The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-31

Troops
Forward

prodigious exhibition Of what vaude-
Vile halls call the warTaph" to Jour-
ney now from Broadway in New York
to the line of the Cuban BLOCKADE. AT
Washington it begins to influence his
thoughts. At Hampton Roads he may
have gone to = ball where the fort
and the flying squadron serve to make
it appear that to be a civilian Is to be
strange and conspicuous, and when in
the midst Of the revel guns booming
stops the music and the dancing and
calls the naval men to their ships for an
unknown duty. r
"Take good luck glass with me"
says young friend in uniform. "Now
goodby. Give me a cigarette. We'll
meet inside Havana" His eyes shine.
War surely means nothing save chance
to do noble things and be rewarded de-
lightfulE. That impression remains.
and down farther In Virginia, passing
through little city, one sees men
marching, banners flying and hears a
band playing. Then the train stops
somewhere in Georgia, at q junction,
and bluecoated troops, filing many
cars, pass by to Chickamauga or per-
haps- Mobile. They are cheered by the
gathered townspeople. Everybody is in
a mood which cheer relieves
Farther on some stalwart regulars
from a western fort are caught up with.
They are rather serious. as If there were
business ahead, and the sight of their
hrcxy,, foooo and d,,cfv cappop rive a
grimmer turn to ones fancy. Presently
it is militia again--Florida troops 60
ing to Tampa. All the women of the
town have turned out to see them off.
They have brought wild flowers, and
they are wearing light white stuffs and
pretty hats. But the scene is not gay.
There is not much talking. Anyway
one doesn't hear it, for over under tree
stands desolate figure, little bent
woman in black, holding very white
handkerchief in two clasped hands.
There is moro repose at Key West,
less Of the pomp of martial activity. In
the harbor several warships frowning
in their war paint, and in the hotel nu-
merous officers with stars ON their
sleeves, few women, but many CORE
spondents in duck suits and sun he'll
NETS, are all that suggest unusual times.
In any New York street car you will
see more newspapers and In any New
York home You will hear more excited
war talk than here. There is remark
able reticence about everything that has
just happened, because each correspond
ent communicates what he knows to his
editor, and then tries to forget it SO nc
other editor will get tho same informa-
tion. But presently one meets surviv-
or Of the Maine, or the prize master Of
a recent capture, or the officer Of tor
pedo boat which has been in action, and
war is again attractive beyond all the
concerns of peace.
Then one sails out ON dispatch boat
some evening and at dawn comes on
deck to find that the blockade has been
reached. From every direction war
ships approach, black smoke from their
tunnels showing how quickly they are
trying to overhaul us and see what bust
ness we have there. A bundle Of the lat
est papers, bits of recent news from
Dewey or Sampson or Schley make us
welcome. In exchange they have little
to give. It has been stupid day with
no incidents Nothing can be much
duller than keeping peaceful blockade.
Next day an attempt is to be made
to land munitions Of war for the insur-
gents and our yacht lies drifting in the
channel at Key West until the expedi-
tion starts. 1t seemed very serious un-
dertaking, and although ridiculously
i'll managed ;going close to shore all the
way after sighting Havana and allow
ing the Spanish TO telegraph alarms
ahead 1t made spectacle. Two boat
loads of regular soldiers went ashore
and sent out piokets. In few minutes
there came shot. then quick, continu-
ous firing, and there was a sensational
moment when it was felt that after
that all the little landing force must
be dead in the bushes. Two warships
send broadside after broadside into the
woods just beyond the bushes, and back
come rifle bullets, near enough TO make
their whistle heard. Our men come
running out, every one sound on his
legs, as though he had been merely at
rifle practice. But they had, they said,
left l2 men Of the Spanish coast guard
dead or wounded behind them
War continues 20 seem to one rather
diverting and not in the least terrible
until, getting back TO Key West, fu-
neral is going on "Bagley, you know,
of the Winslow," we are told, "in a
scrap at Cardenas was struck by shell
from Spanish fieldpiece and killed,
along with six men," Two Of us enter
the little church and after the service
walk with tae rest past the open coffin.
There are beautiful flowers and the air
is full Of their odor. Bagley? Did we
ever sec Bagley ashore? We look and
draw back, little stunned Why, this
is our friend Of whist game night be-
fore last, who left the harbor for Car
denas when we left for Cabanas, and
whom we remembered for his humor,
which was always good humor and
made ono like him. Looking upon him,
war suddenly appeared in different
aspect, and 10 does peace.