Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-25
TRIP or THE FOURTH
From Savannah Georgia, to
Habana, Cuba,
LIFE ON TRANSPORT CHESTER
Many Of The Boys Were Very "Un-
comfortable"
POOR FARE FOR SICK MEN.
Lenves from the Diary of the Special
Correspondent OF the Dispatch
The PrOpeIIer struck Something
Notes.
Notes.

N~-AA 'fFpiihNh't VI AH' Dt0HaitH.t
HABANA, Cuba. December 22.-I send
the Dispatch l2aves from my diary Of ths
trip Of the Fourth Virginia Regiment
from Savannah. Ga. TO Habana.
MONDAY. DECEMBER 18TH.
We left Savannah Sunday, and the sea-
which up TO this time had been smooth,
had become rough during the night.
Faces which before had been all sunshine
began to take on an ashen hue. and as
the boat began 10 quiver and rock, one
by one the men rushed 10 the decks with
peculiar gutteral noises. as II they had
suddenly begun to speak Chinese, and
soon those who had had breakfast had no
breakfast, and it became the same with
the succeeding repasts. Among the guards
there were frequent calls for The SUPER
numeraries. or extra men, to take tho
place of those who had fallen by the
wayside, and the new ones In their turn
often had TO be replaced. In every noN
and corner could be seen these way-worn
travellers. holding their heads es IL afraid
they might lose them, which evidently
they had done, judging from their eccen-
tric performances. one poor follow said
that If he once reached Cuba. he mover
would risk it back to the United States
Oh ship, as much as he wanted 10 see
the folks at home. He said that he
would wait for a bridge to be built
Much diversion was found In watching
the schools OF porpoise I'm their morning
drills in leaping. swimming. and rolling
Our boat kept up n good. steady run Of
II knots per hour, and in the afternoon
got close I'm towards the mainland. The
coast Of Florida, the Florida Keys, and
the Bahamas We're successivey passed.
This afternoon we had a fire drill Tn,
fire bell was rung, the fire alarm waa
blown by the buglers and the men were
marched 10 the upper deck by companies,
Just as deliberately as IL preparing for
dress-parade. They were then held stand
ing at attention. while the flames were
supposed 10 be raging and the ships crew
putting them out. Very probably Cassa.
blanca was taught 10 stand on tho burn
ing deck by the same method.
The night was beautiful, and all those
warriors who were not sick went up on
AAlt lbAN Ndiu Atfhs Miitft the moon and
stars, clothing every object 10 silyery
array, as usual. awakened seutimental
reflection. Some OF the Blues almost
Imagined themselves on one of their an.
nual moonlight excursions down the
James. But alas! IT fell fiat, for where
were the snow-whte fronts and gally-
plumed hemlets. which had given place =
TO campaign hats and blue fapnels, and
where were the merry girls who were
wont to accompany them on these jaunts.
Perhaps at this moment these girls they
had left behind were claimed by other
fellows. But no time for such sentiment
"Grm-yisaged war; is a soldiers mission.
TUESDAY. DECEMBER aTH.
We had started with overcoats on. These
We threw aside after being at Sea a day.
The "pitful short ratiOns' which have
been allowed tho soldiers prove poor
for seasick men, aud a good
many instead OF quickly recovering from
a slight spell. have been laid up through
put the voyage. so far.
For breakfast and supper canned beef
md hardtack and weak coffee are fur
nished, and for dinner n cup OF soup and
bareback must satisfy Us. great many
u the men refuse all but the hardtack
md coffee. as the beef IL very coarse and
the soup has n dlsagreeable flavor Many
II the men tried 20 buy food OF the cooks
on board. but could not. as II was against
their orders.
THIS afternoon. when about thirty or
0rty miles from Habana. the propeller
N the Chester struck some obstruction
nd snapped, jarring her from stern TO
tern. The engineer sprang 10 the throt-
le 10 shut on. when the nate shouted to
i'm that II was unnecessary.
Al 13o this evening the light from Ha-
ana lighthouse was sighted amid cheers
~ the crowd on deck. Soon the lights
I tho city appeared. and at o'clock to
he tune Of John Browns Body I>les
'-Mould'ring In the Clay" we approach
4 Habona. Moro castle looming ny ON
he left, while In front and all around 20
lie left the lights on the many piers
hone In our faces A boat was sent
shore with Quartermaster Williams and
lieutenant Church. to raake arrangements
bout landing. The Chester remained out
ide OF the harbor during the night;
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER IS-r.
This morning We steamed mp close TO
Zorro Castle. where tus took us IN tow.
ON PAGE THIRrEENl