The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-10-02
Putnam County Boy Abroad.

Many Palatka people remember
"Cliff" Chalfinsh, the little strip OF
a freckled-faced lad who run errands
some years ago for b. G. Lanning,
a former Lemon street locksniith
And many will also remember that
little Chalfinch had the ability to
take care of himself in every way
which was shown on more than one
occasion. His home is at Buffalo
Bluff, this county, where his
father was postmaster in former
years, and where Clifford passed his
childhood days as serenely as is pos
sible for q boy to do.
At the outbreak of the Spanish
American war Chalfnch was too
small to enlist as a soldier, but the
glitter OF the guns and bayonetts and
uniforms and brass buttons of the
trainload after trainload of soldiers
hurryiHg to the various camps arous-
ed his boyish enthusiasm to the high
est pitch, so he went to Tampa
ran away from home twas said-and
became attached to one of the COM
panies of an Indiana regiment as Il
mascot His company WAS in action
during the battle Of Santiago, and
the little fellow was at the front on
the firing line during the thickest of
the engagement, but he came off the
field without scratch.
On his return home from Cuba he
enlisted as Il member of the military
company here and was always en-
thusiastic in his duties. SO much so
that he often walked from Buffalo
Bluff to this city in order to partici-
pate in the drills. The life of II state
militiaHau, however, Where there is
pr;, Z ically little or nothing doing
except an occasional outing, was too
irksOme and slow for him, so one day
he bade his friends here goodbye and
told them that he was bound for At
lanta, for what purpose he did not
state. There he made application
'at a recruiting station. for admission
to the navy, The officer in charge
Questioned the boy at some length
and at first denied his request, say
ing: "GRu'Ee too young sonny, we
cannot fake you" This did not
daunt the courage of the prospective
marine for Il moment and he made
another appeal: Yes sir, | know
I'm young and that's why ! ask to
JOIN the navy; want to see the
world while | have time. Will you
not let me go?" That touched the
officer, and soon young Chalfinch
found himself on board a warship in
harbor at Newport News, Va.
He has been home once since his
enlistment, that was about II year
and half ago, and he said that he
liked the service.
He is now abroad on board the U.
S. S. Cincinnati, cruising in Chinese
waters.
In writing from Hong Kong, China,
under date of August 18th, the letter
which has just been received by a
comrade in this city, shows that
Chalfinch's ambition to see the world
is being realized. In part he says:
II have travelled around a great
deal since / last saw you. Among
the more important places | have
been 10 are Gibraltar, Spain; Vile
franche, Monaco, and Niece, Italy;
Monte Carlo, France; Port Said, Is
malta and Suez, Egypt; Alden, Ara
bla, Columbo Ceylon Islands; and
now Pm in this place, the The
Flowery Kingdom, the home of John
pf the fat-iron fame. We arrived
here on the 18th of August, after
fine voyage. | do not know much
about Hong Kong, as l haven't been
ashore yet. l think we will leave
next week for Shanghai or Chefoo.
1t is probable that we will remain
out here about two years. Tell the
boys howdy for me-"
In the person of young Chalfinch
Uncle Sam has u patriot of the
staunchest kind-the kind that has
made our navy famous, and at the
same time Putnam county has rep
in the marine service of
whom she may feel proud.