The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-08-26
ARMY LIFE AS SEEN BY ONE OF
JASPER'S NATIVES.
An Interesting Letter From Andrew
Eckert, Of Bat. &C." LIST Art.

An Interesting Letter From Asdrew
Eckert, Of Bat. "0," LIST Art.
The COURIER is permitted to pub
lish the following extract from
letter of Mr.. Andrew Eckert, who
joined the regular army few weeks
ago, and was assigned to Battery
&C." First U. S. Artillery, now
stationed at Fort Point, Galveston,
Texas:
FoRT POINT, Galveston, Tex.
Aug. IL, 1898.
. Dear Brother JAMES:
In this Battery there are 200
men, at the Point, "and all we'll
: not man in the Hospital at pres
ent. Time seems short here, be-
cause we always have some duty or
pleasure going on. This is pay
day and and a holiday for the Bat.
terry. Sunday is always a holiday,
and ! have been to the city several
times on Il pass, going to church
mornings, and visiting interesting
places in the evening. Last Sun
, day was at the beach, looking at
some large vessels. Its quite in
teresting to Jasper boy to hear
the different languages, and see the
different looking people on the ves-
sells from almost all over the world.
am well pleased with my pres
ent situation, and do not regret hav-
ing enlisted-plenty Of good grub,
more clothing than necessary,
reasonable salary, ($15.60 a
month"; no more hard work than
will keep a man in good health,
and plenty Of help to do all that's
required. / think l will spend the
rest Of my life in the army, for Un-
Gle Sam. is good pay. There goes
the bugle for supper, and We will
have rice, fried bacon, or "flitch,"
but its wholesome and l enjoy
every meal. 1t surprised me at
first that | should enjoy such eat
ing so well, but its all better than
| expected.
Well, supper's over, and soon re-
treat will be sounded, at 6 o'clock,
and want to finish this letter be-
fore then, for after that l generally
go with some Of the men either to
play ball, 60 fishing or batheing.
After retreat is the only really free
time all have for such enjoyments.
And we have great sport, too, rid
ing the big waves, or breakers"
as they are called, or catching
founders, fish fiat in shape, and
found in shallow water about knee
deep, from sun down till about 8
O'Clock, we catch them by spearing
them, by the light Of a lantern
which attracts them, and it's great
fun.
In the morning the first thing we
hear is the bugle at 5 AS; at 6 the
cannon is fired, and the flag hoisted
on big pole in the Fort; then we
all lined up for roll call, and after
that is over break ranks for break
fast. At 8 O'Clock we fail in in
squads, and have exercises and
various body movements, on paral-
lei bars, turning poles, with dumb
bells, ETC., in fact regular gymna-
sium performance till $50. Then
we are dismissed till after dinner,
At l o'clock, when we must be in
inc for drill or dress parade till 2
''clock, and again from 3 to 4
clock, and at $3.50 supper; at q
retreat, when we again must be in
inc and answer roll-call: we stand
Il parade rest" till the cannon is
ired and the flag lowered at 6
o'clock, when we are dismissed for
he day. We have, on an average,
hree days in succession Of drill to
10 with big guns-such as ten and
welve inch rifles.
Last week we fired some of the
mines in the channel, 80 as to make
lavigation more safe, and expect to
low them all up this week, as the
otton merchants are now objecting
D their continuance, as a big
feamer striking one Of the con-
act mines might be blown up and
estroved, as was the Maine. It's
pretty sighqto seen them explode,
nrowing great volumes OF water
hundred feet high. I
uess III close this letter now, and
Ike line and 60 down on the
,tty short distance, and get some
h for breakfast. Wishing you all
ell, and sending love to each, 1
m your brother,
ANDREW ECKERT.