The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-20
The FIRST TEXAS REGIMENT
Conditions OF Camp Cuba Libre Care.
fully Reviewed.
COOKING CAUSED MUCH SICKNESS.
This Feature of Camp Life Hns Inn
proved and Good Cooks Are Now
Considered Essential
Especial Correspondence Of The post.)

70
Jacksonville Fla, October 14.--Now, that
the regiment is soon to leave, this camp
seems more delightful than ever before.
ferhaps the reflection that another as good
~Ill not be easy to find adds to the charm.
10 the enlisted men, whose pleasure has
been embittered by daily routine OF roll
call, drill, roll call and drill day IN and
day out, these reflections may not come. To
q visitor who Is free to go and come at will
so1ourh IN tho camp OF the First Texas
regiment at this season Is "a delight.
me tents arc pitched on level. wooded
plateau forty or fifty feet above the river
Inc surface is a heavy damp sand This
was carpeted with short grass when the
regiment arrived but has now been worn
OH IN the streets by the daily tramp OF 1000
teet. II does not blow about, however,
ana that part carried onto tent floors is
easily swept out. 1t might be called nice
clean heavy sand. Pine trees, live oaks and
other species are literally scattered over
the place. magnificent spreading live
oak completely covers the Light Guard
mess shed and kitchen. hydrant stands
conveniently in each company mess, from
whicl flows the purest artesian water In
abundance
At either edge OF the regiment substantial
wood outhouses have been erected, provided
WIN a system OF sanitary sewerage. While
not elaborate or expensive these important
factors to the health of a military camp
are most effective and easily kept in order
TWO bath houses containing each ten
shower baths, are provided on the sewer
line, and SO constructed that a sun bath
can be taken with the shower IL desired.
Ihis aesthetic provision was perhaps more
through accident than design. The men
utilize these baths, too, perhaps more than
those whose duty 1t may be to keep them
in order realize, for on several occasions
found the floors strewn with old clothing.
underclothing and paper The floor was
clean and smooth where the water from
the shower flowed upon It,.
To me the most grateful Item is the
river. The farther shore, covered with a
ight forest, is a mile or more away. The
water Is deep farther out but the depth
decreases toward the shore near us and
graduates into smooth sandy beach.
Majestic Clyde line steamers ply up and
down in their leisurely course from the
mouth OF the river to the city of Jackson
| VILE; neatly built. sharp bowed, steam
| yachts run up and down. business-like,
| noisy tugs-among the latter the Dauntless
and the Three Friends-puff and churn the
| waters, towing schooners to be loaded with
| Timber; and graceful, white winged pleas
ure boats dip and glide back and forth
| among tho white caps" in the freshening
| breeze. The river is not calm. Its surface
| rolls and losses like a little sea and snioll
| pillows roll in with fringes OF foam and
| break upon the miniature beach. pas
| senger steamer with capacity for 800 makes
| regular trips TO Mayport, at the mouth of
the river, about twenty miles away. Many
OF the men take advantage of these excur-
| sions.
From the time the rogmental band be-
gins playing at $40 in the morning until
taps is blown at $3.50 at night the time flies
in camp. There is always something to do,
somewhere to 90. To write a letter is per-
haps the most difficult feat to be accom-
plished | hope the mothers and friends
of tho boys will take into consideration
this state OF afiairs when out OF patience
with the soldier. Send him stamped aud
! addressed envelope Il sheet of paper and
n pencil and some pleasant words-nome
gossip--and ask him TO write today. now,
and YOU may get an answer The chances
| are good unless your soldier hurriedly
stunts the outfit into the solitary pocket Of
his blue shirt or the hip pocket OF his
trousers TO grab his gun and answer roll
call for morning drill. In which event the
letter may reach you later, the worse for
wear from the perspiration OF his patriotic
toll Don't be discouraged Wait awhile
ma write him again. n you don't hear
after second trial, drop a letter 10 his cap
tain. don't write to the war department, as
4 have known uneasy parents to do. This
Il will cause delay and your boy will get the
worst of IT, II he is we'll. or die or recover
II he is sick. before your letter can ira
verse tho labyrinth called through milf
tary channes."
In this connection wish to acknowledge
receipt Of a complimentary letter from
| Houston father, who has two sons in the
army here, He thanks me for the hospital
letter Of the 2Sth ultimo which relieved
him perhaps OF some uneasiness. He says
in part: with two boys at Jacksonville,
it is quito refreshing to read an article
that the doctors and nurses are
| doing as we'll as ANY doctor and nurses
could do, and that the powers that be are
not feeding the Texas sick with raw SOW
belly while tina others get ice cream aud
pie" Ice cream and pie are not include i,
IN the light diet of the hospital. 1t Is
true hut good substantial chicken BROTH
with real chicken floating in Il. weak cocoa
toast and milk are, for since my trip thro'
the hospital | have been complaining
and through the courtesy Of one of the
stewards personal friend, | have been
able to enjoy one or two OF those "lighu
diets. almost wished to be sick, II was
50 appetlzing and grateful. The light
diets get 10 the mon, too, for have seen
dozens OF walters loaded and carried away
10 the wards.
In my humble opinion, large part OF
the sickness has besn accustomed by i'm
properly cooked food and poorly served at
the beginning Inexperienced men were
put into company kitchens aud cooked by
instinct whatever thsy had to cook. Ex-
| perience and numerous and weghty kicks
| ON the part OF the men after awhile rem
ediea this condition. The volunteers start
ed out with digestive apparatus like unto
that OF an ostrich, The continued attacks
OF chunks OF meat cooked but not always
served In an appetizlng manner and biscuit
that could ssndbag and OK, rice boiled
straight, canned corned beef and hari tack
= aea se times when the body was either too
heated for comfort or too fatigued to stand.
| ren9eret this ostrich faculty detective. and
the men began 10 be sick. For q few days
| at this time, too, heard complaints OF
| stoppage or shortage OF ration> in the regi-
ment. This was at Miami. Add 20 this
supply OF water at least questionable and
| top Il OFF with three hours drih IN the
morning from to ~, under tropical sun,
| two and half miles through the heavy
discouraging sand TO the drill grounds, a
| iistless lfeless attempt at drili, that re-