Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-05


During the fog our whistle was blown
every minute. and II would have been al
most impossible for any OF the boats In
sou'nern waters TO run US down, on ao-
count OF their smallness and. besides, We
mad TO keep so far away from the coast
mat we would necessarily avoid all coast
wise vessels
December 10Th we awoke to beautiful
sunrise on the sea and slight breeze
i all day long we were on deck w s,rt,a
ing porpoises. nying-fish, sea-tur.Ie.
sharks and the other interesting th,ngs
one sees on a voyage Ia southern WAITS.
AZ night In the wash from our pow .ne
phosphorus on the water was oeau,iiu,,
and, i'm fact a moonlight night al sea IS
the most beautiful thing you could INA
CINE. provided the sea is quiet and you
are not sick.
A RUN INTO A MILE-PoST.
on Tuesday. December 10th. We awoke
at reveille of the southern coast OF t1ori-
da--that is the Florida Keys. IN me mo
die OF the Gulf stream. IL was a beauti-
ful day, just rough enough TO let one
know he was AT sea, and, OF course. seve-
raj men became sick. although our crew
which was very ignorant and hardly
'<new its own duties) claimed that the sea
was perfectly calm. Late Tuesday after
noon lust before dark. we broke one ol
the cog wheels in one OF our engines and
had 20 run under one engine. conse
1,iently lessening our speed a great deal
he trouble was. remarked that we had
struck a mile-post and broken blade In
he propeller.
THE LIGHT ON MORO.
Shortly afterwards we sighted the light
on Moro Castle. and then signalled for
pilot. but our signals were not seen, and
no pilot came aboard. We then sent
boat into the harbor with some officers
about 8 l.. NJ, and about midnight they
returned with orders 10 loaf outside the
harbor until A. NJ. Wednesday. Deem
Der 2lst. when we would be sent pilot
nd taken into the harbor 10 unload. The
pilot came aboard at the appointed time
and we went right under Moro, the walls
4 which were lined with Spaniards some
II them waving and cheering as we
| passed. Just inside the harbor we saw the
| American ships. the Brooklyn and Texas.
wing not far from the wreck OF the
Maine, which Is indeed a horrible sight
| he hulk being literally blown t. pieces
| We also saw several Spanish gunboats
md American torpedo-boats.
We then went into the pier and disem-
| harked before unloading anything. ana
started our march TO Marianao. just TINS
| side Of which our camp is situated. II
| was a fearfully hot day. and The roads
| were covered with dust. Several men
| tainted en- route AS usual got along
| all right although very tired. During our
| march we were followed by thousands OF
| men. women and children, who waved
| Cuban and American flags hred nre-
works. and capped their hands with
| Joy They would yell them
selves hoarse for Cuba and America. and
would throw their arms around you and
| hang on to you until one almost had to
| fight them of. Whenever we would stop
| rs rest they would bring us water, bran
| dy. and wine. and would receive no pay
| for IT,
We arrived at our camp-ground. in a
| potat 0-patch. where we slept the FIRST
| night under the canopy Of heaven for
| our tentage had not as yet arrived II
| came up the next day, and now we all
| have cots. and six men sleep in large
| hospital tent. 1t is unnecessary TO say
we have plenty Of room and are very
| comfortable.
on board the boat we were very crowd
| ed Down in the hold our port holes had
to be kept closed, and il was almost suf-
| locating ] could not sleep down there
at all and had TO go on deck the first
three nights. ] afterwards got a cot. and
nut it right under the hatch, and man
aged 10 sleep fairly we'll 1t was really
awful I'm those hammocks, and whenever
YOU woke up i'm one. you fell out and
! nearly broke your neck
TOUGH FARE ABOARD
| Our breakfast consisted each mornins
Of one slice of ham, and two hardtacksl
and one-half cup Of coffee. Our dinner OF
one-half cup Of so-caled soup greasy
water and two hardtacks; our supper OF
| canned beans or canned corn beer and
two hardtacks and another half cup OF
| cOflee. w ltU the nam bNNt 'tA W hs
nothing but beans and corn beef and
coffee. and the men were nearly starved.
We had one pump TO get water from. and
then only during certain hours, and IL was
! almost pitiful TO hear some of the men
begging for a drink Of water Outside oil
the beautiful weather, our whole trip was
miserable. and was the worst managed az
fair 7 ever heard Of ] want the Rich
mond people 10 know how we were treated
on board Of Uncle Sans transport. the
Chester The boat itself was absolutely
filthy.
/ believe I nave now told everything up
to date. Christmas. OF course. was very
quiet. as we have not been allowed as yet
the freedom Of the town. as II is still oc-
cunied bv the Spanish soldiers
This letter has been written at odd
times. most of IL on my lap and in the
dark. consequently the varied style of
writing and the up-and-down hill Of the
lines.
Sam. Tyler had a little fever on board,
but Is all right now. l am entirely well,
and hope TO remain So Love TO every
body and lots for yourself and mamma
Think Of and write often to your little
Soldier boy IN Cuba Libre."
Your devoted son.