The St. Johns herald., 1900-05-19


 A Of war would have it. was de- gai!ed from our office 10 cover" the late ccntcst with Spain. With a pass Signed lJy Secretary Alger in my breast pocket. I journeyed south 10 Tampa carly in May, full-fedged war cor respondent. II was dangerous honor, but ore that filled ne with delight.
 Most Of the correspondents and ar fists were at the Tampa Pay hotel. I 1eInaired lhere for few days. but I was impatient 10 get into ;he full swing of army lige With this e:d in view. 4nana@ed io fall into the gGcd graces of Ccl. --. Of ;he -fh infantry. and ob- fairel f.ofs Eim a will,nr permission 10 ritch u-N ient at the end of the row 6f cor fanr officers and 10 join the eoioucl's oun mess.
 The leTE; "messmates" means great leal. li you mess with men. you know them as hey are. ! cu nay sit at table with man at hotel or at a city board ing Eoust for years and never see any ghing but TIT attenuation of business and evening clothes. Bui in car p those wbc sai together have the same intense. con fined interest. the same ambitions. the same love-of the regimeEt-and are often drawn together by bonds that can neyei be suTdered. And thus began my friendship with Allan Gave. He was ! first lieutenant and adjutant of the regiment. West Point never graduated a boy who was more heart and soul. q soldier-it was in his blood and he looked ii. Yet he was one of that chival- sous type Of manhood which combines the highest courage with gentleneSs. He would have been miserable in busil Qess. fairly successful in professional fife; as a soldier I thought him perfect.
 Tn arrcarance he was thoroughly nanl'. He had a fine. clear eye that ookcd ai you honestly. There were no sGm,etics about him. He tied to the .egu'atiors but in everything left to 1ts discretion ii was his instinct to sim tGfy. Ee never became involved in sreech or ip action. and was unsym- pathetic win the eutaglements of oth- srs, I'e rCit for ne inc same really ten fer regard that felt for him. We were friends naturally ara. botL recognizing this from the first. we waived the usual more CT less formal processes which lead 10 an established friendship. |. Week after week we waited in heat and suspense. Day after day the sun poured it's blistering rays from above. md the sand sent inc heat up again. There was no escape from il. When a breeze blew refreshingiy fl brought sand wi;h it. and our dinner was we'll 2epPered. But thC young ad iutant was nncorScious of discomfort. He labored .arlv and late in lie service of his colonel The Rlcn knew him and loved aim. for hr had gained their respect. tremcustrated WilL him enc day about he work that be was doing in that hot climate.
 "Andy. he said. smiling. "thls is rar. Rut there was in bis eyes an in- teRsP glearn Of happiness which pug .icl uec.
 Finally marching orders came from leadguarters. In the dead of night he rCgia:phf was loaded cr cattle cars 5rd tranSrorted to the pier where lay he irausrcr or them. We shared he saure s364eroom and made the most of such ehesr as was provided for us. shall never forget that miserable voy- age nor aow we fell when. with the est of ihe i!ees. tye came 10 drift in he Caribbean, under the lee Of those srs rd a2d drscHltr peaks of Cuba with n sfuh1 of MGrro.
 The fleet bombarded. the castle an- wered back ana, finally We were land .d at Daqu;ri and marched overland 10 'iboney. where the remainder Of the transports un:oadt,i
 The iemptaiio1 10 launch forth into descriptions whicG 60 not relate 10 my tory assails me as write When my revert 10 that time over 'helInine memofi2S flock 10 my pen nemoriea cf suffering. horror and hard hip. memories Of 3leFoism and of self acrifiee. of sickness. and Of srHden cath. cf weariness oS 3cdy ard of soul. glimrscs into the faws of hell. But viii brush all this. aside to recount ae lii'le incident ou: Of inc thousands raricd there worthy Of a record -rcilEto-t ete;-ai's.