The editor's notes clarifying various points are included in brackets [].
Dear Folkes:
You say the other fellows write oftener than I. The reason is: I spend nearly all my spare time working in the sick-bay. Eddie Smith is really very bad off: but he is that nervous temperament that needs attention all the time and makes matters worse. Times are much improved and I wish the papers would shut up. They will get us into serious trouble before long. Too bad about Tossie. Wish she could have a home of her own. Looks now as if we wouldn’t get to Boston at all. Coaling up here at Provincetown and rumors say ---- dynamo and --- to run it ---. Then hurray for the south. Everybody so well satisfied now that they sing and joke at their work and more than ever: but have their off watch to themselves. Good times evenings now. I read to Smith most of the times. All we ask for now is to see a Spaniard to prove we’re not the ‘ice-cream sailors’ the Boston papers acuse us of being. I won’t have a cent of my first month’s pay and maybe $10 out of the $30 of next month’s. Some of the fellows have lost from 5 to 20 lbs.; but hold my 150 and will unless I get sick: and it would take something to make me. Am stronger and have more life han for months past. Glad I’m here. Weather has been bad most of the time.
Tata Curt
Destroy my last letters.
Over date Write to USS Prairie Provincetown, Mass
Dear Folkes:
You will think it a long time since you heard from me. I still continue well and am much better than most of the fellows. I was just 8 lbs heavier when we left Brooklyn than when we stuck there: but guess I don’t gain much now. Austerhaus our First Luff [common nickname for a ship's executive officer] has sworn to kill the Naval Brigade and guess he’ll do it unless he goes overboard first. Some of the coal-passers swear they’ll kill him at the first opportunity and I guess the would. if they could without getting caught.
Probably a paper with every man’s name attached will be handed to
Capt. Weeks for Sec. [of the Navy] Long the first time we strike
Boston.
We are crusing up ;and down the New England coas and will run into
Boston
every ten days Should like to see you when we run in Sun, Mon,
Tues.
or sometime the first on next week or the last of this. I have my
two 6” guns looking as fine as silk and mean to keep them so.
Have
to stand watch one night from 8 till twelve, and from 4 till reville;
the
next night from 12 till 4 then work till 8 next evening. Have to
inspect all the guns once an hour and report to the officer of the deck
batteries all secure, sir! Most of the fellows have their
hair
right off to the scalp. The ship has a very odd looking crew
now.
Mustaches and hair all gone on men whom you are use to seeing
incivilized
guize, gives rather a comical effect. About a dozen men are sick
from overwork with insufficient food and sleep. Whole gangs of
others
are or have been sea sick; but as we’ve seen no rough weather they are
not very bad and have to work just the same. First Luff made us
shift
the coal from our part of the ship to another yesterday and today ‘just
to keep us from loafing about the ship.’ Luckily my work is not hard if
the hours are long and I am able to help the fellows out some when ‘Old
Arsurpeshaus’ isn’t looking. Haven’t had any signs of
seasickness,
and am feeling first rate; but mad. It’s a wonder I’ve had time
to
write so long, all at one time too! Some of the men who have
served
before say were are not treated right. ¾ rations and no rest when
off duty: but then I’ve no kick except for the other
fellows.
Tata Curt.
4 bells (2am) in the morning watch VI.23.98
Dear Folkes:
Received your letter yesterday eve, also one from Marion Hubbard, another from Ruth Montagne, and the greatest surprise of the season one from Doris Whitesides. Times are much better since a lots of the fellows complained to Crossman, Buffington and Shugan; and they went to Capt. Train. Our mess have eaten 75 loaves of bread and nearly a bushel of oatmeal besides any quantity of canned stuff, together with the regular gov’t ration. We have only 9 loaves of bread, a few cans of tomatoes and part of a mess of oatmeal left. Beside our battery watch of 3 men there are always 50 or 60 men on watch at night. Not a light shows outside the ship, so the men at the cat-head and the lookout in the crow’s next must be always on the alert. We came within 2 rods of running down a small schooner a few nights ago. She had no lights out and was not sighted until almost too late. Yesterday aft a flock of whale passed within 100 yds. Of us. They very nicely. Had my head shaved Thurs, and you just ought to have seen my head! Black’s no name for it. Our daily rout now Is: Picture of a triangle with the points marked Newport, N.H., Highland Light near Provincetown, and Nantucket Shoals
We see land, at Highland light, about half-an-hour a day: where we meet the ‘Frisco and get the mail. I’ll tell you ther’s lots more comes aboard than leaves this craft. 6 bells
Have just made my rounds & reported. Only one hour more
then turn in for one hour. I’m not half as sleepy as usual
to-night.
