would get there all right. at 9 A.M. the old man called all hands to muster on the Quarter deck and told us the news he had received at Rio: there was 4 first class cruisers and three Torpedo Boats going to meet around hear some where and do us up. we all expect they will if they can, But the pruf of the Puding is the eating of it and we will have something to say about that. And after telling us about the fleet that was going to whip the socks off us he made a little speach to us; he said of corse it was his duty to the Goverment to get the ship around on the other side and stear clear of the fleet if posable. But in case he did meet the fleet he was sure Spain's fighting efficiency on the sea would be demineshed. So we all gave him three rousen Cheers and the old man Blushed, but he is a dandy Just the same.

May 8. got to Bahia, Bra. at 8.30 P.M. after making a good run and having Targate practis with full charges of Powder, don some fine shooting with the Big Guns. I dont think it will be a bit too healthy for the Spanish to bump up against us, for we have a good eye. We put in hear as an excuse to put on War paint saying our engines wer Brok down and at the same time to get more coal if we can.

May 9. Put on War paint to day and we are out for it now. we have the ship cleared for action now for keeps. got some coal and fresh water, filed up with every thing we wanted. at 8 P.M. the old man got telagram and at 10 P.M. we wer on our corse for the West Indias.

May 10. going along smooth and nothing doing.

May 11. still expect to meet that fleet and if we do meet them there is going to be a "Hot time in the old town to night."

May 12. Every thing the same, some of us think we past through the fleet last night, there wer several lights all around and acted Mighty quer.

May 13. Nothing doing and will wate untill we get in Port.

May 18. got into Barbadoes at 4 A.M. this morning and found lots of war talk going on; we are puting on coal Just now, expect to go out of hear to morrow morning erly. 8 P.M. up anchor once more after geting 250 tons of coal on and ready for buisness. Guess the Spanish dont want any of this craft, it seems we will get there without firering a shot.

May 24. arived at Jupiter light house after making a flank movement to the northard and not a ship to be seen.

May 25. up anchor once more for Key West, got there on the 26th; of corse the Capt dident know how things stud so he had to go slow. About 4.30 A.M. the man on the life Bouy gave the alarm, saying there was a small dark objict coming this way; the Officer of the Deck roused up the Capt and the next thing we knew Gen Quarters sounded. What should it be But the tug with our Pilot on board for us, the "Hudson" was the name of the tug.

May 27. still puting on coal, expect to go down to Cuba with the New York.

June 1. I herd the first shot in this war to day, Santiago de Cuba and with the flying squadron.

June 2. we had a wild goose chase.

June 3. nothing doing but laying off hear and watching what looks like to me a big hole in the grond. same thing the 4th and 5th.

June 6. Stand from under, we Bombard the forts and water Baterys to day for 4 hours but dont know how much damage we don.

June 7. staying out hear and doing nothing.

June 8. same thing.

June 9.   "        "

June 10. we went down to Guantanamo Bay to put some coal on and landed 40 Marines in the Morning. we wer the first to put foot on Cuban soil in this war. The 9th the Marblehead and Dolphin Bombarded the place and made them look like Munkys; they ran away and left every thing behind them.

June 11. came back to Santiago on the 10th. and laying off hear as befor.

June 12. Same old thing. Expecting Troops every day.

June 13. Dito.

June 14. the New Orleans was ordered to run in