The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-15
Told by "A War Correspondent.

Souvenir gathering did not engage
the attention Of those in the army TO
any great enNtent until after santiago
surrendered: then everybody went att
err the curios and other remembrances
Of the campaign. The hrst and most
desired were maChetes. Everybody
private. officer and camp follower want
ed a machete. Buttons from the blous-
es of Spanish soldiers. cockades from
their hats. empty Mauser shells, frag-
ments of artillery shells. Panama hats,
Spanish coins. Spanish decorations,
medals and insignia of rank in the
Spanish army were things eagerly and
DANGEROUSLY n sometimes undigni-
nedly sought.
Within five days after the surrender
everybody had symptoms of souvenir
insanity. Almost every soldier n
many of the officers were carrying
machetes. wearing Panama hats and
filling their pockets with trinkets.
Some one has said that nothing is sa-
cred in the eyes of the souvenir seek
er. / thought his was true when |
saw soldiers bartering for the ma
chetes which their Spanish owners
were clinging to with evidences Of at
lection. But the Spaniard needed non
ey, and his machete was about all he
had left tina he could exchange for il.
| felt ii was indeed too true when |
saw our men dickering for the medals
n badges OF bravery and distinguish
ed gallantry on the breasts Of hungry
Spaniards. But hunger takes prece-
dence over pride and many of the
vanquished sold their cherished decor
atoms for a piece of silver. However,
American silver was worth nearly twice
as much as Spanish silver.
one young man of my acquaintance
Ia -. - -. lIn.ual h. a IAnR
friend To bring back TO him "A maChete
picked up beside the dead body Of a
Cuban on the battlefield. one with
which the fallen patriot had hewed and
hacked at the enemy until he fell a
victim on the altar Of Cuba Libre.
That's a beautiful souvenir idea"
he said. but seeing as only about three
Cubans were killed. and these were
struck with stray bullets while they
were hiding in the rear. ! do not see
how l will ever be able To accomplish
it" Then he bought a machete from a
Cuban who had been a Spanish volun-
teer.
Schmedtgen Of Chicago got a frag-
ment Of a Spanish shrapnel hat came
near putting him out Of action at San
Juan. He followed the direction IL
went shrieking over his head and found
il, probably accidentally. but II was a
souvenir De cherished.
Mcdowell Of Chicago had a tiny don
key that had faithfully carried his ra-
tions and provisions about as he fol
lowed the army. He brought il viii
him when he went into Santiago and
declared he would bring IL home as
his most priced relic Of the trying cam.
paign.
Souvenir ideas took an artistic form
too after the merchants in Santiago
opened their stores. This was NOR,
notably true in the newspaper men
They found that their campaign clothes
d1d not look well in the clubs and bet
ter cafes. aud soon after they appear.
ed in the white uniforms Of Spanish
officers. even 10 the buttons and tht
cockades on Panama hats.
Whigham Of Chicago was one Of tn,
first TO leave OF his brown OveraIli
and leather belt and parade the Plazs
de Armas in the fetching costume OF
a Castilian officer.
Those are rather swagger clothes
said one n was firing Of his own dill
aUfdated apparel
They are the only decent clothes on
can buy in the town" he answered
alphabetically. and then they make
good souvenir.
Then ] guess I'll have to buy som.
like them"
After that one had to be- acaualnte
with them 10 tell a newspaper MAJ
from a Castilian-
The %souyeni idea takes a more prac
teal urn in the navy. The officers q
the naVy are more successful in thi
pursuit than the enlisted men. on
young ensign who participated in IN
battle in which Cervers's fleet was de
stroyed said ne had got some fine sou
venirs % the event.
AS soon as the Spanish crews wer
got OF the wrecked vessels" he SAID
"a number Of the officers. including my
self. went aboard the Colon. We brough
v~alises. sacks and empty coffee bag
along. and we found enough stun
Ell them. ! found Cervera's silver din
ner set. Another officer saw il at abou
the same time and we divided Il.
think my share o. is worth about Sl.0Ol
I do not believe any OF the fellows /