Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-31

was no stronger. healthier and light-heart-
| ed boy to be found in the whole country.
He was then twenty years of age and tip
ped the scales at $50 pounds. His height
was about ) feet 10 inches and his ply
Sique was unexceled
If it were not for his boyiSh face. retain
ing its youth Notwithstanding the pinches
caused by lack of proper food and the
ravages of the Cuban fever. young Swed-
berg, gaunt and haggard, would be taken
by the casual observer for a veteran of
the civil rather than the recent victo-
ricus spat with Spain. Decrepit and with
| total absence of vitality, the young man
moves along at Snail'S pace. Fifty
pounds of his boyish weight has been left
somewhere, he says, around Santiago. and
today it is with difficulty that he manages
to balance the scales at 10 pounds. He
was twenty-one years of agt, July O. the
day the District regiment landed in Cuba
He thus celebrated his advent into legal
manhood in serving his country.
Sick All the Way.
Musician Swedberg arrived at Montauk
with the I'd and I'd batta.ions of the Dis
trict regiment, making the trip from San
| tiago on the transport Hudson. He was on
the sick list all the way up, and during the
seven days of the voyage his daily menu
consisted chiefly of cracked ice, which was
reserved almost entirely for those of the
weakened soldiers who We're actually on the
hospital roles. Occasionally during the trip
north he Dactook of beef extract and a
small quantity of matted milk. From his
accounts the sick We're we'll cared for All
of his comrades We're broken in health
however, but only the very sick received
proper food and nourshment. The soldiers
in the hospital section of the transnort
craVed only cracked ice, the fever in their
systems keeping throats parched day after
day.
The Santiago hero is very anxious to get
to his home, but fears the shock his diIaD-
dated appearance will ha
ones. He declares he hopes the boys of
the LIST District of Columbia will fatten a
trile at Montauk Point. and he is sure
they WILL for all of their wants are sup
piled there. The Evening Star commission
ers were at work relieving all pressing
wants when he left for Washington. while
t ciuzens relief committee was also on
the held actively providing for the boys
Young swedberg has had many interest
ing experiences during his three months
service in the United States army, not the
least diSagreeable being lack of funds
During the term of his enlistment he has
, not received a penny from the government.
nor mas any other member of the brave
band In Cuba the boys traded har6tack
ana meat Tor Spanish money that they
might procure writing material to send let
tefS TO parents and friends at home Mr.
oWeoberg paid no less than 81 in Spanish
com Tor single sheet of paper and an en-
velope. The boys also parted with their
food when it was in abundance for cigar
ettes. cigars and tobacco, that were to be
At.o AiCiii tIie CUDdnS ana SDaQiarIS
otter times they We're pinched for food
supplies falling to reach the front for want
OF mules and pack trains. 1t was then thar
tne poys wished they had preserved their
nardtack, but none begrudged the food ex
changed for writing material
Were Ready for Emcrrencfes
The band was in the trenches before Sam
tago. and under the leadership of Prof
w. r. Phillips. they played cheering
music for the boys whenever the oppor
tuEity oHered. While the District troops
were digging trenches in a perfect cIoud
burst, tle band remained with them and
When the bullets whistled overhead the
musicians were at their posts, ready to
take the place of any fallen comrade
should a general attack follow The sur
render came. however. without any hard
ngEtng on the part of the District boys.
prominent part in the program. The musi-
cians played the national airs just as we'll
as old the crack organizations of the ree11-
lar army: The boys were very fond of
bring the newly organized corps of must
clans up to standard of proficiency. This
he did with marked ability.
Not long after the surrender young Swed-
berg fell victim to the climatic fever and
other Santiago affections, and was soon
In the general hospital, where he was care
FULLY treated by Surgeon Cox of the Dis
trict regiment. DR.. Cox's faithfulness and
care IN the treatment of the District boys,
Swedberg declares. is responsible for the
low death rate in the regiment
Drank His FIJI of Milk.
Arriving at Montauk Point Swedberg de-
ciares he espied on the wharf a seven-gal-
lon can of milk. Upon leaving the trans
port he was buoyed up by the sight and
forgetting all about his weakness he made |
for the can and succeeded in reaching it |
first. He did not stop disposing the lac i
teal fluid until he had consumed some |
thing like a gallon and a half Then for |
the first time since he left home the boy |
felt that he was fat again.
Upon the arrival of the District soldiers /
at Montauk. affairs there being in better |
shape, they Jared very WELL especially |
those of them who were sent to the hos |
pital They were carefully nursed, and as /
soon as they are able to walk around all |
OF the sick men will be given thirty days |
leave and sent home.
One day before leaving the hospital at |
Montauk Albert asked the nurse IL he |
might not have some substantial food. de-
ciaring that he was wasting away for want |
OF something more than 1uid diet. Com
sent vas secured and on he went to the
mess tent. There he was supplied with