The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-11-11

them. The autos, American flags fas-
tened to them, took US rapidly to the
shore. | do not know how the others
behaved; l, myself. took up as little
room as l could, 81 as to leave all the
space possible for a probable passing
bullet. A gruesome incident of the
auto ride was the sight of a native
soldier boy, stretched out, bloody and
patient looking, and one of our u. S.
doctors tending him. Near the point
from where we were taken out to the
ship were crowds of natives, our ma
rines, and in a house neal by, the gen
tleman, it was said, who was causing
all the Santo Dominican mix-up. We
had a good survey of it all, before the
officer called for four stout sailors to
carry the ladies through the few inter-
vening feet of water to the small
boats. Forty-four, l think, responded,
and the peril of this shoulder ride
turned out to be surest safety. ANY
one who has not assembled a mountain
Of water by boat, descending likewise,
then changing in what seemed mid
ocean to a launch, and finally climbing
to the deck of a big steamer, will not
understand why l at once rushed to
the rail and gave up all my past.
There were others of the trip who in
the course of time came to understand
fully. | have written before of sea-
sickness, but may the beyond hold no
such suffering as those first three
days, and the general qualmy quaking
of the remainder of my stay, other
wise l cannot even think of a COM
plant to make.
The food was good, we were given
| q n I ICnV17 ND AxvA,. - 4LN - e
the capture of a big shark, two teeth
have as souvenirs, and one of the
ships ribbons. We were treated with
the utmost consideration. and to the
Captain thanks are due for unlimited
courtesy. The Paymaster and his
Assistant are two other gentlemen I
remember as being specially consid-
crate. A number of ships lay near
us-foreign ones-the officers of our
ship paying necessary state visits.
Occasionally at night a shot was sent
as greeting to US from the warriors
ashore, but mostly quiet and content
ment reigned. At night, too, our
American minister sometimes came
aboard and told US how things were
at the Legation and Receptoria, and
ashore generally. A guard at these
buildings had been kept. Then some
of the gentlemen zane out to the ship,
but the most of them remained to
give what assistance they could. Fun
was gotten out of the guard situation,
too. One of the boys who had come
out to the ship told how the night be-
fore he vas suddenly awakened by a
light flashing in his face, and to find
a pistol pointing at the tip of his nose.
He said, "Of course it was all right
when | found it was Mac, who was on
guard duty with his two men, those
two hours, but you know l didn't feel
so good when | first woke up" An
other American gave it as his opinion,
after n nights continuous popping
of shots, "that the Dominicans would
have a big time fixing up the holes
they were making in the atmosphere"
Just the same, u boys kept rather
close within walls for the time being.
We, MEMS, of course, were chiefly
concerned in getting the first boat
that would start us homeward. The
Clyde Line steamer was help up out
in the harbor; still it held hopes, until
the Santiago de Cuba appeared, max
ing hope stronger. Alas, this boat,
too, came to anchor outside. Then
after two days of uncertainty, theCap-
tain brought US a letter from the Min
lister saying to go aboard the Cuban
boat; then another message came say
ing not to go. Finally next morning
a sure enough message came.
1t happens that the wife of the Off
Ger of the customs comes from New
Jersey also, our home place, producing
naturally a sense of pride in each, but
as per proverb. pride goeth before a
fall, so in bidding goodbye to the
Captain mention was made of my des-
tination and he added to the good
bye, "Why l thought you lived in the
United States"i l said some more
farewells to many excellent people l
had met aboard. giving special atten-
ton. of course, to the very nice First
Lady of Dominican Land, the Ameri-
can Minister'S wife.
The launch took me over to the San
tiago de Cuba, where l was found by
my husband. Many more people, de-
string to leave Santo Domingo, came
aboard, so we amused ourselves in the
several hours waiting, watching the
arrivals between whites, listening to a
kimono clad Dominican woman say
"Buena, Buena". to a native who was
making unpleasant Spanish criticisms
of her, because she refused paying
boat hire, he having broken a mirror
in transit.
Arriving at Macoris, more refugees
came aboard from the Plantations,
etc. One lady, the wife of the Admin
i~strator of the Company's largest es-
tate in Santo Domingo. came aboard
here, the Administrator himself re-
naming on the estate. as a matter of
course and as most these managers do,
to look after their Company's inter
ests and take what risks may be. The
S. de c. is a small boat and unlimited
seasickness abounds. I had served
my penance on the U. S. Steamship,
but nearly succumbed again here,
watching and helping others. Sea-
sickness always makes me think, "And
now are the mighty fallen" l watch
ed a particular illustration of this,