The San Francisco call. [volume], May 15, 1898, Page 18, Image 18

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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18
THE WAR SPIRIT TOLD IN LETTERS AND ANECDOTES
AMONG the gallant gunners of
the Olympia, Dewey's flagship
before Manila, is Frank Lock
ridge. Any act of bravery he
may perform will merely live up
to the traditions of his family, as his
father was an officer in the War of the
Rebellion. He distinguished himself
when the blockade was run at the
siege of Vicksburg. At the same time
three of his uncles were fighting in the
ranks for their country.
Aside from this showing for the
males of Lockridge's ancestry, the fe
male side has distinguished Itself in
martial events. His aged gr wdmother,
a resident of this city, rendered valu
able service to the nation by bearing,
at the risk of her life, information to
our Government during the entire pe
riod of the Civil War. She calmly re
lates such experiences as riding seven
miles through the cold of a wintry
night, upon a race horse never before
ridden by a woman, to carry valuable
news to the Governor of the State, by
which a great calamity to the land was
averted.
She also tells of anxious moments
upon Ohio River mail steamers and
flag boats, when rifle balls from the
shore whistled uncomfortably close to
those on b ,rd; or the strife for su
premacy which war often breeds even
among compatriots, made quarters in
the cabin even unsafe for peaceful
passengers.
"I never carried papers," she said,
when the risk of bearing information
between the two armies was men
tioned.
"With a good memory one can carry
dates, the names of places as well as
plans in their head, and nobody is go
ing to swear to what you are thinking
or Just what you are going to tell."
When asked what she thought of the
present declaration of war, she replied:
"It was the only thing to be done, as I
told my family when we heard of the
Maine outrage. They took it quietly
and said they didn't think there would
be war — that President McKlnley
would never approve it.
"We don't care whether he does or
not!" I said. "We shan't ask President
MrKinley's permission for everything.
Where will the United States be in the
annals of history if she doesn't go to
war after this insult? Benedict Ar
nold's shame will be nothing compared
to that of our whole nation! Her dis
grace will not be lived down in six gen
erations to come. But my country has
lived up to my expectations of her; she
has done the only thing possible under
the circumstances.
"Admiral Dewey's victory is the most
glorious victory ever known. There is
but one that will compare with it in
my estimation — that of General Jack
son at New Orleans over Sir Edward
Packenham's British troops in 1815.
"I have always felt proud to think
that I once met and shook hands with
that grre^t hero. General Jackson,
though at the time I was a very little
girl and paid for the honor with a se
vere whipping.
•When I heard that he would past,
through Steubenville, which was then
my home, on his way up the Ohio River
as he journeyed to Washington, I felt
as much interest as any of the grown
people.
"General Jackson found it necessary
to receive the admiring citizens of the
towns he passed, and understanding
that a reception would be given upon
WHAT THE AMERICAN AND SPANISH CARTOONISTS THINK OF THE WAR.
SPANISH CARTOONISTS
Draw
AMERICANS AS PIGS.
ALLi the cartoons here depleted are
from recent Spanish papers pub
lished either Jn Madrid or Barce
lona. The cartoonists of Spain
always represent America as a
hog.
In one cartoon It will be seen, for In
stance, Uncle Sam Is represented
threatening Spain by sending the ship
Maine to Havana, whereupon Spain
turns to take revenge and Uncle Sam
runs away in the shape of a hog. In
another cartoon the American hog is
impersonated by Minister Woodford.
while the Spanish nation takes the
form of a dove with the head of Senor
Gullon, the Foreign Minister.
In another cartoon President McKln
ley is represented as a hog dressed in
the stars and stripes, attempting in a
treacherous and cowardly manner to
stab the Spanish lion through the bars
of a cage.
Another cartoon represents America
In the form of a hog mingling In the
gay throng and making advances to
Spain, represented as a fair lady.
The cartoons are a fair sample of the
Spanish wit expended on the present
relations betweeen the two countries.
\ his boat to the people of our town I
i begged my mother to take me to see
! him.
"Not understanding my Inborn admi
ration for heroism my mother laughed
! at the idea and s said*'no.'
"But tot though I was I made up my
mind that see General Jackson I would.
; So when the day of his arrival came I
: said nothing further to my mother and
j stole out of the house, but took good
! care that she did not see me cross the
| square toward the river.
"When I reached the river I saw that
two flatboats were already busy, one
carying and another bringing back
from the military vessel the people who
were bent on shaking hands with the
old soldier.
