Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-10-27
BADGER BOY ATTENDS AND HAS
A HIGH OLD TIME,
ASTONlSAES THE sNATlVES
Didn't Think He Could Dance, but
Thought of Il Chicken Diet Causes
HomeSickness-~loy at Orders to
Start for the States,


Isaac Francomh has received another
interesting letter from his son Harry
in Porto Rico. 1t is dated Cayey, Oct
1, and runs thus; Il have just re-
ceived the papers and was very glad
TO get them and To see what Is going
ON at home and was So gla,t to hear
that the Madison boys Of the first regt-
how | did wish | was there when /
read about that chicken and other
things that they gave to the boys 10
cat. had just finished meal OF
corned mule and bareback with black
coffee anu II made mo sick when |
read about the chicken, for We have
been on travel rationS for week and
ii made me homestck to read about the
feast. for soc that the Madison peo-
pie are still alive and IL did mo good
to show the boys here how the people
Of my town treat their soldiers; but
suppose that we will get some fried
chicken too when we get home, Well,
we have left our old camp ut Coamo,
that is two companies OF lis, Cos, A
and l.. Co. l. went 10 Ahonito and
took the Spanish barracks and we
came on to this place and took the
barracks here. We left Coamo Satura
day morning and marched 10 miles
through some of the most beautiful
country you ever saw. All along the
road were orange and banana trees
and they were just loaded down with
the fruit and there were hundreds OF
acres OF growing coffee and other
things, We camped in the road fot
that night anu rolled ourselves up In
our blankets and went to sleep, In
tho morning We had n breakfast OF
bareback and coffee and then marched
10 miles farther to this place, We had
to get here by noon as the city was 10
be turned over to us at II o'clock,
There were 800 Spanish soldiers here
in the barracks and as we came In one
end of the city they went out the
other. We got the barracks all right
but they were sight to see! never
saw Il place so dirty in my life We
could not stand to 10 inside, SO we put
up our tents and went into camp and
had the natives to clean them for us
which they did in good shape, and now
we are living In them The report "
that we will have to stay In them till
spring, but | hope not We have rain
now every day and IT keeps our
grounds very muddy all the time We
have had a pay day and all OF the boys
TO pay an awful price for every thing
we buy would like To send
you some things from here
but can not AZ our mall
service Is not fixed up in any shape
yet tell my friends In Madison that
am well and that | am learning to talk
Spanish but | would rather be there
and talk American. When We left
Coamo last Saturday we had over SOC
of our regiment on the sick list and
only about 400 1T for duty. II Is true
chat all of the children go naked here
unui they are five or six years old and
some until they are older. The people
are very poor and cannot dress them.
We have got used to them now and do
not notice 1t any more than II they
were dressed. saw Major Doyan
here, but he was no busy that could
not get a chance to speak to him. He
was looking fine. | viii nnish this
letter in the morning for taps have
just sounded and that means lights
out. :"
Morning, Oct. o. Well. we are all
happy This morning for we have just
got orders to return to Ponce and
lake the transports for the United
States and we expect to be home In
side of three weeks. The rsst OF our
brigade came into Cayey yesterday. so
but nobody Is kicking about 1t. 1t
was hard looking crowd that
marched into camp here yesterday. !
was Standing on the sidewalk and
watched them go by. There were less
than 500 In line and OF the 10th Penn
sylyanla regiment there were about
400 The 4th ohio is coming here TO
relieve US and as soon as IL gets here
we VIII start on our march TO the sea.
Yesterday was great day Tor the ma
tlyes Of this city, II was the first time
they ever saw or heard a band OF mu-
sic and when they heard Ii play
thought they would go Wild. | went
TO a dance Sunday night Chat is the
only time they dance here), and had
fine time. All they dance are round
dances and they are nearly like ours
It did not take me long 10 catch on TO
them, and they thought was great TO
learn so quick. But talk about fun!
II was there. 1t still keeps raining
and lots OF II, but as we are In the bar
racks now we don't mind II; but wont
we catch 1t when we start on our
march. But, say, won't be glad when
get back TO the United Statesl ]
have had all OF the foreign country
want. The state OF Wisconsin Is good
enough for me and hope to see II