I don’t know when we shall run in to Boston. Probably some time
this
week. The papers will let you know. Probably we will get no
shore liberty: but guess friends can come aboard OK.
I’ve done lots of work in the sick-bay. Have to bandage Eddie
Smith
twice a day. Nearly a rupture. Only one sheet of paper at a
time. So tat a Curt
Dear Folkes:
Just received your letter & one from Jim Fouger. Went to work on the coal half an hour after you left & have been on it ever since. Three or four days more of it then don’t know where we go. All sorts of rumors. Mr Gilbert on board to-night coaling from 5.30 to 7.30-8 to 12 and 1 to 6 isn’t much fun: but it has to be done. Ship couldn’t run without it.
Pretty nearly time to turn in. tata Curt
Address letters to Key West, Coal by search-light till 12
tonight
Everybody working with light hearts because its for something this
time.
Pretty tired: but well and hearty. Won’t have more thime to write
till after we sail. Your son Curt
Send more postals
Dear Folkes:-
Everything lovely: but no time to write. The postmark of my
next will be hundreds of miles from here. Sail to-morrow
daybreak
Curt
Dear Folkes;
We dropped anchor here at 5 this morning.Had a lovely sail down.
Dear Folkes:-
We’ve been off San Juan [Puerto Rico] some time. No mail for a month. No time to write; but all well. 6 fellows laid up with dysentery. No one from Spfld sick. Tata Curt
July 3
Dear Folkes:-
We sailed from Key West, just after I wrote last with mail for the Havana bread squads. We now occupy the most responsible station. The extreme western end of the blocade. Havana is in plain sight all the time and old Moro and the other forts show up nicely. They are much stronger than is generally supposed. Sand batteries all along the coast, to the east. The Cubans hold most of the Puma del Rio. to the west. We cruise around directly in front of the city. During the day we keep 10 or 12 miles out & the night run in to within 4 or 5 miles. The [U.S.S.] Mayflower followed us in last night and got a shot from one of their 12” guns pretty close to her. Guess we’ll stay here until they combard.
You can’t imagine how pretty the water is here: Looks as though you had emptied a can of blueing into a tub of water. The sharks follow us around like dogs. We’ve just started under full speed toward the land to the west of the city. Don’t know what for. Don’t seem as though anything would dare to run out in broad day light. ‘First Life-boats crew stand by your boat.’ Guess we’re going to get mail from the Amphelite [U.S.S. AMPHITRITE] which is just steaming around in sight. Fine weather and very comfortable. Thundershowers came up last night about 5.30 PM without any warning and we had to bustle to get things secure. All over in 15 minutes and then it was fine. Sunsets are beautiful. We’re within range of the fort and its strange they don’t give us a shot. Guess they know its wasted ammunition. I get rid of letters as soon as I’ve read them and emptied them of stamps so that I can’t answer all your questions: but will copy our routine for you on another paper; but we get general quarters nearly every vessel we see, now. You kick about my writing so seldom: but I write to you and one to each of my other correspondents: and I get one from you to three from each of the others. (That is some of them, Jim & Clark don’t write so often.) I tell them don’t write so often.) I tell them to write whether they hear from me or not & I’ll answer when I get time. Life boat just returned. Didn’t get any mail; but sent some as the [U.S.S.] Marietta is going to Key West to coal. Haven’t received my mail since leaving Brooklyn. All well & happy. Hope to get back to school in fall. Dr. says he shall ask for me in case of action. Expect there are hot times around Santiago now. Here pretty soon. Tata Curt
[The following was included with the letter as he indicated]
Daily Post Routine
Am |
5 | Call all hands
5.15 | All hammocks stowed. Coffee.