"I kept with the crowd going out,
and young as I was my heart thrilled
at the thought of seeing him.
"In those days village children went
barefoot in the summer, and as I had
to get out of my mother's sight with
out exciting her suspicion, I wasn't
dressed up for the occasion and had on
neither bonnet nor shoes. But I didn't
give a thought to my dress. I was
busy thinking about getting near the
great tall man, who stood surrounded
by his staff, and of shaking his hand
as I saw the others doing.
"At last my turn came.
"I think I remember the occasion
better because Black Abe, one of the
town water-carriers, went up just be
fore me with his little son and intro
duced him to the general as his name
sake, Andrew Jackson Abraham
Moore.
"As I had no proud parent there to
introduce me, after Black Abe moved
on, I caught hold of the big hand and
craned my little neck to get a good
look at the man towering so far above
me.
"I saw a lean, tanned face, with a
pair of sharp eyes, which glanced
down into mine from under bushy eye
brows as he slightly smiled.
"Whether he had smiled or frowned
it would have been all the same to me,
for I had seen a hero, and in the coun
try there wasn't a happier child than I
all day long, though I did go barefoot
and carried on mv back smarting rec
ollection of a hard switching."
"Now I'm a grandmother, but the
scene is as fresh in my mind as though
it had occurred yesterday. My grandson
is on board the Olympia before Manila,
fighting for his country. I think of
him a good deal, of course, and I pray
for him. I know that he is in the
hands of the Lord and that he is doing
his duty, as every American should.
"My one regret is that I am too old
to be of further service to my country,
for apart from the watch I kept upon
its interests I nursed many of our
boys back to health, tending them as
though they were my own. I have had
dozens of grateful letters from them
long after I had forgotten even their
names.
HOW COMPANY G
OF THE SIXTH LEFT
BAKERSFIELD.
The following letter received by a
lady residing in this city from her sis
ter residing in Bakersfleld well illus
trates the spirit actuating Americans,
young and old alike, in the pending
contest:
SUNDAY, May 8, 1898.
Dear Sister: Well, this is the day of
days. Our boys have gone to the war.
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, MAY 15, 1898.
Company G, Sixth Regiment, recruits,
left this a. m. It truly was exciting.
I 11 tell it in pieces.
We stayed in town last evening and
went with Mrs. Taylor and others and
decorated the cars the boys were to go
in with bunting and flags on the in
side and nailed big banners the full
length of the car, with the words.
Company G, Sixth Regiment, Ba
kersfleld," on it. We got home about
12 o clock, and then went out early
this morning to put the flowers in. The
train pulled out at 7 o'clock, and we
got up at 5. About a dozen went out*
to decorate.
At 6 o'clock all the bells in town
were rung and all the whistles blown,
so the people would wake up.
Ihere was a Jam of people at the de
pot. Three bands, the regular one, the
juvenile band and the colored band.
Between them, they kept musio going
all the time.
When word came to town that the
boys were called out, the town people
took up a collection and bought them
a beautiful silk flag. Lawyer Lock
hart presented it while the boys stood
'uncovered." Captain Cook replied for
the company. It was a very broken
and disjointed speech, but all the gaps
were rilled with lusty cheers, for every
one was feeling the strain of the
good-bxs, and anything to make a
noise and relieve the feelings was
welcomed.
The captain is very popular with the
boys. The Governor offered him a
commission as lieutenant of artillery
under Major Rice (did you know he
had gone?) which pays better and is
very much easier than captain of in
fantry, but he declined and requested
that he be allowed to keep his com
mand of Company G. Isn't that kind
of nice?
The boys cheered and cheered and
the bands played and every one shook
hands with every one %lse and said
"Good-by!" "Good luck!" "Don't stop
any Spanish bullets!" "God bless yju: "
The mothers and sisters and wives
were red-eyed but smiling, and every
one did her best.
Every one looked kind of dewy, and
mamma shed copious teurs of sym
pathy. The boys felt gay and then a
trifle dewy, too, when they looked at
their mothers, and once or twice I saw
tears when they said the last good
bys, which we hastily swallowed as
unsoldierly.
I knew the boys would hate to be
cried over, so I determined that not
one drop of brine should come from
an excess of sympathy on my part, so
the result was that I had a very nice
time. The boys all stood around and
talked to me and we laughed and sung
snatches that the band played, but
there was so much noise we couldn't
hear' ourselves. Claude Blodgett says
they'll "never kill him, not while
there's anything to hide behind," etc.,
and every one tried to say something
witty, and if they didn't succeed, it
didn't matter, for it went just as well.
