The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-07-22

city and are now camped on the side of the
mountain just east of the city aud have just
been working for all there is in us. The
first battalion, F, g, II, and |, are guarding
prisoners, working In hospital taking care of
the wounded, working on the dock unloading
provisions, and guarding the commissary's
stores. We do not at present expect to go
to the front as we can do nothing with our
Springfield rifles and black powder because
the smoke gives us away, so we cannot do
anything as sharpshooters.
There has been 4S hour truce between
the Americans and SpNiards; yesterday
there came an English warship which took
away about 200 foreigners and consuls
from Santiago. 1t is said that representa-
tives of all the powers are here to compel the
Spanish to sue for peace and the truce has
been extended, 1t is said, indefinitely.
Cervera's fleet came out of the harbor the
morning of the third of July and Sampson
was was out at sea lying for him sank
every ship, (six of them) the Vizcaya being
among them. Admiral Cervera and four
hundred of his crew were captured and put
on the U. s. cruiser Harvard. Yesterday
morning there was mutiny aboard her and
nine prisoners were shot and fourteen
wounded. The rest will get the same II
they do not behave. There are in all about
1900 prisoners here In Siboney. Yesterday
one Spanish lieutenant and six privates
were exchanged for the same number OF our
soldiers. This morning VIM. Beers, four
priYates from other companies and SER
geant went to Gen. Skaters headquarters
with prisoners for exchange. We are now
camping in very nice place right on the
banks of the ocean but it seems tedious to
think of the others out at the front guard.
ing corps headquarters, and we away back
here where nothing of any Importance is
going on, though hospital work is important
but am sorry it is necessary for 1t to be
done. Miss Clara Barton and several train
ed nurses are here.
have just finished dinner of canned
peas, canned tomatoes, fried hardtack, salt
pork, condensed milk and tea. There is
council of war being held at Santiago by
several representatives of different powers
so think there will not be much fighting
at present anyway. The flagship New
York and the cruiser Harvard now lying
about one-half mile out from here. have
been signalling to shore all the forenoon.
n nf hall q O
week ago. AS there is no chance to get
stamps and those which have In my stamp
case are stuck together, have to(as we'll as
most others) send them as soldiers letters,
collect at the end of the journey.
The following from a letter written on
the I'd by Harry Van Dyne to his mother
gives another boys story of how it seems to
the boys to be under fire aud to be shooting
at real Spaniards. The letter was written
from Siboney:
Well we have just got back from fight
Yesterday morning we went abOu. five
miles to a fort. We got there about nine
O'Clock and there were five men picked out
of our company to 60 ahead and find out
where the enemy was so the gun boat could
fire on them. We went about half a mile
ahead and then went upon the mountains,
and just as soon as we got up there the fun
began. They fred on US and we fired on
them, and then Sampson did his work. All
you could see was smoke and legs going up
in the air. Every one Of US got out all
right, but there were two men who got
killed and three were wounded. We lay
up there all alone and balls came up there
like rain, but they did not touch US. The
battle lasted about seven hours and then we
got on the train and went back to camp.
tell you we were tired out.
When we got back we heard that the rest
of the soldiers had a fight at Santiago and
they lost large number of men. So this
morning. the 9th Mass. went over to
help them out. and at noon the boys had
the city. of about 5000, and all you can
hear or gee is men shouting and throwing
up hats. That is the main place, every one
was afraid of 1t, but Sampson blew them
all to pieces.
1t is 80 hot that sweat drips all the time.
They are fighting today, l am In with the
sharpshooters, so have to 20 to the front
first When the first volley was fred we
we're hidden behind a rock, and when we
saw Spaniard he did not 60 very far. We
would drop them like dogs. They were
firing as fast as they could but they could
not see us, while we could see them, and
then we would take turns and see who was
the best shot. You could see them drop,
and it did us good. But the bullets were
thick and ] don't wish to see them any
thicker. l know what battle is now, and
1 am right In 1t. shot about twenty-five
times, but l don't know whether l killed
every time or not, but we could see them
drop. tell you 1t was hot time; when
those big balls would strike those forts they
would 90 up in the air a-fying. We took
all they had, so they are starving to death.
So you see they can't last long-I hope not,