July 9 Saturday – At the Villa Paulhof Whitmore (his not extant): in Kaltenleutgeben, Austria, Sam replied to Franklin G.

“O come, what a cuss you are! What use can I make of letters 6 months old? Some of them needed immediate answers. Don’t treat me like that anymore. In the immediate cases, send the man a post-card to say I am traveling in China…”

Sam was glad that the $1,744 old bill from Pratt & Whitney (for designing a Chicago factory) was “likely to be withdrawn.” He pointed out that P&W “made a lot of special tools ($6,000 worth, Paige said)” which Sam paid for and Paige added to the Webster plant in Chicago. He also had some Hartford visitors:

A.C. Dunham & Dr. Parker spent the best part of 3 days with us last week, & this family hasn’t had such a good time in 8 years. We sapped them dry & tuckered them out; but no matter, it was heaven for us, anyway. They were here when news came of the destruction of Cervera’s fleet. / With love to you all…[MTP]. Note: Austin Cornelius Dunham (1833-1917), (usually only A.C. Dunham); Dr. Edwin Pond Parker (1836-1925). The Spanish Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete (1839-1909) surrendered after the decisive naval battle on July 3, when his fleet attempted to run the American blockade of Cuba.