The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-07-28

troops.
Some Cuban general, did not find out
his name, promised to the officer who
landed the first troops an elegant silk
Cuban flag, and the midshipman who had
charge of our boats received it. There
was a race between ours and the New
York's to get it. The New York is flag
ship now, you know. We are under Ad-
miral SIMPSONS command, who had the
nerve to come here after Commodore
Schley had run Cervera's feet into Santi-
ago harbor and take command. There
was great deal of hard feeling among
the crew over it, but Schley, like the gen.
tleman that he is, obeyed SIMPSONS or
ders without a murmur. There isn't
man in this whole ship but what would
give his life for Schley if necessary. He
treats his men as if they were somebody
not man in here has word to say
of this Cuban general. AS our boats
neared the beach, with the New York's
right behind US, both the ''middies" who
had charge Of each boat jumped over
board and made for the beach. Mr.. Hal
ligan of this ship reached him first, and
grasping him with one hand, the flag with
the other, turned waving it, with the cry,
"Three cheers for the Brooklyn" They
were given with will by our boats crew
and the troops. There was one thing
rather noticeable about this Cuban, for
he wore neither pants or shoes. A coat
and ragged pair of underdrawers was all
he possessed. When went ashore l had
on shoes, stockings, underclothing and
everything when | returned to the ship
had nothing but pants and blouse, which
I could not very we'll give away. There
wasn't half the Cubans who had parti-
Gle of clothing. think / would like to
live here in Cuba. There is fruit of ev-
cry kind. Cocoanuts, bananas and man.
goes were something elegant Every
body was gathering curios. | got one
thing | value rather highly. 1t is a ma
chete, a sword or knife the Cubans carry.
1t is about two feet long and one and one
half inches wide with one edge, with a
bone handle about three inches long, and
also a scabbard and belt, the most MUIR
derous looking thing Imaginable Will
send it home as soon as | arrive in New
York City, which 1 think will be very
soon now.
AS you probably know before now, we
have destroyed Cervera's feet, and expect
Santiago to surrender any minute, as
Shafter is fighting now. l am sitting
here on deck writing and can hear the
firing on shore, while our ships occasion
ally send an ei2ht-inch shell into the
city. Our admiral knows just how the
battle is going on, as the army has signal
boys, or men, stationed on the beach,
signaling to the ships. News he gets by
telegraph right from the field. There is
nothing slow about the Americans, as
they have telegraph stations and post
offices open around Santiago already.
Well, will tell you about the last fight
we had, and you can judge for yourself
whether Schley or Sampson ought to be
made admiral. Sunday morning, July
Sd, while we were at quarters, at 9.45,
after going through our regular duties,
and were about to be dismissed, the man
in the lookout at the masthead sang out
that he saw smoke at the mouth of the
barber. Our navigator, Mr.. Griffin, who
was officer of-the-deck that morning, was
feeling rather cranky about something
and told the lookout, "He didn't know
what he was talking about" The fellow
In the lookout, who, by the way, was ar
Irishman, answered, 'Sure there is, fol
there is ship coming out of the harbor.
Instantly the officer of-the deck sang out
"Clear ship for action J" In less time
than it takes to tell it every man was al
his station, cheering for all he was worth
for we all knew that Admiral Cervera's
fleet was at last coming out, just what
we had been waiting for since the 28th o.
of May. First, the flagship, Maria Tere
sa, and heading due west, went right
straight for US, we being just a little tC
westward of the haTbor. Santiago har
Dor Is only wide enough for one vessel tx
come out at time. The nearest ship t.
us at the time was the Oregon. TIL
Iowa (battleship) being on the east winl
and nearest to the mouth of the harbor
opened fire first. She was quickly fol
lowed by the Brooklyn and Oregon's
inch guns. Next, the Oquendo, then tn
Vizcaya and Cristobal Colon, all follow
ing the flagship, and straight towards us
Then came two torpedo boat destroyers
the Furor and Pluton, which headed GU
to sea, but they did not get very far be
, fore they we're blown to atoms by she
from the battleship Massachusetts,.
While this was going on the four cruit
ers, all our superiors in guns and every
thing, were all headed west at full speed
firing at US alone as rapidly as possible
while we were not very slow In answerln
them. We were soon under way, dOin
our best. Waiting for the other ships
come to our aid, we stood the fire of tn
, whole four for about thirty minutes, whe
the Oregon opened on them with hi
heaviest guns. Then the roar of the CUR
: and the shell buzzing over our heads we
something frightful. was so busy hell
! ing to load the guns that did not kno
: what was going on for the next ten mil
t utes, until heard everybody cheering
when, on looking out of the gun-port,
saw the Maria Teresa and Oquendo heat
ed for the beach, all ablaze. We Instant