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Letter from Santiago Original
article source is unknown.
Extracted from the newspaper article collection started in 1879 by
Mrs. Nannie Brown of Madison, Missouri.
(Unable
to read title…) Nov 21, (1898). “(We)
are still here at Santiago. It (is) a much more pleasant place than (Guantanamo),
where on all sides (unknown) all looking exactly alike and (the) only sign
that any one had ever (been) there was a dozen or so white (buzzards),
showing where the marines (are) buried, who were killed the (unknown)
landing, and those who had (died) from the different ships when (the)
fleet was there. And there
was (very) little pleasure in our trip after (leaving) there as we met
rough (weather), and with the guns and (anchor) weighing so much,
(prevented) her riding the waves. Well,
(nearly) every one would break on deck and, as the hatches are (not)
tight, much water comes (in). General
Wood and the (other) reporters swear they (unknown) go abroad again, and
also hope she has made her (unknown) until her homeward bound (unknown) in
the spring and then we will (unknown) stay wet and without sleep (for a)
few days in order to reach (unknown) work.
I have settled down to (unknown) the best of it, and if I get
(unknown) (regularly) will not bother (unknown) thing.
We
can’t ask for (unknown) better to eat, and you may (think I) am making
up for the last (unknown) (months). Our
table is going to (unknown) dinner Thanksgiving (unknown) have turkey, ice
cream (unknown). (We) are
throwing in a dollar (and) will have the best time (unknown), considering
we must stay (unknown). I
will see if I can invite a (few) of the soldiers.
A great (unknown) of them are from St. Louis, (one with) the name
of Durnheim (r something like that) a cousin of (unknown), of Paris, but I
hardly (unknown). I could
invite only one or (unknown) slighting a half dozen, (unknown) acquainted
with in the (unknown…) Some of them (unknown) and they seem (unable to
read next few lines…). We
have (unknown) dollars per month ration money, and we use no government
rations, but get it all ashore, elected one of the men to act as caterer
each month. We got a bugler
the other day and now we get up in the morning, go to mess and quarters,
turn in at nights and do everything else to the bugle calls.
I enclose a piece of what is used in making the trousers of our
uniforms. I think I will draw
enough cloth to make a suit when I am ready to leave here.
It will wear a long time. I
sold my Kodak for $5 the other day, twice what I gave for it.
I got tired of fooling with such a small one, and here, I could not
make good pictures on account of difficulty in getting and having the
films developed. I will get a
4x5 Kodak when I get to New York. Hope
all are well. -- Harry F. Hitner.” Copyright
notice: All transcriptions in this email are copyrighted by their creator.
They may not be reproduced on another site or on any printed or recorded
media, CD, etc. without specific written permission from Kathleen Wilham.
Although public information is not in and of itself copyrightable, the
format in which it is presented, transcriptions, notes & comments,
etc. is. It is however, quite permissible to print or save the files to a
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libraries, and genealogical and historical societies to print and bind for
the use of their patrons. Kathleen
Wilham 2
Sharon Drive Shelbina,
MO. 63468-1562 |