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believed was the Panama； but she ran away from us。 We fired three shells after her； and she still ran and got away。 The next morning I went on board the New York with Zogbaum； the artist。 Admiral Sampson is a fine man； he impressed me very much。 He was very much bothered at the order forbidding correspondents on the ship； but I talked like a father to him； and he finally gave in； and was very nice about the way he did it。 Since then I have had the most interesting time and the most novel experience of my life。 We have been lying from three to ten miles off shore。 We can see Morro Castle and houses and palms plainly without a glass； and with one we can distinguish men and women in the villages。 It is； or was； frightfully hot； and you had to keep moving all the time to get out of the sun。 I mess with the officers； but the other correspondents； the Associated Press and Ralph Paine of The World and Press of Philadelphia； with the middies。 Paine got on because Scovel of The World has done so much secret service work for the admiral； running in at night and taking soundings； and by day making photographs of the coast； also carrying messages to the insurgents。
It is a wonderful ship； like a village； and as big as the Paris。 We drift around in the sun or the moonlight； and when we see a light； chase after it。 There is a band on board that plays twice a day。 It is like a luxurious yacht； with none of the ennui of a yacht。 The other night； when we were heading off a steamer and firing six…pounders across her bows； the band was playing the 〃star〃 song from the Meistersinger。 Wagner and War struck me as the most fin de siecle idea of war that I had ever heard of。 The nights have been perfectly beautiful； full of moonlight； when we sit on deck and smoke。 It is like looking down from the roof of a high building。 Yesterday they brought a Spanish officer on board； he had been picked up in a schooner with his orderly。 I was in Captain Chadwick's cabin when he was brought in； and Scovel interpreted for the captain； who was more courteous than any Spanish Don that breathes。 The officer said he had been on his way to see his wife and newly born baby at Matanzas； and had no knowledge that war had been declared。 I must say it did me good to see him。 I remembered the way the Spanish officers used to insult me in a language which I； fortunately for me； could not understand； and how I hated the sight of them； and I enjoyed seeing his red and yellow cockade on the table before me； while I sat in a big armchair and smoked and was in hearing of the marines drilling on the upper deck。 He was invited to go to breakfast with the officers； and I sat next to him； and as it happened to be my turn to treat； I had the satisfaction of pouring drinks down his throat。 I told stories about Spanish officers all the time to the rest of the mess； pretending I was telling them something else by making drawings on the tablecloth； so that the unhappy officer on his other side； who was talking Spanish to him； had a hard time not to laugh。 I told Zogbaum he ought to draw a picture of him at the mess to show how we treated prisoners； and a companion one of the captain of the Compeliton； who came over with us on the Dolphin； and who showed us the marks of the ropes on his wrists and arms the Spaniards had bound him with when he was in Cabanas for nine months。 The orderly messed with the bluejackets； who treated him in the most hospitable manner。 He was a poor little peasant boy； half starved and hollow…eyed； and so scared that he could hardly stand； but they took great pride in the fact that they had made him eat three times of everything。 They are； without prejudice； the finest body of men and boys you would care to see； and as humorous and polite and keen as any class of men I ever met。
The war could be ended in a month so far as the island of Cuba is concerned； if the troops were ready and brought over here。 The coast to Havana for ten miles is broad enough for them to march along it； and the heights above could be covered the entire time by the fleet； so that it would be absolutely impossible for any force to withstand the awful hailstorm they would play on it。 Transports carrying the provisions would be protected by the ships on the gulf side； and the guns at Morro could be shut up in twenty…four hours。 This is not a dream； but the most obvious and feasible plan； and it is a disgrace if the Washington politicians delay。 As to health； this is the healthiest part of the coast。 The trade winds blow every day of the year； and the fever talk is all nonsense。 The army certainly has delayed most scandalously in mobilizing。 This talk of waiting a month is suicide。 It is a terrible expense。 It keeps the people on a strain； destroys business； and the health of the troops at Tampa is； to my mind； in much greater danger than it would be on the hills around Havana； where； as Scovel says； there is as much yellow fever as there is snow。 Tell Dad to urge them to act promptly。 In the meanwhile I am having a magnificent time。 I am burned and hungry and losing about a ton of fat a day； and I sleep finely。 The other night the Porter held us up； but it was a story that never got into the papers。 I haven't missed a trick so far except not getting on the flagship from the first； but that does not count now since I am on board。
I haven't written anything yet； but I am going to begin soon。 I expect to make myself rich on this campaign。 I get ten cents a word from Scribner's for everything I send them； if it is only a thousand words； and I get four hundred dollars a week salary from The Times； and all my expenses。 I haven't had any yet； but when I go back and join the army； I am going to travel en suite with an assistant and the best and gentlest ponies； a courier and a servant； a tent and a secretary and a typewriter； so that Miles will look like a second lieutenant。
When I came out here on the Dolphin I said I was going to Tampa； lying just on the principle that it is no other newspaper…man's business where you are going。 So； The Herald man at Key West； hearing this； and not knowing I WAS GOING TO THE FLAGSHIP； called Long； making a strong kick about the correspondents； Bonsal； Remington and Paine； who are； or were； with the squadron。 Stenie left two days ago； hoping to get a commission on the staff of General Lee。 So yesterday Scovel told me Long had cabled in answer to The Herald's protests to the admiral as follows： 〃Complaints have been received that correspondents Paine； Remington and Bonsal are with the squadron。 Send them ashore at once。 There must be no favoritism。〃
Scovel got the admiral at once to cable Long on his behalf because of his services as a spy； but as Roosevelt had done so much for me； I would not appeal over him； and this morning I sent in word to the admiral that I was leaving the ship and would like to pay my respects。 Sampson is a thin man with a gray beard。 He looks like a college professor and has very fine； gentle eyes。 He asked me why I meant to leave the ship； and I said I had heard one of the torpedo boats was going to Key West； and I thought I would go with her if he would allow it。 He asked if I h