Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-11-24

up to the wagon bed. When we reached
the open the sun would always be gaving
for US and he was able to do good deal
towards making us uncomfortable. I
never became quite so well acquainted
with the mosquito as did on this trip. il
was useless to fight the beast, there was
but one thing to do and that was to let
him have his way. and his way was a
wicked one TOO.
Finally on Saturday. September 18th.
! with my little body guard reached Ciego
de Avila, and after reporting to the Com
handing Officer began my duties as an
officer of the army. On September 2Ist
Captain Castor who was in command of
troop F. started for the United States
on four month leave: on that day as
sumed the duties of Troop Commander
and have been acting in that capacity ever
since. ! am the only officer present with
the troop, but by constant attention to
business ] manage to do what is required
of me.
! am living i'll house which was built
by the Spanish governmental few years
ago. The rooms are all enormous and the
ceilings are over twenty feet high | do
not suffer much from the heat when in nv
house nor even when in the shade but in
the sun feel it. Ihave not noticed any
variation in the temperature since have
been here,it is just as warm now as it was
when | came. The nights are always cool
as are also the early mornings. Nearly
every afternoon for the past three weeks
we have had light showers with now and
then heavy rain. These showers cool
the atmosphere considerably, and | be-
lieve that we would not be able to endure
the climate if the mornings and nj hts
were as warm as mid day or if we did not
have these showers.
The inhabitants of the island will
not discuss as have not become we'll
enough acquainted with them as yet.
am just getting an insight into their Ian
guage and customs and perhaps at later
day will be able TO tell you something of
them.
On October 18th two other officers and
went on an alligator hunt. We left here
on special train in the early morning for
San Fernando on the North coast.
From there we hired sloop and went
out into Loguna Leche-in English Milk
Lake because the water is very white, due
in suspension in the water.
After we had sailed up this lake for
about an hour, another officer and took
a small row boat, and with two Cubans
proceeded through dense margrove
swamp. In this swamp we spent another
hour, but so far without seeing single
alligator. We had not been out of the
swamp, however. more than ten minutes.
before we sighted a big fellow swimming
at great rate of speed; he must have
been at least three or four hundred Yards
from US and it was quite difficult to see
him as he swan with only small part of
his head visible. We immt diately gave
chase and got close enough to fire cou-
pie OF shots from our carbines. The tar
get offered was so small thar both of
us missed him and "Senor Cannon"
disappeared. We waited for nearly a.
quarter of an hour before we sighted him
again and he was about half mile from
the place at which he disappeared: we
went after him again but with the same
result and finally after amusing himself
with us for long time he disappeared
from sight and that is the last we saw
OF him.
we Sighted several others in the course
of the morning, but met with no better
success until about 2:3o p. m. | sighted
one about sixty yards from us, fired and
the beast Yielded hit him in the head
just in front of the eyes. 1t was not a.
difficult matter to see that my shot had
been effective for the animal dashed the
water into milky foam that was REDEEM
ed by his own blood. Finally we succeed
ed in happening him and another shot
through the brain killed him. 1t was hard
work for four of us to get him in the row
boat, and what a monster he
was. He measured over nine feet
in length and is one OF the finest speci-
mems | have seen here. sent him to.
Moron near San Fernando where his.
skin is being tanned and am going to,
have something interesting in few days.
We sighted several other alligators. la
ter in the afternoon but was the only
one rewarded during the day.
There is nothing else that can think.
of at present which would be of interest
so | will stop.
Affectionally your son.
JOHN WILLIAM WHEN,
end Lieutenant, Sth u S. Cavalry.