River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-08-04
FROM CUBA.
Frank E. Barnes to His Parents

GUANTANAMO, July 10, '9S.-We are
having hot times down here. / am
now on a steam launch and was up the
river last night under the Spanish
fort. They fired a solid shot at us
that made a hole in the awning over
our heads but hurt no one. 1t made
us think of sweet home for minute.
The steam launch is ANAL boat l6 TT.
long. 1t carries four men and 3 Id.
rapid-fire gun. We carry floating Ian
terms and put them lighted on the
water at night to deceive the enemy
as to our location. The SpaniardS fire
at the light while we are quarter OF
mile way. The launch is a scout
ing boat and is usually carried on the
ship. We 90 up the river every night
and reconnUitre. We have been with
in 900 yards of the fort and not been
discovered. There are in the bay at
present, the Oregon, Dixie, Wasp
Hornet, Texas. Rogers, Ericsson, Yale,
DUPONT. VeSuvius, Vulcan, Indiana,
Massachusetts and Annapolis. A Span
ish Butter was down to the Marble
head with flag Of truce this morn
ing, but we have not learned its OBJ
ject. | was on shore yesterday where
the marines and spaniards had the
fight and saw the dead bodies and
tried to get a skull but they smelt too
loud to approach near enough. 1t
was hard sight. On the 10Th we
bonn barded the rifle pits with the
launch gun and routed about 80 Span
iards. We captured row boat load
ed with salt and towed it to the Nul-
can, for which we will get SO each,
prize money. The Spanish fleet is all
gone. | intend to go over TO the Ore
gon, which is about 1919 yards from us
to see Henry Jensen if | get chance.
When you see John COpley tell him |
saw his nephew on the Franklin at
Norfolk the 25th of June.
GUANTANAMO, July "a, 1898.
Your letter of the 18th received
O. X. Was very glad to hear from
home. You ask if we saw the
battle of the Sd. Yes, we were lin
it," On that morning our ship was
off the Moro. AS the Spanish ships
of which took effect. We followed the
Oregon and Brooklyn. AS fast as the
Spanish ships caught fire the Spanish
sailors took off their clothes and
swan for the shore. The Cubans
were all along the shore and as the
Spaniards came out Of the water the
CubanS cut off their heads. We had
to fire on the Cubans with rifles from
the launches to drive them away from
the unarmed Spaniards. We were
sent on launch and ordered to fire
on the Cubans and killed about half
a dozen. 1t may be that l shot a
Cuban-but it is all the same, as they
are as bad as the Spaniards, if not
worse. The Cubans are like our Ind
ians, a worthless set. The Spaniards
fired a good many shots during the
battle but did but little damage. We
had a solid shot cut our anchor chain
in two but did no other harm. The
Vulcan is a machine shop boat and
has about 50 machinists on board.
She can fight little as she is armed
with six-inch guns and SIKH rapid
fire guns.
| have seen a good many CHASTITY
things here. | was on board both the
Spanish torpedo boats and saw dead
men lying around all over. We have
avenged the Maine. | send you some
leaves of a Cuban tree. | am having
a good time and am in good he alth as
are all our men. Remember me to
Messrs. Pratt, Chinook and Lord,
and all other inquiring friends.
For SALE. "A two-story brick
building, located on the corner OF
Main and Maple streets. Inquire OF
Mrs. Albert L. Drewke, on premises,
Rjvpr Falls Pierce county, Wis