The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-07-22
ON THE STERLING.
Another MankatO Boy in the
Navy Heard From.
This Young Man Saw Some Fighting
and is Enjoying His Seafar.
ing Life.

A A. Glotzbach has received let
ter from Mr.. Eggan, formerly of this
city, but who recently enlisted in the
navy. Mr.. Eggan was engaged in the
mandolin and either business, and
was burned out when the Odd Fellows
block burned. He writes from the
U. S. S. Sterling, Norfolk, Va, July
14th, and says:
Our mail has been delayed some
where down the line, and no mail has
come our way for over six weeks.
Since L wrote you last, we have been
to Santiago, Cuba, and seen among
other things the first bombardment
ted almost all the battle ships down
there, and had an excellent chance to
observe their construction and guns.
can conceive of nothing that could
be more handily arranged than the ar
rangement for loading the twelve and
thirteen inch guns. Everything is
worked with hydraulics. The concus-
sion after one is fired will knock a
man down block away or even furth-
er. The shell running over the water
will draw column Of water up as
much as ten feet-makes it look as if
the shell self is in the water,
From Santiago, we went to Guatat-
amO, Cuba. We steamed in with the
gunboat Marblehead, dropped anchor
and coaled her up. They handle coal
at the rate Of from ten to thirty tons
an hour While we were at anchor,
fire was opened up on us from the
shore. We have nothing larger than
six Founders, but we weighed anchor
and steamed in within 1000 yards, and
our six Founders let 60 as high as six
minute each for about fifteen min
utes. The Spaniards took to the
brush, leaving their guns behind. We
steamed back to where we lay and
dropped anchor again.
The next day we sighted the Panth-
er with $50 marines on board. They
were landed the same day, and at
once began burning small deserted
settlement on the beach, That night
they took position on hill on the
eastern shore, digging trenches for
exercise. These trenches were no
sooner finished than the Spanish at
tack begun. The fighting was kept
up CONTINUALLY without minutes
rest for forty-eight hours. They
didn't get time to eat or sleep. A list
was passed around to the several
crews on the steamers in the harbor,
and every man eagerly volunteered to
assist. went with the first batch,
but all We did was to stand picket
dGty SO they could feel secure sleep
ing.
We 60 to shore here every night,
and we are allowed every indulgence.
and we cant have any trouble. We
are told on ordering drinks that we
need not pay for them politely, of
coGrse). A man can't get back sober
to save his life without hurting the
feelings of his fellow men on shore.
They stop us on the highway and in
quire about some friend in the army,
who has gone TO the war. Oh, it's a
picnic!
would not be surprised tosee my
self On my way to Minnesotaas soon
as the war is over (perhaps an other
month";. 1t will be on visit for say
two weeks. will surely 60 to Man
kato. have become pretty we'll &C
climated, so to speak, and I will. l
think, enjoy immensely the balance
of the time / have enlisted for. l
hope you are satisfied with the work
done by Commodore Schley on the Sd.
We belong to his squadron, although
we were at Newport News. Va, that
day.