That morning that Cervera attempted his flight from Santiago, General
Shafter sent into the Spanish lines by a flag of truce a demand for the
surrender of the city. "I have the honor to inform you," he said, "that
unless you surrender I shall be compelled to shell Santiago de Cuba.
Please instruct the citizens of all foreign countries, and all women
and children, that they should leave the city before 10 A.M. to-morrow."
That flag of truce had been gone only two or three hours when there
came a sudden rumor that the Spanish fleet had gone to destruction,
depriving Santiago of her chief defence. Our soldiers were so sure of
the prowess of our sailors that they hailed the rumor as fact,--as news
of a victory,--and when later in the evening the actual intelligence of
Schley's glorious triumph reached them they went wild with joy; danced
on the crest of the defences, in full view of the Spaniards, venturing
to do so because--as there was a truce--no jealous sharpshooter would
dare fire on them. And the band played patriotic and popular airs,
particularly "There'll be a Hot Time in the Old Town To-night."
Bonfires were made and salutes fired.
Drs. Harold and Herbert Travilla, wearied with their labors for the
sick and wounded, rejoiced as heartily as any one else over the good
news, yet at the same time felt pity for the suffering of those of
the foe who had perished so miserably by shot, shell, and fire. They
would have been glad to aid the wounded prisoners, but their hands
were already full, in giving needed attention to our own men so sorely
injured by Spanish shot and shell. So incessant and arduous had been
their labors in that line, and so fierce and exhausting was the heat,
that they were themselves well-nigh worn out. There had been hope that
the city would surrender, but on the night of the 3d--the day of the
naval battle--four thousand fresh Spanish troops entered it, and the
hoped-for surrender was not made.
The Americans in the trenches were hot, hungry, and water-soaked, and
some of them grew very impatient. Said one of the Rough Riders: "Now
that we've got those Dagoes corralled, why don't we brand them?"
On the 6th something happened that broke the monotony and gave great
joy to the soldiers in the trenches. A cavalcade of men was seen coming
from the beleaguered city, the first of whom was quickly recognized
as Lieutenant Hobson, who with his seven comrades had gone out one
night, weeks before, on a vessel, the _Merrimac_, to sink her across
the narrow entrance to the channel leading into Santiago harbor, and so
bottle up the Spanish fleet.
They failed, and were taken prisoners by the Spaniards, and had been
spending weeks shut up in Morro castle, but now were exchanged for
seven prisoners taken at San Juan. At sight of them the American
soldiers seemed to go mad with joy. They yelled, danced, laughed, and
even wept for joy. Then the band on the foremost line struck up "The
Star Spangled Banner," and all stood silent at a salute. But the moment
the music ceased it seemed as if Bedlam had broken loose. The regulars
crowded about the heroes, cheering them, shaking them by the hand,
while they from their ambulance yelled compliments and congratulations
to the tattered and dirty soldiers.
And when those returned sailors reached the fleet after dark, they
found the ships' companies turned out as if to greet an admiral at
least, coming to visit them, and as their launch was seen approaching
from the shore the cheers of their brother tars made the hills of Cuba
ring almost as had the thundering fire of Morro and Estrella when
levelled against them nearly six weeks before.
The surrender of Santiago took place on the 18th of July. By that time
there was a great deal of sickness among our troops, and our friends
Harold and Herbert Travilla were kept very busy attending to the sick
and wounded. So overworked were they, and so injuriously affected by
the malarious climate, that both became ill; Herbert so much so that
he could scarcely keep about, and his brother began to question whether
it were not his duty to take or send him home, or farther north, to
join their mother and a number of the relatives and connections who
were spending the summer on the Hudson, or at some Northern seaside
resort, which he was at liberty to do, as they were serving as
volunteer surgeons, and without pay.
On the morning after the surrender Herbert found himself entirely
unfit for duty, and on his account Harold felt much depressed as he
went through the hospital examining and prescribing for his patients.
Presently he heard a quick, manly step, then a familiar voice saying in
cheery tones:
"Good-morning, Harold! How are you?"
The young doctor turned quickly with the joyous exclamation:
"Why, Brother Levis! can it be possible that this is you?" holding out
his hand in cordial greeting as he spoke.
"Not only possible, but an undeniable fact," returned Captain Raymond,
with his pleasant smile, and giving the offered hand a warm, brotherly
pressure.