Percy and Rush Blodgett are under
age and they are so mad at their
father because he wouldn't consent
for them to go that they can hardly
live. They are perfectly green with
envy of Claude. Percy related in a
very disgusted tone when I was talk
ing to him this morning that a little
girl about six years old said to him:
'•You great, big, lazy boy, why don't
you go to war like your brother?"
Charlie Ward and Bert Colton have
gone.
The one I felt sorriest for was Mabel
Blodgett. Charlie has enlisted, and
they've only been married a month.
She wasn't crying, but she looked too
pale and miserable for any use, and
trying to laugh it off all the time. If
I had had time for a tear it would
have been then.
While the boys were drawn up to
receive the flag, she stood right facing
him, and she never moved her eyes
from his face, and then the captain
said there would be a few minutes for
good-bys before they went aboard,
but told the men not to break rank.
Charlie held out his hand to her and
she just came flying. He put his arms
around her and I looked the other
way. It didn't do any good, however,
to look the other way, for every one
else was doing the same thing. George!
There Is the tear now, but it was
really enough to make any one wee
to see her face.
We didn't have any one to shake
. hands with; we'd done it all before,
and that part was rather painful to
see, so we walked up to the west end,
way up by the express office, so as to
wave as they pulled out. When they
were all on board, people began hurry
ing along down the track to wave
good-by.
While we were standing there I saw
a cute pup, and I said to George Me
Leod, "Steal that pup and give it to
them for a mascot.
There was a little boy there and
George asked him if it was his. The
kid (about six years old), said yes,
and George asked him if he could put
it on the train, and the kid grabbed
the dog and hugged it close and said
"No-o-o!"
No more was said to him. but he
heard us talking about they're not
having a mascot, etc., and so just as
the train started by us (it went very
slowly on account of the crowd), the
kid pulled George's coat and held up
the pup and said; "Here, you, put it
on, quick. I can't reach. Give 'em
my dog for a mascot."
George grabbed the dog and yelled
in a voice they could all hear, "Boys,
the kid wants you to take his pup for
a mascot."
The boys all reached for it and
yelled, "We'll take it." "Hurrah for
the kid." "Bully for you, Johnny,"
and as they went out of sight they
were waving flags out the windows
and one fellow had the pup by the
back of the neck holding him out for
every one to see, and everybody
cheered and yelled, and . the band
played' The Girl I Left Behind Me."
That pup is the right kind of a
mascot, all right. The fellow had him
by the back of the neck and was
waving him with one hand and a
flag with th« other, but the pup never
Bouealod a Hit. Hf> is clear grit.
How was that for patriotism on the
kid's part? It was probably his dear
est possession; but he thought they
certainly ought to have a mascot, and
he grave It willingly, once he made up
his mind, and yelled with the rest
when they wore cheering for him.
It's wonderful how much good it
did them to cheer. ' They gave three
cheers for the flag, for Captain Cook,
for the ladies who brought the flowers.
Then the civilians gave three cheers
for Company G. for Uncle Sam and
for Captain Cook. Some «ne yelled,
"Remember the Maine!" and the yells
and howls that greeted that remark
would have caused the Spaniards to
turn pale if they had heard it.
It was splendid, and like the boy in
the song daddy tells about:
"I burned to wear a uniform.
Hear drums and see a battle."
Oh, dear, I am all tired out (mam
ma's upstairs asleep); but I am so
stirred up I want to have some one
to yell three cheers for something
again. I just feel thrills clrar to my
toes. I wonder why I wasn't a boy?
"O. mah honey!" I wish you had been
here. It was just I'm-ra!
As the train was pulling out some
of the boys gave me a particular "lit
tle salute. I hadn't seen Bert Colton
to say good-by to him, and as he rode
slowly by he sang out, "Good-by
Violet." and I said. "Good-by Bert "'
though I doubt if he heard In all the
noise and shouting; but we nodded and
waved and smiled.
Kenneth, who is a sergeant, was
riding on th« step and I was standing
a little buck in the crowd. I'd given
him some beautiful red roses, and he
had them pinned "where he wantid
the bullets to be scarce," that is, over
his heart. And when he rode by he
waved at me, pointed to his flowers,
nipped one off the stem and threw it
back to me and waved and waved and
smiled and tried to make me hear his
yells above the rest. Isn't that fun?
Claude Blndgett waved his flag and
shouted, "We'll lick 'em now, sure."
