Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-13
From the Blockade Squadron.

John Fred Graham, the young man who captured huge shark recently, has brother on the battle ship Texas. He wrote his mother Il letter and through the kindness of John Fred, we publish the same in full.
 OFF SANTIAGO, CUBA, ON BOARD U. $. $. TEXAS, June 4th 1898. DEAR MoTu- ER:-I don't know when this letter will leave here, so will write and stow 1t away until there is d mail. We have nailed this Spanish fleet at last. After great deal of running up and down this coast, and an endless amount of Clear ship for action" and "General Quarters we discovered them in this place. The Dons are in and we are out. They have q very strong position and would be foolish to forfeit it, and come out to fight our much superior fleet We have kind of dress parade every night, and the forts throw a few shells at Us and we return the compliment at about four miles range. Nobody seems to get hurt and everybody covers them selves with glory. If our Admirais de eide to 20 in and get them, we are go- ing to have very stiff time, the forts at the entrance, land batteries further up. mines on the way and ships at the end will all combine to make lis re member our visit to Santiago. Their shooting is miserable. We were coast ing the other day and watched them shooting at the rest Of our fleet, the nearest shell did not come within 5OO yards of the New Orleans. l would not care if We could get some sleep, but di- reetly We turn in, ten to one if some body does not flash q searchlight on an old tin can and of course it k gen eral quarters" right away. Of course all guns are kept loaded at night, no lights lit. battle plates on and hose led out. so she gets pretty warm below. This doctor k afraid of this climate SD he makes things little more uncom- fortahlc for Us. Air bedding, clothes and buckets is his hobby. He goes around sticking his nose in all sorts of places and smelling and imagining ba- cilli hot house in every corner. This Captalu is all right, no bother or fuss, no drill. and quarters only once d day, any kind of uniform as long as it is clean. But the Executive officer is a little off He's very pleasant but wants lot more work done than the captain does The Captain will stop everybody working unless it is necessary. The First Lieutenant wants everything kept just H. if it was peace times. We sighted some smoke on the way down and of course Cleared ship" Every thing wooden is supposed to go over board. lto less en the danger from splin- ters. It was just before breakfast. The Executive had our tables and benches fired overheard, likewise our porridce. bacon, cocoa and bread. We call him "bcrzoo' Johnnie now. He knows it too. This was the first time we had eyer cleared ship in earnest Another night an old Italian bark caused great commotion, she made two thousand men turn out and dust for their stations in hurry. guess tGat "Dago' Captain was badly scared when twenty-four searchlights were turned on him I've were cruising with out any lights showing and a few blank six pounder shells were fired his Way. have splendid health and an abnormal appetite so l am not badly off. \ kiss 10 you and the baby and love to all the family.
 Your Atfectionate Son,
 Jos