Part 18 (1/2)

It was great I guess I got a beat, as The Herald tug is the only one in sight

dick

Flagshi+p--Off Havana

April 30th, 1898

DEAR FAMILY:

You must not mind if I don't write often, but I feel that you see The Herald every day and that tells you of what I a sonotes and all, I haven't much time-- What you probably want to know is that I a me at all--Mother alants to know that On the other hand I as and on the safest, as she can move quicker and is more heavily armored than any save the battleshi+ps-- The fact that the aduarantee that she will not be allowed to expose herself I was very badly scared when I first came to Key West for fear I should be left especially when I didn't le trick so far-- Bonsal missed the bombardment and so did Stephen Crane-- All the press boats were away except The Herald's I had to write the story in fifteen ood except that we had it exclusively--

I a a short story of the first shot fired to the Scribner's and an I have asked them to announce it as it will help me immensely here for it is as an historian and not as a correspondent that I get on over those men who are correspondents for papers only I haveand the admiral is very much my friend as are also his staff Crane on the other hand took the place of Paine as exceedingly popular with every one and it hasa really royal tiht and day and there is always color and ood feeling-- I get on very ith the crew too, one of theeon if I ht learn to be useful, and to get accustoery-- It was a wonderful thing to see, and I was confused as to whether I adeon's understood and ive way to the ether and I had to hold him for an hour while they took out his whole insides and laid theh he were a holloatermelon Then they put his stomach back and sewed it in and then sewed up his skin and he was just as good as new We carried him over to a cot and he came to, and looked up at us

We were all bare-ar table, which was also covered with his blood He was gray under his tan and his lips were purple and his eyes were still drunk with the ether-- But he looked at our sanguinary hands and shook his head sideways on the pillow and smiled-- ”You'se can't kill me,” he said, ”I'm a New Yorker, by God--you'se can't kill me” The Herald cabled for a story as to how the crew of the New York behaved in action I think I shall send thes the people had better take for granted-- Of course, we haven't been ”in action” yet but the first boot well started I think every one was rather nervous and it was chiefly to show the to worry about that we fired off the U S

guns They talk like veterans now-- It was much less of a strain than I had expected, there was no standing on your toes nor keeping your raphs ht to be excellent--what happened was that you were thrown up off the deck just as you are when an elevator starts with a sharp jerk and there was an awful noise like the worst clap of thunder you ever heard close to your ears, then the s through the air like a giant rocket-- The shots they fired at us did not cut any ice except a shrapnel that broke just over the main mast and which remindedwas to see the Captains of the Puritan and Cincinnati frantically signalling to be allowed to fire too-- A little fort had opened on us froht, the Monitor ith waves and the guns seemed to couns were as fast as the reports of a revolver, a self-cocking revolver, when one holds the trigger for the whole six We got some copies of The Lucha on the Pana on in Havana were the best reading I ever saw-- They probably reported the Matanzas bo yesterday was very tame We all sat about on deck and the band played all the time-- We didn't even send the men to quarters-- I do not believe the army intends to move for teeks yet, so I shall stay here They seem to want me to do so, and I certainly want to-- But that army is too slow for words, and we love the ”Notes fro about the troops at Chickaa-- I believe ill happen is that a chance shot will kill so but knock hell out of whatever fort does it and land a party of marines and bluejackets-- Even if they only occupy the place for 24 hours, it will beat that aret second et any, unless they brace up and come over-- I have the very luck of the British Army, I walked into an open hatch today and didn't stop until I caught by my arms and the back of my neck It was very dark and they had opened it while I was in a cabin

The Jackie whose business it was to watch it orse scared than I was, and I looked up at hies with my neck and arms and said ”why didn't you tell me?” He shook his head and said, ”that's so, Sir, I certainly should have told you, I certainly should”-- They're exactly like children and the reason is, I think, because they are so shut off from the conta in a entle as o forward and speak to one of theather round and sit on the deck in circles and we talk and they listen andcoun at Matanzas is a modest alert boy about 18 years old and crazy about his work-- So, the Captain selected him for the honor and also because there is such jealousy between the bow and stern guns that he decided not to risk feelings being hurt by giving it to either-- So, Boone as at Annapolis a o was told to fire the shot-- We all took his narown about three inches We told hi with his naull beside lad they had let hiun because his ainst her wish and he hoped now that she would be satisfied when she saw his name in the papers He was too sweet and boyish about it for words and I a to take a snapshot at him and put his picture in Scribner's--”he only stands about so high--”

dick

I enclose a souvenir of the bombardment Please keep it carefully for er” in thirty years

TAMPA, May 3rd, 1898

DEAR NORA:

We are still here and probably will be It is a irls here the place would be perfect I don't knohat's the irl--here aton and all the boy officers of the arirl I bought a fine pony to-day, her nalory for Ellaline so I diffused it over the whole co her Gaiety Girl, because she is so quiet, all the Gaiety Girls I know are quiet

She never does what I tell her anyway, so it doesn't matter what I call her But when this cruel war is over (6 a day with bath roo of her labelled ”Gaiety Girl the Kentucky Mare that carried the news of the fall of Havana to Matanzas, fifty oing to buy a saddle and a servant War is a cruel thing especially to army officers They have to wear uniforms and are not allowed to take off their trousers to keep cool-- They take off everything else except their hats and sit in the dining room without their coats or collars-- That's because it is war time They are terrible brave--you can see it by the way they wear bouquets on their tunics and cigarette badges and Cuban flags and by not saluting their officers One General counted today and forty enlistedThe ar to make itself solid with me They arechair I down even on a gun carriage Wait till I write my book I wouldn't say a word now but when I write that book I'll give the it now, the first batch comes out in Scribner's in July

to you all

dick

During the early days of the war, Richard received the appointment of a captaincy, but on the advice of his friends that his services were more valuable as a correspondent, he refused the co letter shows that at least at the tiretted the decision, but as events turned out he succeeded in rendering splendid service not only as a correspondent but in the field

TAMPA--May 14, 1898

DEAR CHAS

On reflection I areatly troubled that I declined the captaincy It is unfortunate that I had not time to consider it We shall not have another war and I can always be a war correspondent in other countries but never again have a chance to serve into do but the outside people won't Not that I care about that, but I think I eak not to chance it I don't know exactly what I ought to do When I see all these kid militia men enlisted it makes me feel like the devil I've no doubtand like it for the excite would bore ht I had to keep at it for a year orhad too much excitement and freedom It spoils me to make sacrifices that other men can make Whichever way it co

Lying around this hotel is enough to demoralize anybody We are ets cynical and loses interest

On the other hand I would beIt is a question of character entirely and I don't feel I've played the part at all It's all very well to say you are doing ame to look on and pat the other chaps on the back with a few paragraphs, that is cheap patriotis chances and you're not and when the war's over they'll be happy and I won't The et further than Chickaa or Gretna Green and the man who doesn't enlist at all but minds his own business isabout what otherit myself, especially as I had a chance of a life time, and declined it