Winston Spencer from Tehachapi
had no one to say good-by to, so I was
especially nice to him (which, I guess,
surprised him. for I never talked to
him before), but he seemed especially
pleased and waved his cap as Me went
by and shouted, "Tell 'em goo4-by at
the Summit."
There's no use in trying to tell It all,
for things lapped over each other in
happening and all came fast. Anyway,
I expect this is all I have stamps to
carry, and you're probably a wreck
from trying to read It.
Don't expect anything rational from
me for some days.
Love and love to my sister.
VIOLET.
WANT TO FIGHT
FOR THEIR COUNTRY,
HERE are two letters written by
two American lads who are
wildly ambitious to be right at
the front in the present war. One
of these boys is at the front and
the other hopes to get there at an early
date if his father will only consent to
his enlistment.
Here is his last letter to his father:
Los Angeles, April 22, 1898.
Dear Father: I am writing to
you about a very serious matter.
1 suppose you have heard that
Spain has declared war against
the United States and that the
United States cruiser Nashville
has captured the Buena Ventura,
loaded with lumber.
This State has offered a regiment
of cavalry volunteers to the United
States Government. Mr. H. J. To
berman, son of Major Toberman,
ex-Mayor of this city, has organ
ized or rather is organizing a troop
of cavalry from the High School
to go with this regiment. Mr. To
berman has graduated from a mili
tary college and has served as cap
tain in a company of cavalry for
a year and a half.
The boys will serve for the war
with Spain or for three years. They
will elect Mr. Toberman captain
and have some other reliable men
for officers. General Jones, an ex-
Confederate officer, who has some
thing to do with the regiment — I
think he is raising it — left for Sac
ramento yesterday to see Gov
ernor Budd, who is a special friend
of his, politically and otherwise. He
will give the regiment the first
chance at the first call for volun
teers.
The boys in the company Mr. To
berman has got up are all High
School boys, and I know most of
them; they are of good character.
Claire Umsted, our neighbor on
Houver street, for one has joined.
When the first call for volunteers
comes the cavalry will go to Chiek
amauga and will there receive
horses, uniforms, arms, drill, etc.
Tin y will most likely be along the
Atlantic coast.
I WANT TO ENLIST WITH
THIS COMPANY OF CAVALRY
FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Father, I am in earnest. I wish
you were here and could see me. I
have thought the matter all over
and know what I am talking about.
The kind Lord has my life all
mapped out, and I will have to die
some place some time; only he
knows where and when. If it is his
will that I should die serving my
country instead of at home with
the family I am perfectly willing.
It will be a great disappointment
to me if you do not give your con
sent. If I get yours I am sure I
can get mamma's.
I think thnt you would be will-
Ing to sacrifice at least one out of
eight for your country. I won't go
expecting to be killed, but will make
the best of things. I don't go ex
pecting to have a picnic at the ex
pense of Uncle Sam, but will go
prepared to enuure hardships.
Mr. Toberman says that I can
enter even if I am under 18 with
parents' consent. I am 16 years
old now and I have the size and
constitution of a boy of 19. The
boys are most all 18 or 19 years old.
I suppose you will hate to let me
go. but when you think why I am
going and who I am going for you
will let me go.
Claire Umsted asked his father
and he said "Yes. I am glad to see
you want to go," or something to
that effect. I will havo everything
furnished by the Government, in
cluding all the hardtack, pork,
bacon, beans and coffee that I
want. I will get $13 per month. I
would a great deal rather be in the
cavalry than in the infantry, be
cause it is lighter duty and no
marching on foot. You can write
to Mr. H. J. Toberman, 613 South
Pearl street, and get particulars.
I want an answer immediately, if
possible, because the volunteers
may be called out very soon, and I
want to be with them and help
represent the Los Angeles High
School. I do hope you will let me
go. I have made this solemn prom
ise before God and signed the
pledge that I will never drink a
drop of liquor. I intend to live up
to that promise in the future as I
have in the past. I will not forget
my Bible.
Last night I went down to River
station to see the First Regiment
of United States troops. They
didn't get in till 11 and I didn't get
home ti— half-past 12 on acount of
the crowded cars. They said it
took them 26 hours to come
from San Francisco. There were
three trains of them of about
twenty cars each. The band
played all the patriotic songs and
played them well, too.
Hoping that you -will consent to
my enlisting in such good company
and in such good cause, I remain,
Your loving LUCIUS.
