The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-01

more before we are unloaded. We shall
land under the protection of the war ships
and the insurgents, so should experience no
into camp Immediately on the high hills
back of Santiago, where Ii is healthy. You
will probably not get this letter for some
portunity. You must realize without fear,
that there will be times when / cannot COM
municate with you for weeks, but think
that as soon we are located somewhere
the government will establish direct ana
frequent communication with US, at least
once or twice a week. We are now turning
due south, which proves that we are going
around Maysi and the extreme end of the
island to Santiago. We shall go through
the Windward passage, and will pass not
far from Haiti and Jamaica. We can now
see the Island of Inangua with our glasses;
but the latest signals from the flagship are
to go right ahead without stopping. we 40
not. expect to land right at Santiago, but at
some small harbor near there; and after
landing, locate somewhere back of Santiago.
FIRST SIGHT OF SIMPSONS FLEET.
Monday Morning. June 20.-I told you in
my first letter we had 1900 troops with US,
but was mistaken, as we have but 5000.
am the only representative of Indiana with
this whole first army of Cuban invasion.
There are two or three regular army OFF,
GERS who are native Indianians, but 1 am
the only volunteer of any kind from the
State with the whole army. l inclose a
little piece of sea weed fished out of the
water off Cape Maysi, at the extreme end
of Cuba. We are now (Monday noon) ly
ing Off Santiago, and with our glasses can
see the MORO Fort and Sampson and
SchleyS fleet off in front. The "Kananapa,
the New York Suns press boat, has just
struck out for jamaica one hundred miles,
and so | suppose to-day or tomorrow you
will know we have arrived in safety. This
is, II the correspondent doesn't make big
story and scare you all to death. You must
not be frightened by newspaper stories;
exaggerated
iy invented. We can't tell when we shall
get ashore and may lie here some time.
The weather is still beautiful, and has been
so for our whole trip, as well as cool and
pleasant. In fact. beyond being slow, the
trip has been perfect IN every respect. We
had little rain the first night or so, but
none since.
Tuesday, June %. off Santiago de Cuba
We are still on board the transports, and all
greatly put out that we have not been land
ed on shore We are heartily sick and tired
OF the sea, and disguised that, although
on board Our horses have begun to die,
and we have just thrown one overheard.
Last night at dark the osceola signaled
through the megophone to each ship of the
fleet in passing, The commanding officer
says it is very important to close up and
keep close together tonight" OF course,
that meant there was danger from Spanish
torpedo boats that might steal out among
us. This is not calculated to make us sleep
any more peacefully. Then, too, the weather
looked threatening, and the close proximity
of the ships gave cause for fear of COLI
SiCH SHOulu u STORM occur. however, the
night passed most peacefully, but we are
all most disappointed at still being aboard.
An event of Importance and of interest to
our boys was the visit of Gen. Calixto Gar
cha, commander of the insurgents, on our
boat yesterday.
We have just been all excitement over one
of the celebrated waterspouts sometimes
seen in the tropics. 1t extended from the
sea to the clouds, and was striking sight
1t was directly in front of Gus, and about
mile away. We felt somewhat uneasy as it
was coming our way but the Indiana fired
into it and destroyed it. The order has just
gone through the fleet g p. M that we land
going up all over the fleet
SAW THE BOMBARDMENT
Wednesday, June 22.-Since writing we
have run in about a mile from shore, and
are waiting to go off in small boats. Some
of the infantry from other boats have al
ready been landed The war ships are pro-
tecting the landing of the troops, and be-
fore we began to disembark they lombard
ed the place where we are to land, the town
of Baiquiri and the Spanish blockhouses
and forts in the neighborhood. 1t was a
magnificent sght-all the big war ships
were booming and we were close by and
could see the big shells as they struck
When a good shot was made a great yell
from the troops would go up all over our
fleet. The bombardment continued all along
the shore for some time, and drove away
all the Spanish troops from the blockhouses
at least, we can see with our glasses no
signs of them left. Some houses and the
railroad bridge in the town were set on fire
by the shells and are still burning. BaiQuiri
is small town sixteen miles from San
tiago. We shall land here and march some
where near Santiago and go in camp. We
shall not take our horses off for several
days yet, SO we shall have TO foot it, Off
GERS as we'll as privates. don't enjoy the
prospect, as we carry. our blankets, rubber
coats and knapsacks filled with three days
rations. This, together with my pistols
sword and field glasses, make. pretty good
load for me for a sixteen-mile march. We
each draw as rations hunk of raw bacon,
some bareback, ground coffee and sugar,
and tin cup This is all we shall have for
several days, as we shall take neither horses
nor wagons off to-day, we can take little
with us. and tonight will sleep on the
ground. However, all are enthusiastic and
anxiousy waiting for the opportunity to
go on shore. Willie will stay back with the
horse. We hear some rifles firing on the
shore, but don't know whether it is our
landed men and the Spaniards or the insur-
gents and the Spaniards. l have a chance
to get this letter off suddenly on news
paper dispatch boat to Jamaica, and only
have a minute to close it. We expect to
land yet to-day.