The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-01-18
LETTER FROM CUBA.
A Fredericksburg Boy Writes of His Bxper-
fences In the Gem Of the Antilles.

Mr.. r. @. Fletcher, son OF Mr.. Geo.
J. Fletcher, who was a member OF
Capt Rowe's company In the Third
Virginia Regiment, but now OF Com
pany |. 10Th Infantry. (regulars), and
stationed in Cuba, has recently writ
ten to relatives here, and we take from
his letter the following extracts. The
letter was written from Diego do Ayila,
CUBA, and accompanying 1t was
collection of very interesting pictures
taken at different points in that tropi'
cal land
1--WE travelled all the way by boat
with the exception Of from here to JucAro
"a distance Of 20 miles } The steamer
we travelled on was beauty and the
scenery was magnificent and we lived
like lords (had wine served at meals
We stopped at Santa Cruz aud Mama
Milo on the way up and struck Santl-
ago early Monday morning December
A Went up street 30 find the Quarter
masters office. in order 90 request
TRANSPORTATION to Moro Castle, and ran
across a detachment Of the Fifih Imam
try and they insisted on my coming
into their quarters aud eating nice
breakfast Of steak, etc. which they
prepared for me. | got a launch ous
60 MORO Castle Passed what Is now
left to be seen OF the wreck OF the
Merrimao. There Is only a mast left
In sight Got to Moro all right and
delivered prisoners and got permission
from the commanding officer there 80
STAY the rest Of the day and night aud
look over the place. We stayed, and a
sergeant took US all over the CASTLE and
we saw the room they kept Hobson IN,
aud various dungeons. etc, and took a
couple Of pictures. 1t Is wonderful
place and hundreds Of years old. built
right at the entrance Of the harbor on
the sea. There is company OF the
9TH there and they could not do enough
for US We went back TO Santiago next
morning, went all around the CITY. re-
ported and got orders TO return, ana the
Oaartermaster' 5 department. put us on
the transport Wright We had tiue eat
lnQ there the same as the petty oiilcers
There were some niger soldiers aboard
and the crew made them help around,
but they did everything for us, and the
steward took me all through the vessel
and through the cabin they had hXed
no for Gen. Wood and his staff We
had to sleep III hammOcks aud the boat
was 10 STAY there a week or more and
cruise all around the leland and we mad
no idea when we would reach our destl'
nation. In she meantime we also
heard shat the 10th was ordered home
So | went 10 the AdJutant General OF
the department with my tale OF woe
and he made the Qlartermaster depart
ment give Us transportation on the
steamer We left Wednesday about o
D. m and struck The only r0ugh
weather we encountered on the trip
right outside Of Santiago and IL was
rough and no mistake. Three ot us
were sea sick, myself included. Ii we
had q fue time going, we had huer
time coming back We laid one day
and night in MAnzAnlllO.
The band gave concert that night
and it was a treat, and the first band
we had heard for nearly IL months
They played some fue pieces, chiefly
among them The darkies dream. l
ran across a fellow that had been IN the
Atm Immune, but had stayed and taken
civilian b. He WAS IN the band
while and knew q. Hess
Il have lost sixteen pounds during
the last four mouths, but this trip start
ed me I'D again. Am in fine health
and always have been on the island '