The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1898-06-17
BERT BILLMAN.
Tells of the Excitement, the
Pleasures, and the Duties
of Newspapermen
On board the Hercules. the Dispatch Boat
of the Chicago Record.

On board the Hercules. the Dispatch Boat
of the Chicago Record.
Many of our readers will remember
Howbert Billman, son of Rey. Ira Bill
man, who for short time resided in
Yale. Bert, as he was commonly call
ed oy his associates, was very popular
with the people of the village. Having
received a college education his desires
leaned toward journalism to which he
took naturally. In 1890 he did the
editorial work of the Expositor, and
remained on this paper for nearly a
year. He has since been employed on
the editorial staff of some of the large
daily newspapers in Nebraska and Ill
nois.
Bert is Mrs. Geo. w. Aliens brother
and believing the letter will be read
with interest by his many friends here,
we publish it below.
Port Antonio, Jamaica, May 27, '9S.
My Dear Father:-All goes merrily
on board the Hercules, and tonight
we are steaming through seas as
smooth as the surface of pond to-
wards Jamaica, hoping-though vain
ly | fear-that we may be able to file
our news matter in time for tomorrow
mornings paper. 1t will cost the
Record u triile of S1.l7 word and yet
this does not seem SO surprising when
one remembers that the cost of main
tanning this boat for service during the
war and the accommodation of two
men is fully 50 900 q week.
Since ARRIVING at Key West the first
time from Baltimore, we have made
two cruises along the Cuban coast in
the vicinity of HAVANA, spying out
the land and observing the movements
of the warships. Last Monday even
ing we cleared again from Key West,
expecting to rejOin SIMPSONS fleet oil
HAVANA but he had moved to the
eastward, and we stood after him as
fast ms we could. Unfortunately we
ran into very rough weather in the Ba-
hama channel, and the trip was long
and wearisome one. We passed Cape
Maysi, the eastern extremity of the
island, this morning in n seaway so
rough that it was almost impossible to
keep ones place in his bunk. | am
told, however, that this is very unsea-
sonable, and the probability is we shall
not have u worse experience through
out our cruises.
But must tell you also of some of
our pleasures. Indeed, this is Just the
sort of adventure have always craved.
A suspicious sail or puff of smoke
from friendly quarter of the horizon
lends spice of excitement that can
enliven the dullest hour. Besides, we
have an occasional bit of sport shoot
ing at sharks and porpoises as they
skim along the surface of the water by
the boats side and | can testify it
takes n quick eye and steady hand
to bring them down.
Our greatest excitement, however,
comes in the regular course of our
business as war correspondents. AS
you know, these are times when
strangers are not received without sus-
picion at first even by friends. Al
most every day we find ourselves
checked by the frowning muzzle of a
six or nine-inch rifle, and in this posi-
ton called upon to explain who we
are. OF course, a few words are quite
sufficient to set us right, and then we
are permitted to go ahead. To-day,
however, we haye been in Spanish
waters, and | feared at ons time a por-
ton of the crew would jump over
board for sheer fright. We saw three
or four slight whitfs of smoke on the
horizon, and made for them, not know
ing, of course. whether they were from
friendly or hostile sources. When we
approached, one of the strangers made
for us, and we could not distinguish
him even after he had come under our
bow. 1t is amusing to think of the
various demonstrations of fright
among the crew, and the delight they
portrayed when they learned that the
immense hull blocking our way with
men at the guns was our own good
ship, the st. Paul, now the Harvard,
Capt. Sigsbee commanding. We bribed
this much ADVERTISED man with few
late papers and hurried on our way
rejoicing in the possession of some ex-
elusive news.
l will write you later in Key West
where you may address at Key West
hotel. Love to all. HOWBERT.