Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1919 — CAPT. TUTEUR IN KEY WEST [ARTICLE]

CAPT. TUTEUR IN KEY WEST

RENSSELAER OFFICER FINDS “KEYS” EXTREME Y EDUCATIONAL AND INTERESTING Captain C. Arthur Tuteur, known to everyone in Rensselaer and to the majority of the citizens of the great commonwealth of Indiana, writes very interestingly to a friend in this city of his experiences in the Florida Keys Where he is now located as a member of the Intelligence branch of the army. Art is an entertainer in every way and we are sure that you will enjoy his letter. Key West, Fla., March 29, 1919. My dear friend— It has been some little time since J have written you, but the fact of the matter is that I have been feeling miserable and have positively done nothing but what required my immediate attention. I have been suffering from one of the worst colds that I was ever blessed with, and I can vouch for the fact that when you get one of those things in this climate that one has the devil’s own time in getting rid of it. I shouldn t have minded it so much only there was" a cough connected with it, and it seemed to tear me to pieces; but am glad to say that it hasdisappeared now, and I hope that I will be so fortunate as to steer a clear course hway from them in the future. I have been down to Tortugas, which is about sixty miles from here in a southwesterly course and is the very last point of land in the United States possessions proper. It is an island covered with a monster fort, which in itself is obsolete, simply a relic of bye-gone days. The fort cost in the neighborhood of $40,000,000 and is a massive piece of masonry completely surrounded with a moat 45 feet wide, in which ocean water flows. It> was used as a prison during the Civil war and here were interred the prisoners of the north. Man-eating sharks were kept in the moat to prevent the escape of the prisoners. I cannot see why such a place is; I understand it was a great steal, and if you but saw it ypu

could not help but agree with that explanation. It was my good fortune the other day to go down on Sub-chaser 334, which is my boat of communication and on which I have a bunk. After our business matters were attended to we tried our hand at fishing, as it has the reputation of being the finest fishing ground in Florida waters, and it surely bore out its reputation. We were fortunate enough to make a great catch, trolling for barracuda and amberjack. They are surely game fish, and in some instances reach great size. I have had the pleasure of catching almost every kind of fish in these waters, but I have never been so fortunate as to hook on to a tarpon. We are going out in a government tug tomorrow, and I may be so lucky. The past week has not been conducive for such trips as the sea has been too rough, and we have been having right cool weather.

If you can imagine a perpetual May and June in Rensselaer, you have the weather in Key West during my ten weeks here. There is a continual breeze from the ocean, and you would be surprised at the scarify of flies and mosquitos. Our greatest problems are the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables, and we depend on the raifall for our drinking Water. But there is plenty of water in our bath tub, which is the beach at old Fort Taylor, and I think that I never saw finer water to swim in. These waters are so clear that we can see the bottom no matter how deep, and to go out and look at the ocean through a glass bottom and see the whole works in sixty feet of water was quite a revelation to me. Teeming with animal and vegetable life it presents a kaledoscopic scerie not to be equalled anywhere in the world. Of course, Key West being an aq[uatic/city, is chiefly a naval city and the Navy holds full sway, but they have M lot of fine fellows, too, and all the real guys didn’t get into the army. Here is the headquarters of the 7th Naval District, the Air Station and the Submarine Base. Admiral Fletcher has just relinquished command to take the station at Honolulu. He has been supplanted by Admiral Decker. Here is Fort Taylor and the barracks, all the army here, is coast artillery. The army and navy Intelligence are now working hand in hand an Mr. Rignor, the head of the Naval Intelligence, and myself have combined forces and have our offices together, and I take

my meals with the navy mess, also departing from the usual custom, so you see our relations are most pleasant, and we are trying to combat the idea that the two are at swords points. I came here in'January after seeing practically no winter at all and finding the roses in bloom and the cocoanut palm in all its splendor. It is hard to realize that it is Spring in Indiana. I have been so fortunate as to get up to Miami once since coming here, and I sbrely did enjoy my visit there. I find the people here to be the most hospitable that I have ever run across, and they try so hard to make each succeeding day more pleasant than its predecessor. ■1 ran across a member of the Valparaiso company who was with us on the Mexican border, connected with the Air Station, and he asked about all the company M boys. He is almost a full-fledged aviator now, and will complete the training at Pensacola next pjonth. Well, Lefty, this is the last of the week, the last of the month and the last of the quarter, and I have a lot reports tb get in shape. I have told you all there is to tell except that here in Key West we have the finest cigars to be found anywhere, and tobacco has a new meaning since we Suit smoking the pure quill, meaning le pure Havana tobacco. Be kind enough to present my kindest regards to all the boys, and as soon as peace is actually signed I hope to be permitted to return to my native heath, dear old Indiana. God must have been in his most pleasant mood when he created the dear old Hoosier state. Write to me soon and tell me about Almost everything. , , Your friend, ART.