The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-09-09
FIFTH REGIMENT.
LIFE OF MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA AND
ALABAMA TROOPS AT SANTIAGO.
Special Cor. Times Democrat.

ALABAMA TROOPS AT SANTIAGO.
Special Cor. Times Democrat.
Santiago dc Cuba Camp, Headquar.
terra Fifth United States Volunteer
Infantry, Aug, l5.-Thc thousand and
odd men from Mississippi, Louisiana,
Alabama, and other Southern States
composing the Fifth Regiment Of
United States Volunteer Infantry arc
now dOmicilcd upon the side OF one
OF the hills surrounding the city of
Santiago. The camp Is distant from
the city as the crow flies about three.
quarters OF a mile, while on foot IL
seems four. However, distance counts
for but little, as permits to visit the
city are about as difficult for the en-.
listed man Of Col. Sargent's command
to obtain as intoxicating beverages
were IN Columbus.
To say that the quarters OF the
Fifth are pleasant would be slightly
trifing with the truth. They are as
comfortable, however, as circum-
stances will permit. In the first place
the two essentials for a comfortable
and healthy camp are entirely lack
ing There is neither shade or water.
The only trees in the camp arc one
over the guard tent and one over the
headquarters OF Capt. Vardaman Of
Company A. Capt. Vardaman had
the most desirable location at Colum.
bus and he has at the Santiago camp.
With the exception OF a few dry sticks
that can be gathered on the neighbor-
ing mountains there Is no frewOOd.
The nearest fresh water Is at Santa.
20, and this must be boiled before 1t
Is At for drinking purposes. For this
reason the utmost economy Is neces-
sary 10 the use Of water. The water
In the bay Is polluted and the men are
forbidden to bathe in it. This makes
the task OF keeping body and clothes
clean very difficult one. Added to
these discomfOrts are the thousand
and one insect pests, not to mention
the snakes, land crabs, scorpions, liz
yards, centipcdcs, tarantulas which
make tent life not only disagreeable,
but positively dangerous. Despite
these discouraging features, the men,
now that the c0nmissary Is In good
working order, are reasonably con.
tented.
One OF the greatest difficulties of the
Officers Is to prevent the Introduction
OF rum into camp Strict rules and
personal caution to the men have 90
far been effective.
The surgeons have endeavored to
impress every man with the absolute
necessity Of letting alcoholic liquors
alone, but even with the knowledge
that illness and perhaps death stares
them in the face, many persist In
drinking the vile rum obtained from
the Cubans. The men were paid of
just before leaving Columbus and had
no opportunity OF spending their mon-
ey in the United States. Until all
this money is gone the rum nuisance
cannot be abated.
Col. Sargent has established his
headquarters on the top OF q noun.
tain Just south Of the camp. With
him in this little camp are Lieut.. Col.
Wiley, Majors Money aud Lid1ell, Ad.
jutant Darby and the ladies who ac.
company the regiment, Mrs. Sargent,
Mrs. Underwood. wifcOf Capt. Under.
wood, and Mrs. Shields, mother OF Capt.
Shields. The ladies were given quite
a scare last night, One OF the senti'
ncls around headquarters discover.
ed a couplco Of men evidently attempt.
ing to steal one OF the horses belong.
ing to the regiment. lie discharged
his piece at the men and the fire was
returned. The guard was turned out
and for short time it sounded like a
skirmish fight. The net result OF the
firing was the killing OF a horse be.
longing to Lieut.. Randolph, and the
wounding Of one Of Col. Wiley's
horses. The guards have been dou.
bled since then, and as they arc we'll
armed and Cuban horse thieves may
expect warmer reception next time.
The greatest precautions are being
taken to prevent the introduction OF
yellow fever into camp. Men who are
permitted to leave camp are forbid
den to enter any private houses or
even to 70 into the blOckhouses sur
rounding the city which were usco Dy
the Spanish soldiers.
The Cuban pt ddlers are rlRidIy ex-
cluded and the men are warned
against purchasing articles OF wearing
apparel. The camp Ia high and should
be free from malaria and other fevers.
or course only time can tell whether
these precautions will be effective. |
Tie blue uniforms furnished tho