The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-08
BART 5 BEST STORY
Wherein He Does Not BelittIe
the Spanish Foe.
HAVANA is A GlBRAL TAR
Uncle Sam Will Earn it Be-
fore He Gets II.

ments OF the blockading feet at Havana,
az follows:
on Havana, Cuba. June Is
Ny Dear Motner-We have just taken a
brig coming out of Havana harbor, so
here is a chance 10 send you a line
Havana is nearly as strong as Gibraltar
from the sea. They are erecting new
batteries and Strengthening old ones all
the time. The captain Of the brig just
taken says meat Of all kinds and -four OF
all brands are very high. and people are
nearly starved. He almost went crazy at
sight of a loaf of our bread. We sent
over to the brig enough for several square
meals all around The captain Of the
brig sent Us in return some ice and good
Havana cigars. These were prizes indeed
Oklahoma four companies may be sent
to Porto Rico, unless the army now form
ing IS inadequate 20 su6due Cuba. We
hear rumors OF another feet from Spain
but doubt it. a. they would leave their
coast unprotected should they send more
ships here. II Germany NEEDLES with
Manila, she will get into trouble that
all her great army cannot draw her out
OF. I have written too much 70 send this
on the brig. so must wait another oppor-
tuaity.
June 30 am now enjoying excellent
health. We are just now without a com
modcre, as Commodore Watson has gone
10 Santiago de Cuba on the Newark 10
collect a few ships for a suden dash on
SPANS coast.
Ask a blookader where and what Is Ha-
vana, and ne Will probably tell you it is
a lighthouse and a small sesrchlight.
bounded on the north by the great dip
per and on the south by the southern
cross Such is the impression he Obtain
from many nights OF constant watching
with no other visible land marks 1t has
been said that navy people lead fast lives.
Should these accusers ever have 10 stand
watch for four hours every night. eyes
straining through glasses and every fiber
at highest tension. in rain and wind and
salt sea spray. they would think four
hours four year and lifetime an eter-
nifty.
During the day the b!ockading ships
lie lazily under the tropical sun. drifting
TO the Gulf stream, but ever watchful.
The white city in the distance. looking
80 sleepy, is nevertheless very wideawake.
as anybody can see should a ship creep
up within range Of its guns.
Through the glasses myriads Of white
shirted soldiers can be seen continually
strengthening redoubts and erecting new
ones; work such that a sturdy American
could not stand for two consecutive days.
Where the Spaniards in Havana get all
the guns they are now mounting about
the city is a mystery indeed. II has been
reported that the guns OF Cervera's squad
ron have gone TO strengthen the shore
batteries Of Santiago de Cuba now that
Hobson's cunning cork scheme so bril-
lantly executed. has rendered those ships
well nigh useless; and very likely Cap
tain General Blanco has conceived the
same idea in regard 10 the guubosts
penned within Havana harbor just as Sc
curely by the bIockadng squadron. The
thought is depressing. yet well within the
range OF possibilities. that the Names
four turret lO-inch guns have been raised
and are now turned against Us. while
Spanish ingenuity has devised new breech
plugs 10 replace those so wisely removed
by Captain Sigsbee.
What enervating work Il must be 20
build fortihcstions under a scorchlng sun
on half a Spanish army ration, What
love Of country. or what official power
desperately applied. could produce such
results. Has the history OF Spain for the
past three centuries any page so bright
as 70 Indicate that the former reason heid2
The situation in the city IS desperate in
deed. From the captain OF a brig taken
Saturday coming out OF Havana it was
learned that -four is an unknown article;
all meats 81 per pound. and coffee 50
cents
A Cuban picked up along the coast by
one OF the blockading ships reports that
since the blockade was established 10
ship OF any size has left Havana hsrbor
and none entered except the small fishing
smack that came so near costing the
Vicksburg dean
Here !et sailor man say word FOR his
ship. which Is to him Ike the wives 70 a
sultan The Eunboat V!cksburg has
spent just fifteen days in port since ".
was declared. and the rest has not been
100 peacefully spent Her conduct has
beer such as % gam tor her among the
Others OF the bIockading squadron the
.o5riquet az "the hghtlng Ficks5urE.
The work continues. Ike agatiag fire with
hre--starving the s:arvers.
At Santiago de Cuba much the same
state OF affairs exists The f5Ter % oGr
navy les before her door. -atchtal "a
sphinx. lest The cork De blown from the
bottle and tire unique and highly prlzed
specimens of Spanish ship building Is
care. Bur here the ne- draws tighter and
tighter. xith ire emblem % liberty fog-
miles from ire city D. Lard. There lie
The Rough Riders. the pride q the eoun-
,ry. and OklaAoma's company the Rough
Riders pride Mo- Gar away are ne IA
rines. tAat plgcky - soldiers and saii7-s.
100 who buried many Officers ard nsa
n a week. but wao gave 70, al iaca
they had taken
waea ne history - tbs va = written
there viii 5e page as bright ~ Bunker
HI o. the marines a. Gunzntsnsno-
N re far szsi TIE nero % Asaiis seems
uxe,v . need ne txo monitors iz;e.y
ssst % s.reuEt.sn rs feet There are
evidences shat tae fingers ~ tae zzfle1
-s-s q Europ@ Itca ard fiags tor TIE
Pz.ls7pla@S Lei alz beware iss: ta.y
d 700 warn from TIE ate eTPios.o1 %
r,sEpv-s sneu and Trey zzs.i ;1s lror
saaz.ie. th1s disseminating tie 7o~sr