THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 179 



Patton and Richards for being able to fall in with a Christian friend while at Nor- 

 folk. But it was "two bad " to fool a fine young man like that and especially when 

 he knew so many nice young ladies. Patton came to New York one day while the 

 " Harvard " was at Tompkinsville, S. I. and he bears greater distinction for being the 

 only one of his party to report for duty the next morning at 9 o'clock. 



Benjamin F. Maxey, formerly with Paradis on Myrtle avenue, Brooklyn, is now 

 with Miner on the Bowery. 



Well boys I hope to know some more by the time the next issue comes out and I 

 may have to do some tall guessing at that. Acierta errando, ask your Cuban friends. 



Q. E. D. 



Gtjantanamo, Cuba, U. S. A., July 15, i8q8. 

 My Dear Friend : y 



I have been thinking for a long time about writing to you but the heat and the sea 

 has been too much to withstand. 



I hope that everybody and that everything is going well at the old N. Y. C. P. 



Since I left New York we have not been to any civilized port, always on the move, 

 sometimes having target practice at the Spanish forts which has an excitement of its 

 own. You probably know better than I do how the battle off Santiago de Cuba was 

 fought. We had plenty to do with our own business and did not have time to watch 

 the other fellows much. We did more than our share, sinking the two torpedo boats, 

 Pluton and Furor. It is by wonderful luck that I am able to write now, for on Sunday, 

 the 3d, I never thought I would be able to see the old institution and friends again. 



I have been ashore a few times and I saw all kinds of cacti and palms. I could not 

 help thinking of Dr. Rusby. Our smokeless cordite brought Drs. Chandler and Cob- 

 lentz back to me. I was aboard the " Vizcaya " after she was sunk and the once 

 beautiful cruiser showed a poor spectacle, all burnt, the bow blown up by the explosion 

 of its own ammunition and full of water. 



Some of the guns are still intact. I managed to pick up some relics which will be 

 very interesting. 



I had, on the 3d of July, some good experience with wounds and lacerations. As 

 soon as the Pluton and Furor started to sink we sent our boat to pick up the 

 men and many of our men risked their lives to save those of their enemies. I had 21 

 wounded lying on deck and I assure you they kept me busy. They were cut in all 

 fashions and for the first time I saw what those wicked little six pounders of ours 

 could do. I had the Spanish fleet surgeon in my room, he was not wounded but had 

 absorbed too much salt water and was pretty near "water logged." Also had Admiral 

 Cervera, who gave me 2 buttons. It is of no use telling you any more, the newspapers 

 keeping you well informed, and we often laugh to think that an " extra " is coming 

 out in New York on what we did (and didn't do) only a few hours before. I have not 

 seen any of the boys except Wild who is on the supply ship Celtic. I thiuk I was 

 the only '98 man in the battle with Cervera's fleet. I want to join the Alumni just as 

 soon as I can, send me particulars and I will forward money as soon as I can. Send 

 me the Journal also as I would like to hear from my classmates. 



Please remember me to all those I have mentioned, to Drs. Diekman, Jelliffe, G. A. 

 Ferguson, Gies and Mr. C. O. Bigelow, who gave me a flag on commencement night. 



With kindest regards to yourself and all my friends 



I remain 



Very Truly, 



Albert Beckary, 

 Apothecary U. S. S. Gloucester, off Santiago de Cuba. 