P. S.— REMEMBER THE MAINE,
and excuse poor writing, because
I have had two examinations this
afternoon and have written a good
deal.
I will earn as much money there
as in the city and will send money
home.
Here is the letter from the other lad
to his mother. He is an apprentice on
board the Petrel, that same little gun
boat that did such heroic service in the
late gTeat naval battle at Manila. The
letter was written when the vessel lay
at Hongkong, while rumors of ap
proaching war were in the air and be
fore Admiral Dewey sailed south to
carry out the order, "Find and take or
destroy the Spanish fleet."
HONGKONG, April 3, IS9B.
Dear Mother: "Rumors of war
and rumors of war." That is the
way things are on board the
Petrel. We are as well prepared
as we can be and could go to sea
at a minute's notice. The com
modore is anxiously awaiting the
outcome of affairs in the United
States. Our fleet is daily expected
to be re-enforced by the Baltimore
and maybe the Oregon.
The Reuter telegrams are about
as reliable as the . We raised a
nice subscription for the Maine
relief fund — I don't know how
much, but I think $1500 would not
miss it far.
England, Japan and Russia are
having quite a bit of trouble in
the Far East. Russia wants the
whole province of Manchuria.
It was reported that a Japanese
cruiser fired on a Russian ship in
Taiien Wan Bay. A Russian man
of-war sent a boat over to find out
the reason, which was given them,
and both captains agreed not to
commence hostilities until the Czar
and Mikado were notified. The
news was suppressed as much as
possible. I see Old Krauth. It is
very disagreeable and unhandy to
be kept In suspense like we are. All
the news we g-et are the Reuter
telegrams, and they are very
short. The Chinese papers don't
pretend to write up any news ex
cept local brevities. We were ex
amined for the quarter and I was
the top one.
The Concord is alongside of us
and I can see many people I know.
My inability to write a letter is
plainly evident in this epistle. All
we hear are rumors, and I don't
like to write about them, as a
sailor's imagination is something
wonderful. When the ship's cook
shines the coppers he is liable to
find out wonderful things pertain
ing to the topics of me day, or
when the leadsman hauls up
lead" many a strange tale clings to
the lead line, and when the helms
man turns the wheel the spokes are
always sure to tell him what is
happening in other parts of the
club Vessels sunk, nations at war,
rulers killed, etc.— all come to these
jolly boys as easy as falling off a
I hope this letter will find you In
good health. Your
HONGKONG. March 20, 2M&
Dear Mother: At present things
look as if some trouble was brew
ing. We have been divided off for
landing parties in case of bombard
ment. So many men to land and
so many to work the guns aboard
the ship.
The chief quartermaster and I
are detailed to send and receive
signals. Everything is dull or\
board the ships, as lots of changes
will be made when the Olympia
and Boston go home, and many of
the men would like to go home in
one of thorn. The Olympia will un
doubtedly leave when the war
cloud blows over and the Boston
about three months after.
Prince Henry is receiving all
kinds of banquets. The Deutsch
land has gone into the drydock at
Kowloon, just across from here.
The Gaelic is expected in here
Wednesday and we will read all
about the Maine affair. When you
write to Sally send her my love*
also regards "to Jim and Baby. I
would like to be in the country for
a change myself. These Chinese
cities are dead, no life at all in
them. I am trying to think of
something to write, but can't. Tell
Ed I think of him oft^n and won
der how he is getting along at
school. I am getting an idea in
my head that I should like to be a
Thespian, but have sense enough to
know that all the acting I would
ever be able to do would be to col
lect tickets at the door.
March 22.
The Raleigh has just challenged
the Olympia to a cutter race. There
may be an international regatta
soon. Mail closes to-night, so I
will finish. Your loving son
VERD.
HONGKONG, April 3, 189 S.
Dear Ed: If the excitement In
the United States is half its great
as it is here I suppose all the boys
are talking of fighting.
It is not so much fun as one
would think standing behind a
large gun when she is tired. You
think your head is flying off, and
the concussion makes you dizzy
until you get used to it. Just at
present I don't know where our
next destination will be, but I
would like to go to Yokohama.
Your loving brother,
VERD.
Up to March 23, 4060 Klondlko miners*
licenses to prospectors (mostly from tha
United States) had been issued at tho
custom-house in Victoria, at $10 each.
The cash receipts therefor were $45.600 '
and the cost being less than 3 per cent.'
the remainder of this sum was turned
over direct to the Dominion Government.
In a cubic foot of phosphorescent sea,
water there have been found 25,000 living
creatures.