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This is just to reassure you that I am all right。 I and Marshall were the only correspondents with Roosevelt。 We were caught in a clear case of ambush。 Every precaution had been taken； but the natives knew the ground and our men did not。 It was the hottest； nastiest fight I ever imagined。 We never saw the enemy except glimpses。 Our men fell all over the place； shouting to the others not to mind them； but to go on。 I got excited and took a carbine and charged the sugar house； which was what is called the key to the position。 If the men had been regulars I would have sat in the rear as B did； but I knew every other one of them； had played football； and all that sort of thing； with them； so I thought as an American I ought to help。 The officers were falling all over the shop； and after it was all over Roosevelt made me a long speech before some of the men； and offered me a captaincy in the regiment any time I wanted it。 He told the Associated Press man that there was no officer in his regiment who had 〃been of more help or shown more courage〃 than your humble servant； so that's all right。 After this I keep quiet。 I promise I keep quiet。 Love to you all。
RICHARD。
From Cuba Richard sailed with our forces to Porto Rico； where his experiences in the Spanish…American war came to an end； and he returned to Marion。 He spent the fall in New York； and early in 1899 went to London。
One of the most interesting； certainly the most widely talked of； 〃sporting events〃 for which Richard was responsible was the sending of an English district…messenger boy from London to Chicago。 The idea was inspired by my brother's general admiration of the London messenger service and his particular belief in one William Thomas Jaggers； a fourteen…year…old lad whom Richard had frequently employed to carry notes and run errands。 One day； during a casual luncheon conversation at the Savoy with his friend Somers Somerset； Richard said that he believed that if Jaggers were asked to carry a message to New York that he could not only do it but would express no surprise at the commission。 This conversation resulted in the bet described in the following letters。 The boy slipped quietly away from London； but a few days later the bet became public and the newspapers were filled with speculation as to whether Jaggers could beat the mails。 The messenger carried three letters； one to my sister； one to Miss Cecil Clark of Chicago； whom Richard married a few months later； and one to myself。 As a matter of fact； Jaggers delivered his notes several hours before letters travelling by the same boat reached the same destinations。 The newspapers not only printed long accounts of Jaggers's triumphal progress from New York to Chicago and back again； but used the success of his undertaking as a text for many editorials against the dilatory methods of our foreign…mail service。 Jaggers left London on March 11； 1899； and was back again on the 29th； having travelled nearly eighty…four hundred miles in eighteen days。 On his return he was received literally by a crowd of thousands； and his feat was given official recognition by a gold medal pinned on his youthful chest by the Duchess of Rutland。 Also； later on； at a garden fete he was presented to the Queen； and incidentally； still later； returned to the United States as 〃buttons〃 to my brother's household。
Bachelors' Club； Piccadilly； W。 March 15th； 1899。 DEAR CHAS。
I hope you are not annoyed about Jaggers。 When he started no one knew of it but three people and I had no idea anyone else would； but the company sent it to The Mail without my name but describing me as 〃an American gentleman〃 Instantly the foreign correspondents went to them to find out who I was and to whom I was sending the letter I told the company it was none of their damned businessthat I employed the boy by the week and that I could send him where…ever I chose。 Then the boy's father got proud and wrote to The Mail about his age and so they got the boy's name。 Mine； however； is still out of it； but in America they are sure to know as the people on the steamer are crazy about him and Kinsey the Purser knows he is sent by me。 After he gets back from Chicago and Philadelphia； you can do with him as you like until the steamer sails。 If the thing is taken up as it is here and the fat is in the fire； then you can do as you please I mean you can tell the papers about it or not Somerset holds one end of the bets and I the other。 There are two bets： one that he will beat the mail to Chicago； Somerset agreeing to consider the letter you give him to Bruce； as equivalent to one coming from here。 The other bet is that he will deliver and get receipts from you； Nora and Bruce； and return here by the 5th of April You and Bobby ought to be able to do well by him if it becomes； as I say； so far public that there is no possibility of further concealment You have my permission to do what you please He is coming into my employ as soon as he gets back and as soon as the company give him a medal。
Over here there is the greatest possible interest in the matter At the Clubs I go to； the waiters all wait on me in order to have the latest developments and when it was cabled over here that the Customs' people intended stopping him； indignation raged at the Foreign office。
of love；
DICK。
89 Jermyn Street； S。 W。
March1899 DEAR NORA：
This is to be handed to you by my special messenger； who is to assure you that I am in the best of health and spirits Keep him for a few hours and then send him on to Chicago As he is doing this on a bet； do not give him any written instructions only verbal ones。 I am very well and happy and send you all my love Jaggers has been running errands for me ever since I came here； and a most loyal servitor when I was ill On his return I want to keep him on as a buttons。 See that he gets plenty to eat If he comes back alive he will have broken the messenger boy service record by three thousand miles。 Personally； it does not cost me anything to speak of。 The dramatization of the Soldiers continues briskly； and Maude is sending Grundy back the Jackal； to have a second go at it。 Maude insists on its being doneso I stand to win a lot。 RICHARD。
Beefsteak Club； 9； Green Street； Leicester Square； W。 C。 Tuesday。 March1899。 DEAR MOTHER：
The faithful Jaggers should have arrived to…day； or will do so this evening I am sure you will make the poor little chap comfortable I do regret having sent him on such a journey especially since the papers here made such an infernal row over it However； neither of us will lose by it in the end
I dined with Lady Clarke last night and met Lord Castleton there and he invited me up to Dublin for the Punchtown Races I have a great mind to go and write a story on them Castleton is a great sport and very popular at home and in England and it would be a pleasant experience。 Kuhne Beveridge is doing a bust of me in khaki outfit for the Academy and also for a private exhibition of her own works； which includes the Prince of Wales； and the Little Queen of Holland。
Hays Hammond has invited me down to South Africa again； with a promise of making my fortune； but I am not going as