The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-21
Soldiers Say They Are
All Right.
GALLANT SEVENTH.
Corp. j. j. Mack and Priv.
Nuss Return From Havana.

Corp. James j. Mack and PRIV. Rob.
ert w. Nuss of Troop F of the Seventh
United States cavalry, which is now
stationed at Havana, Cuba, were in
Worcester Sunday. The men came
from Jefferson barracks to Worcester
but left Havana the first day of March
Corp. Mack was stabbed in the eve
by an Infatuated Cuban a little over
four weeks ago, when crowd of the
natives rebelled in the suburbs of Hav-
ana and the gallant Seventh was sent
to quell the disturbance; and his left
optic is closed and wrapped up in many
bandages.
Both soldiers were transferred from
the famous Third United States cayal-
ry, which has won fame giving exhibit
tons of their skill at riding in all large
cities of the country, under the leader
ship of the daring Capt. Tommy
Dodd, and have been sent back to that
command, and after spending a few
days in Worcester and Lowell they win
Join Troop Z, which is located in the
state of Vermont.
Corp. Mack is clever young man of
81 years and has served six years in
the army. He is an entertaining talker
and tells tales of Cuba and the Cubans
that are worth listening to-
The corporal says that Havana is by
no means in a fit sanitary condition for
Americans. He gives Gen. Brooke the
credit for doing all that can be done,
but it viii take two or three years, in
his opinion, to fix UP the city in proper
shape.
The condition of the soldiers is fair
~ good. Very little sickness prevails,
but small pox scare in close proX-
unity to Havana was source Of Wor-
riment to the officers and men. Many
soldiers have been laid up of late with
the dread malaria
He says the regulars stand the eli
mate and grow fat breathing the air,
but does not consider it any place for
a volunteer.
The Cubans don't like the Americans
and the feeling is a mutual one, ac-
cording to Mack. He says they all steal,
and won't work, and cannot fight, and
that the soldiers think that the word
Cuban is synonymous with the word
thief. but the Spaniards are whole
souledpeople and they walk arm in arm
through Havana's narrow streets with
American soldiers and are the best OF
friends.
at was a gigantic mistake to go to
war for those Cubans," said the cor
poral, and he continued: 81 didn't en-
list to fight those mango eating people
but the Maine stirred me up and /
took my chances and re-enlisted for
another three years"
Corp. Mack says that he received his
wound when the Cubans tried to tear
up a supply railroad that runs in the
suburbs of Havana, and he gives
graphic description of that affalr
which was published in The Spy at She
time.
The Third Georgia regiment of in
fantry was sent to drive the CubanSS
away, but they were routed, ana
Gen. Brooke dispatched the gallant
Seventh cavalry, and the Cubans, the
corporal thinks, are still running, oul
one little fat fellow who had eaten
many mangoes, stopped long enough to
thrust his long machete into MACK
eyes.
Of the reputation the Massachusetts
boys made while in Cuba, Corp. Mack
said: The Massachusetts men haven
any shades over them but shades OF
glory, and they will be remembered by
the regulars for years to come ds
mighty good soldiers.
A soldier cannot buy a drink IN da-
vana today. Members or the 1hlfu
Georgia infantry and the Second heavy
artillery, which is made up prlnclpaIly
Of Massachusetts men, met one Gay
not long ago and had a fistfc encounter
worthy of the name, and Gen. Brooke
learned afterwards that the COMBAT
ants had spent hours in saloon Inc
general had signs five feet long and tW'
feet wide made the next day, and upoI
them were printed the inscription
Soldiers are forbidden TO enter saloons
and the saloonkeepers are forbidden u
sell to any soldier"
These signs were tackled up in every
place where liquor was sold, and tn
soldier boys went dry until they fount
out that the Spaniards could buy al
the liquor they wanted, and then thu
Spaniards became better friends of tn
American soldiers.
Corp. Mack and Priv. Nuss will g
with troop F to the Paris exposition
in 1900, and ride their horses for thu
edifcation of the thousands of visit
Ors.
The corporal was detailed while il
the south to chase with his squad To-
deserters from the volunteer ranks, ant
out of that hundred just one was cap
tured.
Both soldiers say that army life i:
the life to live, and that they are as
happy as CLAIMS at high tide.
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