July 4 Monday – Hartford leading men A.C. Dunham (Austin Cornelius Dunham) and Dr. Edwin Pond Parker visited the Clemens family for three days this week. Which days is not clear, but Sam wrote to Whitmore on July 9 that the pair was there when news came of the July 3 defeat of the Spanish fleet under Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete at the Battle of Santiago. [July 9 to Whitmore]. Note: this is also supported by the following notebook entry.
Sam’s notebook:
Kaltenleutgeben, July 4, ’98. News that Samson has destroyed the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba; that our troops have closely invested the city & that it must surrender. Also that our transport-fleet has at last arrived at Manila. Dr. E.C. Parker & Corneil Dunham are here to enjoy the news with us [NB 42 TS 56].
A photograph of Sam taken by Henry Ranchings is given this date by the MTP.