h for a ordinary Torpedo Boat, and while all the Post on Deck were
Double we consider our selves pretty safe. They are puting coal on
board as fast as they can, working night and day to get it all on. we
are going to take a big lot this time.

_April_ 6. Pay day today. put on Sea stors today along with the coal,
it all gos togather. But what is the diferance, this is War times and
we are trying to get in it and I think we will if we get a show. I
bought a nice pair of shoes today for 3.50 in U.S. Gold. there is no
liberty to any one hear so we have to buy something that is some good
to us. Expect to coal ship all night so as to pull out to morrow.

_April_ 7. Got all the coal on this morning at 4 A.M. there is about
1750 tons on now, never had so much on before. got 100 tons on deck in
sacks. we are knocking some of the coal dust off the sides. She is a
very dirty ship now and expect to remain so for a long time to come.
There is some talk of a Spanish Gun Boat or a Torpedo Boat in the
Straights waiting for us. But I think that will be all right when the
Marietta gets there to patrole the place for us. We expect to go out to
night some time. 7 P.M. left Port. The Capt dont know wether to go
round the Horn or not. But if we go, as the Dutchman says By the Horn
around, we will get a shaking up. But every body seems to think we can
take care of our selves where ever we go. Capt Clark is all right, we
dont think he is afraid of the whole Spanish Navy. the wether is very
fogy. Expect it to lift when we get a little ways.

* * * * *

_April_ 9. Alls Well, every thing doing fine.

_April_ 10. Just came on watch; have all four boilers on now and we are
peging along at a 13.7 and a 14 knot gate. you dont know you are at sea
in this ship if you would stop between Decks. guess there is not much
doing to day, so I will steal forward for a while the old gent sleeps a
little. I forgot to speak of having a little practis with the 6
pounders. They threw over Boxes and barrels and as we would get away
from them we would fire on them for Torpedo Boats. we did some good
shooting. All the Marines Man the seccondary Battry. The Capt got the
chief engineer to fix the 8 inch turets to turn in Board 9 more degrees
so as to shoot over the stern of the ship. So that would bring to bear
on one point 2, 13 inch Guns 4, 8 inch Guns 2, 6 inch Guns and six 6
Pounders aft, and the same forward. We could sho