we must
have ST. Thomas, but all we need there
or elsewhere in the Caribbean Sea. or any
of the waters CT this part of the world, is
that they shall not be dominated by any
great European power.
On the night OF the 18th and 18th Of
February an amateur presentation of the
comic opera Mikado was given in the
theater in San Juan, which was very sic
cessful in every way and will be a great
help to the treasury of the free hospital
for women and children. 1t is very prob
able also that an appropriation will be
made for it by the Insular Legislature.
Great preparations are also being made
for the carnival which is always a great
event here, as it is ia New Orleans and
Mobile.
Lately spent two days very pleasant
ly, in company with Perry Lippitt. on a
trip to the eastern part of the island. the
only portion remaining for me to visit.
Starting from san Juan at SIX IN tie
morning, we drove by coach along The
military road as far as Cauguas, over
which Ihad already been more than once.
| From Cauguas we turned off to Hun a.
Gao, where we had at noon the usual
:. breakfast of eggs. coffee, etc. Al
Humacao met again more than one Of
the people who had been on the steam.
ship Coamo with me from New York
notably Mr.. Erwin, who had come here
soon after the American occupation, as Z
Congressional missionary. He soon be
came lawyer and IS now judge of ar
Insular court. The public square or plaza
of Huuacao is one OF the prettiest on the
island. its beauty being greatly enchanced
by some trees from Africa. the only tree: