Cleaning Out Wells

CLEANING OUT WELLS

About the First Work of Co. A in Cuba.

AN INTERESTING LETTER From Lieut. John Haarer of This City Is Not in Love With the Cubans.---A Description of Cienfuegos and of the Ruined Health Resort Amaro Where the Boys Are Located.

Secoud Lientenant John W. Haarer, of Co. A, 31st Michigan, writes from Amaro, Cuba, under date of Feb. 8, giving the following entertaining description of Cuba, starting with a description of the land locked harbor of Cienfuegos, where the troops first landed: The entrance to the harbor, along the neck, is very beautiful and picturesque. There are several little villages which with their quaint houses with red-tiled roofs, palm trees, and pavilions, look more like a scene from a picture book than a glimpse of reality. The first battalion was the only one to land and proceeded at once to Rodrigo. The second and third battalions landed the next day, the second following the first on Friday morning. Our battalion was the only one to remain and we pitched our shelter tents on an open square near the harbor and about six or eight blocks from the center of the city, so we had plenty opportunities to see the place.

Cienfuegos has somewhat over 20,000 inhabitants. I did not see a new building in the place and the style of architecture is entirely different from anything seen at home. Very few buildings are over two stories high. Many have a nice colonade in front. All come right to the edge of the sidewalk and there is no garden, each building adjoining the other. The windows are all barred, which gives it the appearance as if everybody lived in jails. There are no window panes, only curtains and shutters.

In the center of the city is the plaza around which the leading buildings are located. As a rule the city is very dirty, the streets along the outskirts being extremely filthy. In fact a state of affairs exists in some portions which I can not describe on paper. There is no system of sewerage, the only scavengers being the countless thousands of buzzards. As no one molests them they are very tame and are seen everywhere.

Though our Spanish is somewhat limited we know enough to ask for all the ordinary necessities. If we remained in a city I dare say the most of us would be able to acquire a fair knowledge of the language. Among the ignorant Cubans though one can never learn it as they cannot speak it correctly themselves. None of us have any love for the Cuban. The Cuban has no distinct type, but is mixture of Spanish, Indian and Negro blood, the one or the other as a rule predominating more or less, so that while some are nearly white, others are coal black. The more Spaniard there is about him, the better. The majority of the Cubans are a lazy, dirty, good-for-nothing lot, and we are all sorry that Spain could not rid the place of them. Armed Cubans, soldiers and guerrillas are met all over. They prefer that life as it is so much easier than working.

In Cienfuegos there were hundreds of Spanish soldiers ready to embark. We were on the most friendly and sociable terms with them. The Spanish residents were also very agreeable and seem to be glad that American troops are here for it assures business stability. Our battalion left Cienfuegos for Rodrigo on Sunday. It is about 60 miles by rail, and consists of about 30 thatched huts. Tuesday morning our company left the regiment at Rodrigo and marched three miles to Amaro where we set up camp. You will find Amaro on the map but there is nothing here but the ruins of a few buildings and a hut inhabited by a Cuban who takes care of the plantation here. At one time this was a health resort, where the wealthier class came to take baths and drink mineral water.

The baths in the bath house are still in a good state of preservation and yesterday we cleaned them out and have three in working order. There is one large beautiful bathing tank lined with colored and figured porcelain tiles. We also emptied and cleaned out a well 40 feet deep and about six feet in diameter. It is hewn out of the solid rock and had 30 feet of water in it. There are at least a dozen fine wells here. Only the remnants of what was formerly a fine plantation still exist. There are orange, lime and coconut trees and banana, and pineapple plants. Some of the fruit is ripe but the majority still green. The soil is very rich and everything grows in rank profusion. The climate is fine, for though it is hot during the day it is never sultry, while the nights are cool. The only drawbacks are the bugs and mosquitoes, but I suppose we will soon get used to them.

This morning Co. B joined us and the rest of the regiment will follow as soon as a camp is staked out and the water supply is sufficient. With the exception of a few of the boys everyone seems to be feeling fine and in the best of health. All are enjoying themselves. If we are not kept too long and remain in good health this will be a great experience. After we are thoroughly settled I think the regiment will be split up and detachments sent around in the adjacent country. All seem to be of the opinion that the time will come when there will be trouble with some of the Cubans. We are certain that they watch our every move and at night we can hear their whistle signals. We have seen no signs of any starving Cubans, for all that we have met seem well fed, especially the little children, the majority of whom are a great deal fatter than the American children.

GEN. GEORGE SPALDING HAS BEEN APPOINTED POSTMASTER AT MONROE.

This Stirs Up the Ypsilanti Postoffice Candidates Who Are as Thick as Bees.

The name of Gen. George Spalding, the present congressman from this district, was sent to the senate Wednesday by President McKinley as postmaster of Monroe. The appointment at the present time comes as a surprise to the politicians as it had been understood that the term of Postmaster Crampton would not expire for several months yet and that the appointment would be made after Congressman Henry C. Smith had taken possession of the congressional seat and might have something to say about the appointment. The Washington correspondents say that the appointment was brought about by the Michigan senators with the consent of the congressman elect.

Congressional committeeman Helber last evening expressed surprise over the nomination and gave expression to his disgust of what he termed the hoggishness of the Spalding family. This sudden appointment is stirring up the Ypsilanti candidates for the postoffice and fear is exposed in certain quarters that Spalding will attempt to fill that office before his term as congressman expires even though Postmaster Bogardus, who has made a very acceptable postmaster, has a number of months of his term left yet.

A Ypsilanti politician in the city today says there are more postoffice candidates in that city than there are hairs on a dog's back and that if Gen. Spalding sees fit to make an appointment, the present register of deeds, George Cook, will not have as much of a cinch as he might were the appointment left for the congressman-elect to make.

SHE THANKS GOD.

Gratitude of a Woman Recovered From Suffering. The Agency Employed to Bring About the Change Declared to be " A Blessed Thing."

Boston, N.Y., Feb. 13---Terrible backache and sleepless nights rendered life almost unendurable for Mrs. Philip Weber of this place. The good woman, however, found a cure, and she praises God for deliverance from her awful sufferings. Mrs. Weber says: "I must say this much. Dodd's Kidney Pills have been a blessed thing to me. I have no more backache and I rest good nights, which I thank God for." Thousands of men and women are suffering untold agony with a perfect remedy in sight. The medicines they have tried have all failed, and the sufferers have resigned themselves to a cruel fate. To all such we say, don't give up. Dodd's Kidney Pills will cure you, if you will use them. They are the only sure remedy for Backache, Rheumatism, Female Weakness, Dropsy, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Gravel, Stone in the Bladder, and all diseases arising from disordered kidneys. Dodd's Kidney Pills are sold by druggists at 50 cents a box, or six boxes for $2.50. Sent by mail on receipt of price by Dodd's Medicine of Buffalo, N.Y.

If You Will Leave Detroit at 6:30 p.m. in Sleeping Car over Michigan Central Railway, you will arrive in Pittsburgh next morning at 6:50, going through without change via Toledo Union Station and Mansfield over Pennsylvania Lines. Direct Union Station connections fast Pittsburgh for Harrisburg, Baltimore, Washington, Philadelphia and New York. For further information apply to F.M. BUSHONG, T.P. Agt., 166 Griswold St., Detroit.

A Hot Time in a Bath Tub.

Capt. Schuh is very fond of a hot bath, especially when the thermometer is below zero. Last Sunday he planned to have a good one, as a sort of a preliminary to the coming Bryan reception. He got into the tub but by mistake only turned on the steaming hot water. It struck his broken right foot but did not stop with that. Now the celerity of the captains' movements and the contortions he went through with in vacating that tub would cause the professional gymnast to turn green with envy. He sells sewing machines and was until he broke his foot a good deal of an expert in paddling a machine. But since breaking his foot he has not been able to tread the machine at all until since his Turkish bath of last Sunday. He is now able, however, to tread or to sell a good sewing machine competition with cheapest or to make a good machine out of any old thing. 

Now is your time to place an order for monumental or other cemetery work to insure setting early in the spring before Decoration Day. Call and examine stock on hand and look over my lately received modern designs. JOHN BAUMGARDNER, Ann Arbor Electric Granite Works.