The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-10-27

OpanlarOs snOt nigh. The boys salC
the bullets flew around them like
hailstones. Go. B. was right in with
the hring line all the time, bnt not a
man was hit. We missed a gooc
deal of hardship that the boys tha
were here first had. They had an aw
fully hard time. When they go,
here they had to stay on the shir
about week and when they went
off they had to dig trenches to de
fend themselves, and it rained all
the time, and all the shelter thev had
was those little pup tents (as we call
them), and they wet right through
They said they were wet all the time
and could get no dry wood to cook
with, so all they had was hard tack
and water At the time of the fight
they only had twelve hard tack for
forty-eight hours. The fight took
place on the 18th of August. In the
morning they cot out and marched
about four miles with the mud near
ly to their knees all the way, and
raining all the time. The fight be-
gan about nine o'clock and lasted
until about four o'clock in the after.
noon. At that time Co. B and
another company made grand
charge of half a mile, the mud near
ly to their knees at every step. First
one company would fire volley and
then the other. That was too much
for them and the white flag went up,
then the boys were all put on guard
for thirty-six hours. By. that time
they were all nearly dead they were
80 tired, but by the time we got here
they we're in the city and all quarter
ed in buildings, different companies
in different places all over town.
Each company had district to pa
troll. We do police work Of the~ city,
but, instead of each man having a
beat, the company has it and about
eight or ten men go >out together
and make their beat and back to
camp, and then another crowd goes
out. It is much the same as guard
duty, about one third of the COM
pany Oh for "a hours. They are di-
vided into three reliefs, two hours on
beat and three hours off, and then
on again, 80 that each man of the
section makes four trips day. We
have it fixed very nice, the company
is divided into three sections. One
section on patrol each day, and next
day the next section. The first day
the section does patrol duty, the
next day thew do the work around
camp, such as getting tirewood, and
helping in the kitchen, and cleaning
up around. And the next. day they
don't have anything to do, they can
go where they please just so they
get in before $50, so you see we
have every third day without any
regular duties. We have to wash
our white suits about twice week
Our white suits have to be clear
when we go on patrol every thirC
day. The water is soft here and
very nice to wash in, bnt it has to be
boiled before it is safe to drink. W.
have a bath room in our quarters
fixed 80 one can take shower baths.
Their horses here are all littl,
things, th-' biggest of them no big
ger than fathers ponies, For haul
ing loads they use water buffalo
They are much like. an OK. The,
are very strong. They weigl
from 200 to 1900 pounds but ar
very short-legged and much slowe
than an OK, but they pull an awfu
load. They drive them single on
cart. Nearly all their fine rigs hav
only two wheels. Their rigs are tax
ed so much a wheel suppose is tn
reason of it. The natives are quee
lot of people. You may have rea,
of their being pretty class of peo
pie and quite intelligent, but if yo
have. just change your mind. The
are the worst looking class of pee
pie ever saw, and the women ar
even worse looking than the men
And the best of them are only abou
half civilized. They are bloc,
thirsty lot of people and would JUS
as soon turn III and fight us if the,
thought they could make anythins
by it. We may have to- fight then
yet: They are a good deal like tn
Indians used to- be in the United
States: The Spanish ladies are quit
nice looking. Everyone talks Span
ish here, natives, Chinese, German
and all. Most of our boys are get
ting SO we can get along with then
pretty we'll, and you would laugh t.
bear us trying to talk with them
Everyone smokes here, men, wome1
and children. of all races and classes
cigars and cigarettes are very chea
here. Such cigars as we would pa
ten cents for at home, can be got fo
one cent each and cigarettes IS to 2
for cent, hut they don't know any
thing about chewing tobacco. The
don't have it at all. When we &C
here found seven letters waiting f
me, 3 of them from home. l shoul
have got them all in Frisco, but Iva
very glad to find them when I ge
here s n. ~ .s
I am as we'll as ever, have not bee
sick at all on the trip, Hope this wi
find you all we'll. Some Of the bo,y
hink We will eat our Xmas dinner