"And you came in your yacht? Have some of the family come with you--my
mother----"
"Oh, no!" returned the captain quickly; "at present it is much too
warm for her--or any of our lady friends--in this locality. She and my
family are at Crag Cottage, and by her request I have come to take you
and Herbert aboard the _Dolphin_ and carry you to her. And I didn't
come alone; your brothers Edward and Walter are with me, and your
cousin Chester also."
"Oh, what delightful news!" exclaimed Harold, his eyes shining with
joy. "And your yacht is here?"
"Lying down yonder in the harbor, just waiting for two additions to
her list of passengers. But where is Herbert?" looking about as if in
search of him.
"Lying in our tent; on the sick list, poor dear fellow!" sighed Harold.
"Can you wait five minutes for me to get through here for the present?
Then I will take you to him."
"Certainly; longer than that, if necessary. Ah, I see it was time--high
time for me to come for you boys."
Harold smiled in a rather melancholy way at that.
"I have grown to feel quite old since we have been here in the midst
of so much suffering, and obliged to take so heavy a load of care and
responsibility--performing serious operations and the like," he said
with a sigh. "I must find you a seat," he added, glancing about in
search of one.
"No, no," the captain hastened to say; "I should prefer walking around
here and making acquaintance with some of these poor brave fellows--if
you think it would not be unpleasant to them."
"I think they would be pleased to have you do so," was Harold's reply.
A few minutes later he and the captain went into the tent where Herbert
lay in a burning fever. The very sight of the captain and the news
that he had come to carry him and Harold north to cooler climate,
mother, and other dear ones seemed so greatly to revive him that he
insisted upon being considered quite able to be taken immediately on
board the yacht, and his brother and brother-in-law promptly set about
preparations to carry out his wish.
"You will go too, Harold?" he said inquiringly to his brother.
"To the _Dolphin_? Yes, certainly, old fellow; you are my patient now,
and I must see to it that you are well accommodated and cared for,"
returned Harold in a sprightly tone.
"And you are going with me to see to that throughout the voyage?"
"I don't know," Harold returned in a tone of hesitation; "these poor,
wounded, and sick fellows----"
"You'll be down on your back as sick as any of them if you stay here
another week," growled Herbert. "And with nobody to take care of you
you'll die, and that'll break mother's heart. And as you are working
without pay, you've a right to go as soon as you will."
"Yes," said the captain, "and if you fall sick you'll be no service,
but only in the way. Better let me attend to the necessary arrangements
for you, and carry you off along with your brother."
After a little hesitation Harold consented to that, saying that after
seeing Herbert on board the yacht he would return, make all necessary
arrangements, bid good-bye to his patients, then board the _Dolphin_
for the homeward voyage.
"That's right, brother mine," Herbert said, with a pleased smile; "I'd
be very unwilling to go, leaving you here alone; and what would mother
say?"
It took but a few minutes to pick up their few belongings, and they
were soon on the deck of the yacht receiving the warm greetings of
their brothers and cousins, who, however, seemed greatly concerned over
their weary and haggard looks.
"You are worn out, lads," said Edward, "and the best and kindest thing
we can do will be to carry you up north to a cooler climate; and to
mother and the others, who will, I hope, be able soon to nurse you back
to health and strength."
"So say I," said Chester.
"And I," added Walter. "I have always found mother's nursing the best
to be had anywhere or from anybody."
"Yes," said the captain, "and there are sisters and others to help with
it at Crag Cottage, where I hope to land you a few days hence."
In a brief time Herbert was comfortably established in one of the neat
staterooms, and left in Edward's charge, while Harold went ashore
to make his farewell visit to his hospital patients, while Chester
and Walter accompanied the captain in paying a visit to some of the
men-of-war officered by old acquaintances and chums of the last-named
when he belonged to the navy.
It was most interesting to them all to see both the men and the vessels
that had taken part in that remarkable battle, and to hear accounts of
its scenes from the actors in them. In fact, so much interested were
they that Captain Raymond said he could not have Edward and Harold miss
it; they must visit the vessels later, leaving Chester and Walter in
charge of Herbert, since he was too ill to accompany them.
That afternoon the plan was carried out, and that night the _Dolphin_
started on her return voyage to the north. The change from the rough
camps on Cuban soil to the luxurious cabin of the _Dolphin_ was
very agreeable and refreshing to the young volunteer physicians,
but they were too thoroughly worn out with their toils, anxieties,
and privations for even so great and beneficial a change to work an
immediate cure. They were still on the sick list when they reached Crag
Cottage.