The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1906-11-12
In CUBA FOR FUN.
MANY AMERICAN SOLDIERS or
/ FORTUNE IN ISLAND.
Disappointment at End Of Fighting In
tense Among the Foreign Legion
New Yorker Angry at Fate.

--NcW YORKER angry al raw
The greatest old boy OF the Foreign
Legion in Cuba, says the correspond
ent for Harpers Weekly, is Capt y.
b. Webster, an elderly Yankee from
Litchfield, Conn, the country Of ro-
bust onions and still more robust men.
The cap'n would rather eat than
fight, but, as 1t Is often necessary to
eat-well, pshawl man has to have
the price, even If he has to fight for it.
And fighting In Cuba just now Is all
most the best paying profession. He
who lives by 1t can eat terrapin and
canyasback -if there are still such
things beyond this troubled land OF
garbanzos and papas frituras.
There is nothing Of the fire eater
about Webster On the day after Col.
Avalos had driven Pine Guerra's men
out Of Consolation, the cap'n and l
were chatting when q cheerful lieu
tenant came along and remarked,
We're going after EN-"
"Dern 1t all! / hope not, said the
cap'n, in his slow New England drawl.
"Here we've been cooped up In that
blamed hot train for thirty-six hours,
lighting day and night, with mighty
little to eat, and the rebels giving us
no time to eat 1t. I'm tired of fight
Ing. What / want Is long sleep
and a few good meals. But, say, you
ought to have been there when ! got
those charging rebels right on the
transverse. When the gun got going
| tell ye they tumbled down off their
horses like a pack O cards. Here,
lieutenant, how soon do we startY
Cap'n Webster was a coasting skip
per sailing out Of Yankee ports for
many years. He is a heavy, stoop
shouldered and "sot In his ways.
He brought few tilibuster cargoes
into Cuba during the war Of inde-
pendence, and at the age when most
men take to golf he grew SO fond OF
fighting that he has never been able
to shake off the fascinations OF the
game. He was United States consul
at Cardenas for a while, but as soon
ais this rebellion started he began to
help organize the Foreign Legion.
Capt. George Reno is a New Yorker,
tall, slim, pale and bashful. He came
down here as free lance war cor
respondent ten years ago and acquired
the fighting habit He hasn't got his
company recruited yet, but when they
do take the field the Azaldos had bet
ter look out.
Lieut.. Adolph Fittig was q gentle
real estate dealer in Havana until the
war began. Then he remembered with
joy the fine times he had during his
military service in Germany few
years ago Away to the winds went
the real estate business. and the Herr
Ober.Lieutenant burst into bloom in
his uniform.
Lieut. Herbert Shockley is a small
and very cheerful fighting man from
Philadelphia. When they organized
the Foreign Legion he smiled and said
he believed he'd take commission.
When he was firing a machine gun
on the roof Of the armored car and a
rebel Mauser bullet went through his
leg he smiled and said he believed
lightning never struck twice In the
same place. wanted to photograph !
him as soon as he had little leisure
after the battle. He smiled.
Better wait till | can stand up
straight" he advised. "A fellow hates
to look sickly In picture"
The angriest soldier of fortune
ever saw is Gilbert H. Carr, who came
la great haste all the way from West
115th street, New York. the Morning
side Heights district. to take part in
the game, Gen. Loynaz del Castillo |
made him a captain In the rebel forces
-and then this truce was declared |
Wouldn't that irritate you?" Carr
asked me How would you like to |
come all the way down here to have
a little fun, and then find them Civ
Ing out rain checks?"
1t does seem a triAe rough on Carr.
He is slender, fair-skinned, blue
eyed youngster who belongs in the
second company of the Twelfth Regi- |
ment, New York National Guard, when
he's home. He has fought in South
Africa and In a few South American
revolutions.