The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-03
Wax Talk Productive Of Much Incident
More or Less Significant.
WHAT Ex.cOAFEDEhAIEs WOULD DO
An Old Vet Expresses nm Emphatic
Opinion-Ono Man Who shuddcr.
ut tho Idcn of FiShtinS--rhe Piss
maj swamp and Cisterns ns PLACES
orRcfugc-Tnlk Of BcncGts.

TIE war talk Of the past two weeks
has been productive of much incident,
all more or less significant.
GA representative of the Nlrgiaian
was talking the other day with vet
cram conductors on the Atlantic Coast
Lane system. lie was q brave tighter
Tor the South during the late war, and
the principal conviction III his. mind
Just now is that the United States could
whip Spain i'll an incredibly Shor,
time.
These Spaniartls wouldn't be In It,"
Saih he and all we want is to get q
whack at them. There are some people
who love the almighty dollar so well
they arc afraid 10 get into trouble with
anoth country. We'll, we haven't got
any surplus of The almighty dollar
down here, and that considera ton don't
affect us much. II war Is declared
there will be many old veterans who
Will fail into line. They Will be the
irSt TO show up. Fight! why they Will
show the rising generation thing or
TWO about the game they haven't Learn
ed. This Is lighting country, any
way. believe We can whip the
world"
LESS sanguinc is a strapp'ag six
footer, who is one of Uncle Sans best
workmen in the Norfolk navy yard lie
was discussing the situation somewhat:
TREMENDOUSLY and summed up his posi-
ton thus: They will have to catch
me first, If they expect me to fight !
couldn't fight anyway. No sir! If they
put soldier on each side of me, and
one behind me with n bayone,, might
march along in some sort OF fashion
until some one said Spanish then l
would drop dead" Fortunately for the
reputation of the country for brave
men, this individual belongs 10 a linn
tied class.
1t has gotten to be quite a common
joke. though. for people to solemniy
assert that they are going to the Dis
NAL Swamp If war is declared Enough
people have declared their intentions
in this direction TO convert that famous
morass into Il human beehive, and
common form of salutation among
many is when are you going 10 the
Dismal Swamp" This is more or less
q merry jest.
a very small Brambleton boy-he has
just blossOmed out in knickerbockers-
has hit on even better scheme. He
has made his father promise him, if
Spain and the United States get to
fighting, to pump out the clstern in the
back yard, and lower his mother and
himself into 1t every day. also his little
chair He proposes to stay above
ground during the night though.
A jack tar formerly for two years in
service aboard the little torpedo boat
Stiletto, has just enlisted on the purl-
tan. IT'S the closest life in the world"
he said, referring TO his experience.
Sometimes we had TO fairly double UP
like jack knives. No man who has not
been TO sea in 4 torpedo boat knows
what 1t IS to be uncomfortable. They
are wonderful craft. This Winslow
here, is big compared with the S:iletto.
] have been over most of the world
land and sea. but the toughest expert
ence | ever had was on that little cigar
of boat coming down the coast In a
gale. The boys don't Ike the monitors
nVuch, but they are unmeasureably
roomier. There is so much more OF
them. After the first three weeks of IT,
they all swear that when they get free
they Will never go near n ship again,
but, when the time Is up. some way, the
temptation to enlist again Is almost
beyond them. I know how 1t is my
self. I've fought against 1t for five or
SIX years, but when the Maine Went up
anu HtaIu lHhl Uncle sam wanted
some m@n 10 take their place l couldn't
stand it any longer, so came right up
and enlisted like a little man. ! hope
we will have some fighting. think
the Puritan can sink anything anoat."
The interest the entire public Is TAX
Ing in the situation is evidenced by
the fact that poole still talk of little
else but "the latest war news" as they
call It, and the slightest information,
local or otherwise is eagerly grabbed
and discussed TO shreds When the
Terror left the yard about a week ago
the wharvcs We're suddenly black with
spectators. a salute fired in honor Of
Governor Tunnel. of Delaware, yes
terday had the effect of bringing
crowds 10 the riverside, the people
thinking that warship was going out
or coming in.
The interest is beginning to assume
4 beneficcn; guise. and 4 large number
Of Norfolk people have expressed their
desire TO contribute either to the fam
lilies of the Maine victims or to The
monument fund There has been talk
ole nf m,