The National tribune., 1903-10-08
THE AMERICAN
SPANISH WAR.

We, all who were in fellowship at Tam
pa and thereabouts, rejoiced that our
labor was not in vain. OF its power and
usefulness as means of prevention to
waywarlness and dissipation, Gen. Shat
ter spoke in decided terms, Gen Henry
publicly praised the services and many
other general officers were glad to recog-
nize and supplement them as opportunity
offered. / am sure that thousands of
friends at home were made glad that, by
those means, prodigals were redeemed, and
doubtful souls brought into the fruitful
valley of decision, while the sick and all
ing. tenderly cared for, were not neglected.
KEY WEST
is an odd city, built on a coral fiat The
attrition of ages has been so small that the
soil is not deep enough anywhere for
much plan. or vegetable life. Its popula-
ton is now about 10000. But the
war with Spain shut off everything ex-
cept what war retains and what war
brings. Key West at once became an i'm
portant war port. Commodore Remey, al
ways OH his flagship, the Lancaster, com
manded the entire harbor and what per-
tanned to it in the city. The old army bar
racks, brushed up for temporary occu-
pancy, were again after years filled with
soldiers. The large Catholic convent was
generously offered by the Sisters of Char
.
hospital. Other buildings in strenuous
need for the sick and wounded were hired
and long tents put up in yards in their
neighborhood. All were furnished COM
pletely for hospital use. Naval vessels
came and went; army transport ships and
Red Cross steamers found here a refuge
from wandering SpaniardS and fierce
storms at sea. Storehouses were filed
with naval aud transport REFRESHMENTS,
hill pES eli
vessels large and small to be loaded or
unloaded. The population at Key West is
mixed, consisting Of many Cubans, some
stay-at- home Spaniards who pass with
Americans for Cubans, often to disgrace
them, hosts of negroes and small number
of bona fide Americans, or rather Anglo
Saxons, thrown into the interstices, nat
urally including the more recent impor-
tations from the Bahamas. There are
churches well attended, and schools fairly
good for all. But the most noticeable
places of business which l have not yet
mentioned are the liquor saloons. On the
first available spot when you land from
the main wharf you see the First
Chance" and not far on cityward is the
Second Chance" and the corners of the
street give plenty of others, more or less
respectable. The. more disreputable are,
of course, only dives and brothels where
all sorts of traps are set to catch SOL
diers when off duty and sailors ION iber-
ty." What fine place is Key West for
INSCRIPTIONS men, such as gamblers,
thieves. rumsellers and their helpers! Our
Secretary and Commission Manager,
young Mr.. Steele. arrived from New Or
leans He found a few Christian assis-
tants. A good man and his wife took him
to their home about stones throw from
tho First Chance" and told him that he
might eat and sleep at their house. Steele
looked over the Key West territory thus
occupied and at first felt discouraged
at the miserable condition of things.
though he was a tall, strong, healthful,
able man Of God. An idea struck him,
perhaps launched by the Spirit. 1t was
to rent that vacant tobacco factory whose
gable end was toward the large wharf. 1t
would hold on its second food 400 or 500
people. He made q good bargain, as the
factory was not In use. He soon fitted 1t
up like our field pavilions-not forgetting
the cold-water tank. An aged Christian
negro, James by name, generally stood by
the broad doorway or near the stairs to
welcome the corners, and his wife, Martha,
kept the tables and their contents clear
Of dust. The snowy outside sign and the
waving flag caught my eye.
WORK AT KEY WEST.
"Oh, Gen. Howardw cried Steele. when
I came to the head Of his stairway and
uttered my name, II have been asking the
Lord to send you here, but didn't know
you were anywhere nearp' In that large
room had my first soldier and sailor
audience sitting together. Mr.. w. @. How
land, my delightful young secretary and
assistant, aided In the music, while Mr..