The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-08-13
AN Echo FROM Ell CANEY.
BY Anna Norihend Benjamin.


S THE fortunes of reporting and
"a of war would have it, ! was de-
tailed from our office 10 cover" the
late contest with spnin. With pass
signed by Secretary Alger in my breast
pocket. journeyed south to Tampa
early in May, full-hedged war cor
respondent. Ii was a dangerous honor,
but one that filled me with delight.
Most of the correspondents and ar
lists were at the Tampa Bay hotel.
remained there for few days. but [
was impatient to get into the full swing
of army life. With this end in view.
managed to fall into the good graces of
Col. -, of The It'll infantry. and OBJ
tanned from him a willing permission
10 pitch my tent at the end of the row
of company officers and TO join the
colonel's own mess.
The term ''messmates" means great
deal. If YOU mess with men. you know
Them as they are. You may sit at table
with man a a hotel or at city board
ing house for years and never see any
Thing but an alienation of business and
evening clothes. But in camp those who
fined interest. The same ambitions. the
same love-of the regiment--and are
often drawn together by bonds that can
never be sundered. And thus began my
friendship with Allan Clave. He was
first lieutenant and adjutant of the
regiment. West Point never graduated
a boy who was more heart and soul a
soIdier-it was in his blood and he
looked il. Yet he was one of that chival-
rous type of manhood which combines
he highest courage wiTh gentleness.
lie would have been miserable i'll bust
ness. fairly successful in professional
life: as soldier thought him perfect.
In appearance he was thoroughly
manly. He had fine. clear eye that
looked nj you honestly. There were no
suhtleties about him. lie tied to The
regulations. but in everything left to
! his discretion il was his instinct to sim
| plify. He never became involved in
! speech or in action. and was unsym-
! pathetic with the ENGAGEMENTS of 9TH
ers. He felt for me the same really ten
! der regard that ] felt for him. We were
friends naturally, and. both recognizing
this from the first, we waived the usual
more or less formal processes which
lead to an established friendship.
Week after week we waited in heat
and suspense. Day after day the sun
poured its blistering rays from above,
and the sand sent the heat up again.
There was no escape from it. When a
breeze blew refreshingly il brought
sand with it, and our dinner was well
peppered. But the young adjutant was
unconscious of discomfort. lie labored
early and late in the service of his
colonel. The men knew him and loved
him, for he had gained their respect
demonstrated with him one day about
the work that he was doing in that hot
| climate.
ANDY" he said. smiling. this j:
warl" But there was in his eyes an in
tense CLEAN of happiness which puz
zled me.
Finally marching orders came from
headquarters. In the dead of night
I The regiment was loaded on cattle car.
md transported to the pier where lay
! the transports--30 of them. We shared
The same stateroom and made the mos
IF such cheer as was provided for us
| shall never forget that miserable voy
age nor how we felt when, with til,
-est of the fleet. we came to a drift il
the Caribbean. under the lee of those
grand and desolate peaks of Cuba with
IN sight of Moro.
n The fleet bombarded. the castle an
swered back, and finally we were land
ed AT Daquiri and marched overland Il
Siboney, where the remainder of thu
n transports unloaded.
: The temptation to launch forth int
descriptions which do not relate TO m,
y story assails me as | write. When IN,
n thoughts revert to that time over
whelming memories flock to my pen
Y memories of suffering, horror and hard
y ship. memories of heroism and of self
sacrifice, of sickness and of suddet
]eath. OF WEAKNESS OF body and of soul
If glimpses into the jaws of hell. Ru
y will brush all this aside TO recour
q one little incident out of the thousand
y enacted there worthy of recors
Y throughout eternity.
: