Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-06-16
THE d o
How the south Dakota Regiment IL
Earring at Canip Merritt.

HOW the SOUtn Dnhpta hckiHitbt -
Earring al Cactp Merritt.
The following interesting letter was
written by the Sioux Falls Argus
Leader correspondent with the troops
at Camp Merritt:
We are now in camp here in San
Francisco, and only a part of an army
in camp, instead of being 1.-The whole
thing
At the pier in San Francisco we
found a small army OF young ladies,
mostly friends Of the Red Cross socie-
~ of California, and marching TO a
! martial air from the Thirteenth Min
nesota, led by the regimental band.
We Immediately surrendered to them
and permitted them 10 give us "A very
wholesome and enjoyable dinner. AT
ter the dinner, served by the aforesaid
young ladies, stirring Dakota cheers
were given for Admiral Dewey, in re-
Spouse to a call from Mr.. Stetson,
Gen. Miles. President Mckinley, Col
Frost and Maj. Howard.
As soon as Mr.. Stctson had finished.
Maj. Howard proposed three cheers
for the Red Cross society. which were
given with a will and repeated.
The ladies, meanwhile, before and
after the cheering, were passing beau
tiful bouquets of various flowers
around, and every man went out look
ing very much ike a flower garden on
the war path. They also passed post
al cards 10 each man, and then collect
cd them when the men had written,
AS we marched out they cheered US
repeatedly. and made US feel that we
had friends already in San Francisco.
The companies We're then marched
10 our present camp, going through
the business portion of the city. The
| streets were crowded as we passed,
even into the streets, the citizens form
ing in line out into the street on each
side.
We were cheered and cheered again.
! Pretty girls smiled at all, end from the
windows and doors they waved a hos
pitable reception.
Our line of march extended through
the city for about four miles, and all
along the route the demonstrations
continued.
Arriving in camp, we found the 9TH
err regiments looking for us, ard we
were received with cheers again.
After waiting an hour or so we re-
| ceived tents, small-SX10-and in a
short time had them up. For some
reason there was a delay in the arriv-
al of the equipment. and il had to he
distributed in the dark. The supper
appeared, and the boys We're getting
very hungry indeed, when word was
sent that the Red Cross would send
out 500 loaves of bread and 120 gal
Ions OF coffee. The provisions arrived
about 8 o'clock, and were happily re-
ceived by a thousand hungry men.
Once again the Red Cross society
proved itself a God-given institution
and a blessing TO the soldiers.
Too much cannot be said for the
Red Cross society. So soon in the war
il has shown itself 10 be of inestima-
bic good and help, in more ways than
one. The boys would have had to 90
hungry had it not been for them.
There has been much confusion in
| getting settled. but it is not TO be won
dered at, considering all the circum-
stances.
To civilians ii may seem hard and
unnecessary that the men should have
to go without food until pretty hungry,
as they did last night: but such
things are incident to war, and the
boys are bearing them like soldiers.
Yesterday several citizens brought
us two or three boxes of oranges ana
tossed them over the guard line 10 the
new arrivals, who soon put them to
their proper use. 1t was an act that
made the boys feel welcome.
One Of the San Fancisco papers
speaks of Maj. Howard as the ladies
q Of the regiment"
The kodak and photograph fiends
were out in force yesterday. Flash
light views of the depot during dinner
We're taken several times.
Solicitors for various papers and
firms are very common on the grounds,
especially among the newcomers.
II is thought the regiment will have
an opportunity to take an ocean bath
soon, as ii is the purpose at present, 10
take the battalions TO the beach in a
body and straighten out the bath reg
lister, which was somewhat neglected
on the journey.
While South Dakota mud made
things rather unpleasant at times dur
ing our stay there, yet most of us
| would welcome it in place of the sand
of California.
1t is harder to walk in than mud.
and seems to permeate everything.
Just why we should be camped here
on the sand, when there are beautiful
camping grounds not half a mile from
this location. it is difficult to tell. 1t
is called the Preside, and Is a govern
ment reservation, and, so far as your
correspondent has been able to learn,
could be used.
ny ~ ~ a-u- ~