The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-12

NOTES Describe
VERA Cruz Fight
We Get Fed Something
Fierce, : Writes Calvin
Schaefer.
WAR NO picnic AFFAIR
Boy Yeoman of U. S. S. New jersey
Tells of Battle with Pride Al
Bapdsmal Fire.
WAR NO picnic AFFAIR


with boyish enthusiasm and a great
show of patriotism and heroic efforts to
be a soldier worthy Of his country, Cal-
vim Scheeffer. Washington boy. sea-
man OF the u s. S. New Jersey, now
at Vera Cruz, writes interesting letters
from there to his two sisters Miss
Eta and Miss Edna Schaeffer, of 10
Rock Creek Church road
The first letter the sisters received
from their brother in Mexico was mailed
April q and written during the first
Il was called upon three days ago
by Adjt. Gen. stone. who Is second In
command of the troops in and out Of
Vera Cruz" the latter ran:
Serves as Courier.
I'VE only have enough men in the city
to do the guard duty, the rest are about
seven miles out of town on the firing
lines which is numbered about 12.00o. I
carry all official messages between the
different troops and regiment headquar-
tiers. The messages are all given to
me verbally, and when reach my des-
tination I give it in brief. have been
10 the firing line once. and went through
the country by myself / know every
part Of Vera Cruz, as there are sew
erai regiments all over the city. and I
have been to them all.
81 have been in as thick battle al
ready as there ever will be. The morn
ing we came over we had a good dis
lance to go before we got to headquar-
tiers. On our way, bullets came from all
directions. Three of the leading officers
were in the bunch 1 saw one bullet
land between my feet as made step.
y
Rear Admiral Fletcher, and this Is what
he told me: Never mind. my boy, this
is what We are getting paid for" That
kept me from running. and afterward
saw several other shots come very close
to me The same day / was by myself,
going to the brigade headquarters. and
in going there 1 ran into a bunch Of
Mexicans. and they fired on me, but /
think / must have run faster than the
bullets, although some came very close.
1--WE Get Fed Something Fierce"
Everything is very high here now and
very scarce. i paid sixty-five cents In
gold for this paper twelve sheets and
twelve envelopes We get fed some
thing fierce. All we have had to eat is
bareback and canned salmon and black
coffee. And the stuff We buy is high and
Of very poor quality. Our bed is one
on a cement floor. We usually
work until 11:30 and start at o'clock.
If this keeps up until the trouble is over
don't know what will happen to me.
went to the ship yesterday for some
paper. and the first place I hit was the
gally and filled my stomach. All such
up from the ships firing the big guns on |
them and damaging them considerably.
Vera Cruz is now under martial law, ]
so guess our chances for staying In 1
Mexico will be good for long time. |
hope we will soon receive mail as we |
have not received any since we left |
Hampton Roads. Your loving brother,
-.-. CALVIN"
Describes Conditions.
Another letter dated from the head
quarters of the United States naval /
forces on shore. the Hotel Terminal of
Vera Cruz, gives interesting descriptions
Of the affairs in the Mexican port.
Il am now having a fine time as al
the danger is over in this city, and /
We are allowed to go out after our work
Is finished" he wrote.
The most beautiful thing 1 ever wit
messed was when the United States flag
was hoisted over the city of Vera Cruz,
which is now governed by the United
States naval officers. but will lose the
in a few days as four army |
transports arrived early this morning
with several thousand troops from Texas.
The sailors, after being relieved, will |
go back their respective ships.
The fight was hard one and a dan. |
yerous one, but as luck was with us,
We won with hOnors. When the flag was
hoisted all sailors and marines that were
not standing guard were lined I'D in L
front of the building it was raised over
The staff officers had special places to
stand. When the flag was being hoist
ID, the officers saluted with their right
hand and the men stood at present arms,
and remained in the order until the u. s. Is
:. Arkansas. which is the flagship in this
port, fired twenty-one guns. At the same
tine the band from the Arkansas, played
The Star Spangled Banner" All Au1er,- \