5.30 | Turn to. * Execute morning orders * Will give list
of days
7.15 | Spread mess gear
7.30
| Breakfast
7.55 |First call
8. |Colors
8.15 |Turn to. Clean deck brightwork
8.30 |Sick call
9 |Pip [pipe] sweepers. Clear deck for quarters
9.25 |Officers call
9.30 |Quarters. Drill, exercises & inspection
11 |Retreat from quarters
11.30 |Pipe sweepers
11.45 |Spread mess gear
12 |Dinner
am [PM]
1 |Turn to. Pipe sweepers
1.30 |*Afternoon drills
3.30 |Retreat from aft. Drills.
4.30 |Clear up decks & pipe sweepers
4.55 |Officers call.
5 |Quarters
5.30 |Pipe Sweepers
5.45 |Spread mess gear
6 |Supper
6.30 |Turn to. Pipe sweepers
7.30 |Pipe down hammocks
8.30 |Tattoo
9 |Pipe down Tips. Set anchor watch
Daily Sea Routine
Am
4.30 |Clear up decks. Pipe sweepers. Wash down srub & wash
clothes
5 |Call adlers & servants.
6 | Pipe up all hammocks
7.15 |Hammocks stowed. Spread mess gear.
8 |Relieve the watch. Clean bright work.
8.15 |Turn to.
8.30 |Sick call
9 |Retreat from brightwork.
9.25 |Officers call.
9.30 |* Quarters, Inspection & drill
10 |Relieve wheel & lookout
11 |Retreat from drill.
11.30 |Pipe sweepers & mess gear
12 |Dinner, Relieve wheel & lookout. Relive watch
Pm
1 |Turn to clean up decks for drill.
1.30 |*call to drill.
2 |Relieve wheel & lookout.
3 |Retreat from drill. Pipe sweepers
4 |Relieve the watch.
4.30 |Pipe sweepers.
4.55 |Officers call
5 |Quarters
5.30 |Pipe sweepers
5.45 |Spread mess gear
6 |Supper
6.30 |Turn to. Relieve the watch
7.30 |Pipe hammocks.
8 |Turn in
|
|
|
Mon | Clear ship for action | Div. drill |
2. General Quarters | Subcal practice | |
Tues | Great guns & | Detail Instruction |
Subcaliber practice | ||
Wed | Collision drill | Bags |
Subcal practice | ||
Thurs | Gen. Quarters | Arm & equip boats |
Subcal prac. | ||
Fri. | Division drills | Fire Quarters |
Abandon ship | ||
Sat | Clean ship | Bags |
Sun | General Inspection | |
Once a week | At any time during the night | General quarters |
Fire quarters |
Dear Folkes 20 miles east of Santiago
We are with the big fleet now. Begin coaling
to-morrow.
Just arrived from Gibara. The Brooklyn,
New
York, Texas, Oregon,
Iowa,
Indiana,
Marblehead, Montgomery, Mayflower, Vesuvius,
Cushing, ericcson, Mc.Cullam, Glucus and some small boats here.
Very
powerful fleet and very pretty sight. The is where the marines first
landed.
We’ve just moved farther up the harbor and there are some other big
boats
here. Haven’t made out their names yet. Had a hard
tonsillitis
last week. Lost 10 lbs. O.K. and on duty again now. Yankee,
Yosemite
and Newark just came in. We now have the most powerful fleet ever
brought
together right here in this little bay. Hope to be back in time
for
school. Guess it’ll be Cleveland. I hate to leave Old
Reserve
as the time draws near. Tata Curt
Dear Folkes:
Haven’t slept for too long (Illegible) Start for Porto
Rico to-night. From there to Spain: so you may not hear again
for some time. Going to sleep now for 8 hours. Curt
8/14
pc PM Montauk Station NY Au 13 Montauk Point Aug. 27
Dear Folkes:- We brought 3 Co’s 7th Reg Inf from Santiago- a
sudden
fog ran us aground; but we got off OK yester. N.Y. papers
would
give us an unjust roast. and ought to be prosecuted. As we
have a clean health bill; don’t expect to be quarantined long: if at
all.
Hope we’ll all be discharged during next week. I had quite a go
with
dysentery down at Ponce, PR. Lost flesh
till
I only weighed 132 lbs. Have been over it for sometime now, and
am
putting on flesh rapidly. Never wanted to get into the woods so
bad
in my life. Fishing tackle & gun in Ragged Hill woods is my
dream:
still I want some time at home. Hope to be home during next two
weeks.
Curt