The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-18
THE STORM AT HAVANA.
How the Soldiers in the CaIeps
EaTed,


Camp Vedado, cuba FEB. Blast night
and to-day viii long be remembered and
often referred to by the men camped in
the Island of Cuba, when as in after
years they refer to their army life. You
viii hear more than one of them remark:
Say, boys, do you remember that Sunday
night and Monday morning when we were
camped over in Cuba in the month of
February. when we were called from our
cots at II O'clock al night to hold our tents
down" From II O'Clock at night until
daylight the rain came down in torrents,
the sky was aglow with flashes of light
ming and the peals of the thunder rolled
out over the angry waves of the ocean.
Many a man will refer to it in giving his
experience Of army life. 1t was night
that stamped iis impression upon ones
mind in a way that will never be forgot
ten. About o'clock Sunday night the
loud peals of thunder came roaring over
the mighty deep, while the western sky
was all aglow with the flashes of light
ming while the stars were still shining
brightly overhead, but il was not long
before the sky was overcast with thick
blackness, and the tremendous gale OF
wind told that there was something to
follow. and, sure enough, in a short time,
But how the men did scatter from their
tents with Ratchet, hammer AK and any
thing they could find to drive pegs with,
and from that time till morning you could
hear the thud of the hammer or ak on
the top of the iron peg sending it down
deep into the ground, but while one was
being driven in on one side another on
the other side gave way again; so 1t kept
up till morning, and despite the efforts
~ he Flr.a rfsaur my of
The tents on the ground while the in
mates, dear only knows where they were!
One man told me he saw two of them
flying across the hill from one of the bat
teries in gust of wind and did not know
If they had been found yet or not.
Many of the tents were damaged by be-
ing torn, and more were turned completely
inside out. The wind kept up perfect gale
all day Monday, though 1t did not rain.
The view of the ocean was grand. There
was at times furious battle between the
waves and The powerful shore walls of the
battery, as one after another of the mighty
waves would come up against them with
all her force, and after all their strength
had been spent in a useless attack, they
would pass high over the top of the wall
in a cloud Of white mist.
Saturday in Havana was a great day.
II was the day of the funeral of the Cuban
equaled by anything the writer has ever
seen in the United States. Anyone not
knowing the occasion of the excitement
would have thought a great circus had
come to town, and was having a grand
parade through the streets. Banners Of all
kinds, sizes and color were ahoat
in the long procession, consisting
principally of women and girls bareheaded
in the not sun. The parade lasted fully
four hours. l heard some of the men re-
mark that they would not have missed
the sight for five dollars, and it was
worth it TO one who never saw the like
before. The men are anxiously looking
for the paymaster, who is expected here
to-day. Last nights meeting in the Y
M. c. A. tent was a most interesting one
There was very large attendance, and
all were very much interested in it. and
eleven requests for prayer were made.
Each meeting seems to be growing in in
terest and in the number of attendants
Some of the readers of the Morning News
kindly sent us some reading matter, which
was very thankfully received, and placed
on our table. Any magazines or papers
or good books will come in very helpful to
the men. III. A. Howell.