Diary 74-06: June, 1898 - preliminary transcript

96 -- The Astor Battery Passes -- Also More Recruits Carrier Pigeons

Sunday June 19

Same -- PM breezy & dusty -- At 9:30 AM, the noted Astor troop or company of volunteers from New York, arrived and after about 20 minutes stop passed on to SF for Manila -- Astor, Battery of artillery -- 107 total, including 3 officers -- had their cannon, etc along -- but no mules or horses for sea voyage -- Will get those at Manila -- Finest looking and best equipped lot yet -- needed & received no lunch or grub assistance from the Red Cross -- only flowers & locks of hair -- At 12:30 the delayed west bound train brought over 100 more recruits for Iowa and Idaho companies, S.F. not nice dressed or regularly equipped, same as those of yesterday -- At 10:05 AM saw 2 carrier pigeons turned loose from the depot office of W F & Co on opposite side of street -- They were sent over here from Sacramento in a nice little basket by a Mr Kinney of Sacramento who makes business of raising them, for a test of ability -- Each one its number on a little ring around its ankle -- and their basket will be returned to Kinney by express, telling time of turning loose, etc -- They rose up in air, circling higher, higher till out of sight -- afterward supposed to

Bessie -- Invasion of Cuba -- Troops Arrived -- 1898 Largest American Armada -- Guggenheim -- Defaulter Senator Jones -- Hank Mitchell

get their bearings and strike out on return to Sacramento -- PM commenced letter to Bessie -- Bed 11 --

Monday June 20

Clear & pleasant -- very warm -- Telegraph reports big arrival of American troops from Tampa and Key West to the Island of Cuba today -- Shafters expedition arrived off Santiago and will proceed to take that place at once, commencing the invasion of Cuba in earnest -- Bed 12 --

Tuesday June 21

Same -- Wrote two page letter to Senator Jones, Washington D.C. Evening down town & mailed it -- Met my old friend Hank Mitchell old time Va friend -- lawyer -- now of San F -- been up to Va & came down this evening -- Had long old time, highly gratifying chat together at the Palace, till west bound train came at 11 & he passed homeward -- Bed 12 -- The Cuban invasion fleet which reached Santiago yesterday, consisted of about 50 transports and war vessels -- 16,000 troops -- largest armada ever seen in American waters --

Wednesday June 22

Cloudy -- cooler -- finished Bessie's letter, 4 pages & sent it to her tonight -- Bed 12 -- L Guggenheim, Grand Secretary I.O.O.F. at Va found to be defaulter by Grand Lodge, now in session at Va --

98 -- Leo Guggenheim's Defalcation -- More Recruits Invasion of Cuba -- Guggenheim -- Geo R Paynter -Norris-Hirschberg

He is short from $5,000 to $10,000 in that and other Associations of which he is Secy or Treas -- Tried to suicide with laudanum but didn't succeed -- left $36, a life insurance policy for $3,000 and a will bequeathing it to the I.O.O.F. in his safe -- Is said to have lost all this money on a turn in stocks

Thursday June 23

Clear & warm -- 180 recruits from Nebraska and Colorado passed on 7 coach special for SF about 10 AM -- Much hilarious cheering and waving of flags, etc -- Bed 12 --

Friday June 24

Same -- General Shafter's big army of invasion -- 16,000 -- effected landing yesterday at Baiquiri 15 miles east of Santiago de Cuba and Juragna 5 miles nearer in perfect safety -- Were protected by guns of the warships and also by 5,000 insurgent troops waiting to join them -- L Guggenheim's defalcation is now reported to foot up to over $7,000 -- Received letter from Geoerge R Paynter, Big Oak Flat, Inolumne Co, Cal, date 19 -- 6 pages -- F J Norris, editor of the Enterprise, was married this evening to Mrs Alice Hirschberg, widow of the late Dr H at Va, & left Va on evening train for S.F. I saw them in Reno --

Saturday June 25

Same -- 82 -- Norris & wife did not go to SF but remained here last night

and I saw them off on west bound train -- will stop off at Verdi tonight --

Guggenheim failed -- Longest Days -- 1898 The First Cuban Battle -- Hot Weather 84° Rebellious Recruits -- Alger Battery, Light Artillery

tomorrow Truckee, then Lake Tahoe for 2 or 3 days then back home to Va -- Guggenheim was arrested & put in jail last night -- brought before Justice of Peace Weir today at 1 PM, held in sum of $1,500 bonds to appear Monday at 10 AM for examination on embezzlement -- This week longest days of year -- Our troops had 1st big battle of the invasion yesterday, 8 miles from Santiago -- 1,000 of them rough riders, cavalry, etc, were ambushed by about 2,000 Spaniards -- They charged right into them in the shrubbery and drove them off toward Santiago with heavy loss -- We lost 13 killed & about 50 wounded -- They lost very much heavier -- Bed 12

Sunday June 26

Same -- 84° -- Three specials with recruits for the companies at SF passed during the day -- Bed 11 --

Monday June 27

Clear -- 82° -- About 11 AM a special came along with a lot of recruits from Ohio -- were riotous, had a muss with a brakeman -- were arrested -- 14 of them, & taken before Justice Linn, who released them till evening on condition of good behavior -- They left for S.F. on 10 PM train -- About 11:30 AM a special came with Alger Batter Light Artillery Wyoming

Volunteers N Guard -- from Cheyenne -- 125 of them -- All well equipped,

100 -- Light Artillery -- Getting Onto Santiago Hot -- 84° -- Leo Guggenheim Gets 5 years General Merritt Sails -- More Recruits -- Sam Returns Home -- Elko Leads

fine looking young men -- Well treated by Red Cross & stopped about 1/2 hour -- Ten carloads of light artillery guns, caissons etc passed through yesterday -- for Manila -- 1 today with Alger Battery -- Bed 11 -- Hard fighting near Santiago -- Advancing upon it --

Tuesday June 28

Same -- Hotter -- 84° -- Leo Guggenheim before the Grand Jury today, pleaded guilty to embezzlement -- waived trial & asked for sentence at once -- Judge Mack sentenced him to 5 years in State Prison, & will be taken there tomorrow -- He is 68 yrs old -- Bed 11 --

Wednesday June 29

Same -- Santiago being very closely invested & the grand attack maybe looked for any moment -- Reinforcements arriving etc -- More troops are sailing for Manila -- General Merritt the new Military Governor of the Philippines sailed for Manila yesterday -- The Astor Battery also went -- Bed 11 --

Thursday June 30

Same -- cooler -- 76° -- About 10:30 AM, delayed west bound passenger train came through -- had over 100 recruits from Utah -- At 3:30 Sam, with Guy Walts returned from their camping trip -- Had good time, & looked rugged