The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-02-16

VI 'he "Trip. We were not excluded
from eating at the same mess with
the officers, the General included; bv
that l mean we civilian clerks. OF
course the Provost Guard, teamste,s
etc. had their meals served in another
quarter OF the ship, they being a.
lowed travel ratiOns by the Govern
ment, whereas we paidSl.5O per dav
each for our accommodations. Well
nothing very eventful took place the
first day out, and it took the most of
us that length of time to get thor
oughly accustomed to our new sur
roundings so that none of us wanted
FOR diversions. We played cards
whenever time would get heavy on
our heads. which was mostly after
dark. Occasionally we sighted a
sail and interested ourselves taking
1t in through Broncho Johns field
glasses. Here is Il character ought
not pass over in narrating the trip.
Bronclo, as we call him, is an old
Indian scout who has served many
years in the frontier and is n
prime tavorite of some of our most
distinguished generals, such as Gen
eral Brooks, now Governor General
OF Cuba, General Shafter, in COM
mand at Santiago, and others. He
Is now connected with the 9TH A.C.,
IN charge of the animals. He is
quite an interesting person to talk to.
l understand Broncho has travelled
quite a while with Buffalo Bill and
Is a dead shot. So much for Broacho.
Early the second morning out we
were up to see the sunrise, a grand
sight on the ocean, but still great
or treat awaited us than this. All
along the western horizon we could
see Il faint line of dark k-colored sub
stance which was cIaimedto be land.
and proved to be true in good time.
Yes, we followcdthc Florida coast
for many miles during Wednesday
IN plain sight land, distinguishing
objects without difficulty. We also
had some sport in the way Ola large
school of porpoisrS fol Iowjur fine
ship torml'csand atlordirg excellent
target practice aS they would glide
up aIonsidc of the boat and Jump
out OF the water their full length.
Such fussiladc of shots YOU never
heard as we gave these visitors. We
didn't stop to reckon losses, but it
was Il mighty one-silcd contest and
IN a few hours our enemy retired.
porpolses are quite large, perhaps
averaging five or six feet in length
and thick through. 1t was very
pretty sight to see them glide along
the water for al ways then dart up
into the air. 1t was too much
temptation for the general and he
joined in the sport with his Krag
JOrgesen. | don't believe he did
very much damage. | kept my gun
in the cabin where it belonged, not
wishing to waste ammunition until
it was necessary.
At iliami the light house was in
plain view and the hotels at Palm
Beach, Fla, could be seen plainly.
Night again overlook us south ofMi-
ami short ways. Thursdaymorn-
ing we found ourselves again out
Of sight of land and the promise of
a rougher sea. We were now in
close proximity ofthe Florida straits,
which are rough as a rule. 1t con-
tinued to grow worse all day and a
good many learned what seasicknsss
meant. If you had any doubt
whether your comrade was feeling
well, just say to him "How would
you like to have piece of juicy fat
meat" "and he would soon hunt the
railing and cast his bread upon the
waves. / stood it all O. X. much
to my surprise. We hove in sigh:
nf Cuha about 20 miles trom Ho-
vana, suppose, along about three
o'clock in the afternoon and follow
ed the coast line until we sighted
old Moro Castle, just as thesun was
going down, and in the nick of time
to enter the harbor before the Span
ish law prohibited any vessels to en-
ter. We all felt the supreme salts
faction that we were seeing the last
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