Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1898-07-01
FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

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lettsF EfeA Mark Yeater 20 HE
DresAsr Rsy.
SAN FRAkusco, GAL, June. .21, 1893.
Dear Brother: / received your letter
this morning, aud was delighted to hear
from you. I want you to write again %
soon as you get this, and it may reach
me before we embark. We expected to
go on board the boat Thursday. but see
by this mornings papers that some de.
feet has been discovered in the vessel
that the North Dakota regiment was to
sail In, and that we would likely be de-
layed until the 26th; but. for my part, I
have an idea that we will celebrate the
Fourth of July right here in Camp Mer.
ritt. Everybody is anxious to go, ex.
cept few of mammals little boys" who
thought they were going to Frisco for q
couple OF weeks, and would then go back
home. was just little bit homesick
around the edges myself when / was
lying in the hospital burning up with
fever and eating hard-tack and milk Tor
nothirg) when was on light diet, and
pork and besns after was able for the
heavy diet. (And it was heavy, all
raght) 30 l remained ON the light diet
until day or two before was dis.
charged-or released. as you might call
1t. Since my escape" however. l have
been in high spirits, with the rest Of the
boys. and am waiting as impatiently as
any OF them for the order to march
bravely down the streets of old San
Francisco to the ship. u expect to make
the trip on street-car; but don't say
anything about it, haven't drilled bit
since have been here, aud don't expect
to. am just getting in good shape to run
around town and take in few Of the
sights, Of which there is no end. Yester-
day was the first day got very far from
camp. John Edick and / went down to
the Clif House, the largest and most
famous bath-house in the world. won't
attempt to describe the bath and the
numerous museums in connection with
it, for it would fill q volume; but you
could see almost anything there is in
existence. right there. Before going in
We went into small park on the cliff
above. in full view of the ocean, and had
look At q line of guns used to defend
the harbor. Then we went into a photo
graph gallery and had our pictures taken
on these little tintypes Zone inclosed).
We got them within five minutes after
sitting. The regular price is 25 cents;
but we got them for l2} cents. Each of
us got two. To-day L am going up
town-just the opposite direction from
the way we went yesterday--and have
my teeth fixed, if the dentist thinks ]
need them repaired. and of course be will
think so. Then I will have corn or
two removed, take in few more of the
sights. and then fall back to the protec.
tion OF the camp. Slreet-cars run all
through the camp and to all parts of the
town, SO we don't have 10 do much walk
ing We wouldn't see much if we
walked, for it is about twenty miles
through the town.
The street.fakirs are doing'a land
Office business while the boys are here,
and they say they hope we won't get
away this summer. Oranges IRE five
cents dozen. and all the cherries you
want for nickel; plums. apricots and
other fruit in proportion. have sworn
off eating any fruit ut all. for they say
that 1t will have q bad effect on fellow
after he gets on the water. But we ex-
pect to I'LL be sea-sick, any way.
We got word to-day that the first
transports containing troops had arrived
at Manila o. k. but that they had little
trouble with the dons when the matter of
landing was considered. l am afraid the
boys won't leave any Spaniards for the
third expedition. of which we will be
q part.
l suppose you feel kind of down at the
mouth because you are not here; but you
may congratulate yourself before the war
is over that you staid at home. If get
to the Philippines all right am going to
see what some Of those "undeveloped
resources" are that they tell about, and
if l Can get bite Of anything good /
will hang on for awhile.
We received our clothes and equip
ments the other day. Our clothes con.
sist of one blue uniform, one brown duck
suit, two suits of underclothes, two pairs
OF shoes, one hat and one cap. lost my
cap while I was in the hospital, and
won't have to carry that. The whole kit,
when packed, will be pretty heavy,
guess; but don't think we will have
much marching to do. If it should prove
to be otherwise, we shall have to get
used to it-thars all. They say that il
rains more than half the time in Manila,
and I suppose we shall all be web-footed
when we return.
John Edick and Dan Boutillier are
both down Ia the tent writing; but am
in the chaplain's reading-room. This is
the first time l have been up here. I
have usually done my writing in the Y.
n. q. A. tent but for some reason it has
been taken down. The boys are both
well. but both too lazy to drill, like N.Y.
self. Dan has sore knee, because he
didn't run fast enough when he got of .
street.car., He says he thinks he can
keep It sore until his turn comes around
again for guard duty.
O. 4