The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-05
Wireless Reports on Ships

WlreleSS hepOTtS on SnlpS
 After the carriers get out l go over to General Funstons to get the wireless report on the ships that are bound in, unless the signal company has the mes- sages on my desk. which they frequently do.
 Wireless plays a highly important part in our service here. and it is truly re- markable how they can figure exactly when a ship will be in. For instance, this morning l got a wireless from the com mander of the fleet that the ''U. s. s. Trippe' would be in and the mall would be on the consular dock at 8 a, m., and to the minute the launch came in with 100 bags of mail.
 We have a great scheme here of hand ling mail, without it costing much. Each morning we get a certain number of pris- oners from the provost marshal and use them in loading and unloading mail. This Is scheme to make them pay for their keep. and is to my mind much better than keeping them cooped up in dungeons.
 l can tell the hombres to "pronto cor respondencia in el earro" and they put it in with a whoop. One night last week we moved S5 sacks with 40 prisoners and three monster auto trucks, the like of which Red Smith never saw We had that mail in the office and distributed by 10 D. m.
 When ship is due to sail we get a wireless as to the hour and line up ac- cordingly The captain of the port has a tug which we use to take the mail out to sea, where the torpedo boats are at anchor. When the sea Is rough we have a time getting the mail aboard for the waves run high and the torpedo boats rock so.
 One day last week it took us an hour to get the mall aboard, and after we had it loaded l had to swing off from the boat to catch the tug. l thought I would land In the sea. but made 1t all right. and I stand very high with the sailors now for they think l am some sailor, too.
 Meets Fine Fellows This afternoon, going out to put the mail aboard the 'S. s. Jouett." I had as companions Frederick Remington of Everybody's Magazine and Hughes of the Los Angeles Times. They are both clever fellows, and we had quite lively chat the 40 minutes it takes to get out to sea. Beginning today we esta blished railway mail service for 10 miles to the outposts with A. D. Kemp in charge. On the cow catcher Is a monster pole about 90 feet high on which is always flying white flag, which is the way we. get to make an interchange with the City of Mexico. The ITdCk IS itTu up TUT tWO nliitS, dnu tlo mail has to be transported by "el carro. !"
 There was a big bunch of Spanish refu- gees on today coming into Vera Cruz to get away from Villa, as it seems to be generally agreed that the doughty chief tain will soon get int othe city. These refugees are some runners. We had Dr. Urrita, a high Mexican official, to put aboard the Hancock last week, saw him and he did not look near So impos- {,,<~ NNor r1 Tn ,ior de v.o to go to Sanitad on the Manuel Carvo, which Is billed to sail May 27. We have a regulation here that no ship can leave port without taking mail which means that we get dispatch five times or more a week. They cannot get clearance pa- pers until we notify the consul, who then let's them go.
 Pour Mail on Floor
 The Mexcans work their mail some what like we do. They make up directs and mail by states, but the funny part of 1t to me is that when they wish to dis- tribute a sack they poor 1t out on the floor and then stoop down and pick 1t up piece by piece. I suggested mesa. which is the Spanish for table, but they would not hear to it. Tonight we got in the first dispatch from Mexico City since the occupation. and there will be some chattering in the morning when the car riers get down It will be 'mucho, mucho correspondence.
 Practically every important business let- ter comes by registered mail on account of the unsettled conditions of the re- public They call them ''certihcados." I have met several Mexican bankers and they say that they cannot count with certainty on ordinary mail, so they regis ter. A Chinaman came in today to send a letter home. and when he put his ad- dress on the letter for it's return in case of non-delivery, he marked 1t Vera Cruz. T. S. A from which it would ap- pear that he regards us as permanent institution.
 I meet Jack London.g Japanese stenog- rapher quite often on the plaza, and he says. The postoffice very fine now" so l it would seem that we are making good ] in his estimation at least. have had some nice letters from Ger man and British refugees thanking me i for courtesies shown them, but mary . i line" from the Americans.
 1 It Is astonishing how many dead refu. 1 gees show up at the window each day There will be the usual half dozen in tho morning to regale us with storiep of how ! they were In jail. Tomorrow night VI VIII meet them on the plaza drtnkinG wtne and cussing the administratlon. ons