The Newtown bee., 1898-08-19

READS INTERESTING LET
TIERS FROM A SAILOR LAD.-wAs ONE
OF TIE CHARLEsTON's MEN LANDED AT
GUAM.-sOME OFT A TRIFLE LATE,
BUT GOOD READING YET.
The following interesting letter was
received by Mrs Harry B. Gerdenier of
Bridgeport, who is at present sojourning
in Waterfowl, from her brother, Jack
Wetherbee, on board the U. S. S. Char
lesion:
Guam in the CarOlines Group,
South Sea Islands, June 81, 1898.
My Own Dear Sister, am going to
write YOU a long letter and give you a
true account of our first victory. We
left Honolulu l6 days ago and we ex-
pect to leave here on the 23d. We had
three ships to convoy out. Their names
are the City of Pekin, City of Australia
and City of Sidney. On our way over
here we steamed $500 miles and have
still 1000 more to 20 before we reach
Manila.
l have a fine job and like the ship and
officers. am myself a petty officer,
being the captains cOxswain. We had
target practice and the band played sew
eral tunes at sea. You have no idea how
terrible hot it is here. The trip was some
thing awful. When we left Honolulu
the captain broke the sealed orders AND
then We found out what we had to do.
They were to the tune Of something like
this Capture all vessels or destroy all
that fly the Spanish flag and proceed TO
Guam and capture the island" We
cheered and hollered till we were hoarse.
We got here on Monday, July 4, and
steamed into the capital port, but it did
not contain any ships or forts, so we
steamed to this place where three forts
had been erected to check US. This is
how we took the forts and the city: We
arrived off the coast at a. IA. and our
ships were cleared for actor, every gun
was loaded and everybody was excited,
but did not show it, for all we though of
was our dear old flag and home and the
Maine. We had to pass one fort so close
that the range was 100 yards, and had
my gun in the main top loaded and kept
her sighted on the fort while we steamee
up the channel with our decks cleared
and our flags flying at both mastheads,
waiting only for those towards to fire,
but none did, and we all waited patient
ly for that shot so as to begin. Then as
we ste AIMED past the first fort and got
within range Of the second we let q
three FOUNDER drive at it and it struck
lust right inside at 5000 yards. There
was no reply, but we could see the peo-
pie running, and as there was convent
there we did not want to hurt the in
nocent ones we did not use our big
guns; we Just fred about II shots at the
fort and they didn't give US any returns,
so we anchored and then sent up signals
for the troopships to come ir, as they
stayed outside while we silenced the
Spanish fort. Kit, have the honor of
being the first one to help hoist the
American colors on the Spanish soil of
the South seas. The captain went
ashore, and of course l went with him
aud so did our first huff and the three
war corr espondents and as the boat
landed at the fort VIC jumped ashore and
rove off the rope to hoist the fig on.
Then took the flag and made 1t fast
and rolled it out while the bUgler sound
ed colors, and we hoisted it to the breeze
and our ship fired q guns and the land
was ours. My picture will be in the
JoGrnal and Examiner and all over, as |
am standing alongside Of the captain in
four groups. We have GA Spanish SOL
diers and arms and six officers and the
governor and staff, all prisoners of war.
And now, Kit, when you get this tell the
people you have true account. will
write again from Manila.
Manila, July l, 1898.
Dear Sister, am writing this after
we arrived and we are now one of Dew
ey's fleet. We had fne passage from
Frisco. We expect to lombard Manila
July 2, and there is feet OF German
ships here who perhaps will try and stop
US, and guess there will be some fun.
We sleep at our guns, and they are load
GU hOW3 hhu CARSSe tAO CP0h4oANo
here pretty soon, but we will try and flo
ish them. We have nice feet of cruz
sers here and can give a good account of
ourselves. The wrecks of the nine
Spanish men-of-war are still in sight,
and the town is in fierce conflict now
between the rebels and soldiers. When
we were coming in the Baltimore met US
and escorted us into the bay. Now all
we want is the Monterey to come, and
we can stand anything. We are waiting
patiently for them. L am in fine health,
but it is awful warm. Love to all.
Don't forget to send papers.-[Jack
Wetherbee, U. S. s. Charleston.
Waterbury American, Thursday, Au-
gust IL, 1898.