The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-12
o TO A MARINE.
WiEwaKEinE That Relieved an Angry
Omoer's Feelings at Camp MoCalla.

Omcer's Feelings at Camp MoCalla.
The Spaniards had skunk way from the
Plaza del Este. They had tested the American
marine and they were satisfied. The buzzard-
picked bones in the simmering valley OF Cusco.
where Fighting Pil" Elliott and his 200 men
trapped the lurking guerrillas. were a warning
to which the Span Ish troops at Caimenara paid
heed. Camp McCaila was as peacefulas a State
gathering OF militia. The warships In the outer
harbor OF Guantanamo lay still on the warm
blue waters. with no fierce booming Of heavy
guns to brighten out to sea the timid
hammer headed sharks so thickly providing
the hay. Boats filed with iackies were pulling
about between the ships and the shore with
rarely an anxious eye being turned at the
wooded bluffs on either side OF the camp where
so short n time before were hidden the sharp
shooting Spaniards. On the beach the marines
were busy with the police work OF the camp
and the officers of duty lolled beneath the
shade OF the mess tent at the base Of the hill.
glad of the respite from actual fighting. Peace
full as everything seemed, however. there was
no relaxation in vigilance. The outposts were
on duty at the crossroads and at the salt pond
and the danger OF a surprise was eliminated.
Among the officers under the mess tent the
talk was about the three days OF steady
nghting they went through after landing.
They knew they had done good work. and they
were telling one another incidents. some
heroic and some amusing. and wondering
what the folks at home were thinking about
it all. Pretty soon there came up from the
landing "a tall young Lieutenant OF marines.
He looked as natty az on parade in the Brook
Ign Navy Yard. and the contrast he offered.
coming as he did from one OF the warships in
the harbor. with the camp-soiled and dght-torn
uniforms Of the officers in the land battalion
waa worry atrikinU His hrothar of1cara preated
him warmly. for. aside from any personal rea-
son. a new face was welcome. as It meant news
OF some sort from the other world. from the
fleet off Santiago, or perhaps from homo.
The newcomer seated himself on u box Of
bareback and Joined In the conversation con-
corning the ~repnlse OF the spaniards in their
Boys" he said hesitatingly, Il heard some;
thing on one of the golfers to-day. that l did
R Rof ali. I lh fnE;y y6 Ss' oash T. TO oR Rn6 Ss t. t. concerns
one mo d the Es, 5fiG 1Gs thin IN s fhsiPneaa fnG R h9Ts to of id
perience Of the last few days"
We'll. this will worry you, II anything will"
What was III, asked several.
"Why, j. heard vent on the visitor that
would have been y wiped out They say You
imnksd the Sunday night the Sspaniards
y jumped f yoR qe a a ' Is at the oye Gq the fea hea to rally
There was Just a moment Of silence. while
several Of the men who had faced death all
through the fighting without finching looked
at one another a little queerly and then grew
angry. The accusation was so unjust. so I'M
service. too. that they hardly knew what to say
33pdoi Then q IL niE shf eIlo% WITH q full black
Who told You that I" he asked as his eyes
His brother oihSer t2,d him. naming a Lieu
tel hin Tor me tLat NE a far. Tel him i'm
So indignant was the speaker that the other
officers forgot for the moment the reflection
upon them contained In this galley gossip. and
No: Id9n,,t tel him, went on the angry off,
ger; ~ = DO it mrselt. dnI Jet him know, what
With that he abruptly left the sheiterinR
mess tent and strobe out into the blazing sun
the camp proper was ard where the flag. plant
ed on the ruins Of 2 Spanish blockhonSc the
waved defiance to the impotent spanish Cen
eraL in Caimcnara. The others watched him
ETcEins s'f the Var Hsqnt i"f l22Hd crabs 4Ts 4 Ir Snnrr his;
pathway. They saw him climb laboriously up
the steep winding ascent and slim in front OF
ing ,eS"inst' a guy T|y repe s''I In his S,N RSnd III The se boy
held the red signal flag with the white square
oo nhe,s eaLljnS m as shin" said one q the
or "%ha e i te G @GSs t ten o 3 i inc u fGaa t one s " fhe
Others hhrs and W. al stco up to watch him.
Hihl WIN Inc nag kept Gazing ana call
ing. and finally there came an answering sig
nal from the ship. he wanted, Then the ON
GERS below read this message from the hill:
Present. Mr.. - compliments TO Mr.. -
and say 10 him that he's IL damned liar"
Wherenpon the wiGwagger. having let of
steam, came down the hill somewhat Modified.
When he reached the tent again he was greeted
with good-natured jeers.
And you can tell him" he said to tho visit
ing marine. that I'll back 1t up the first time
! get n chance
This opportuntty, never came. Explanations
followed the next day. the offending officer de-
claring that he had but repeated reports heard
by him. and a lasting peace was arranged,
However. had the Spaniards been able TO read
he American signal code. they would no doubt
have been somewhat surprised by this particu-
lar message.