Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-30

camp marked Compliments of The Even
ing Star" It was at once distributed
throughout the camp, and this evening
Thousands of letters written by the men
Will be carried to the post office.
Strange experiences have been met by
the men in their efforts to write home. OF
course the army lie not supplied with sta
dcnery by the government, end 1t has been
impossible to procure writing material.
They have been writing on blank spaces Of
newspapers and on any slips Of paper they
could procure. Letters received by them
are written over and returned and en-
velopes have been turned and made to do
service in carrying nsws back to the homes
flom which they came. Envelopes have
been improvised and made to hold together
by slender sticks of wood used as pins, or
by being stitched, and the men who have
had supplies of safety pins have found
them useful in their business of envelope
making.
Regiment Without Money.
The regiment is without money and the
cases in which man is able to spend even
five cents for any purpose whatever are
rare. They have been paid for only two
weeks service since their enlistment.
Without money they can procure none of
the many little things that might be had
to add to their comfort. The lack of
money was serious drawback to them
while on board the transport Hudson. The
officers of the steamer declined to credit
the officers of the regiment for their meals,
and there were supplies on the ship that
might have made the entire regiment more
comfortable had there been money to pay
for them. But most Of these supplies re-
manned locked UP while sick men were
forced to conf1ne themselves to such army
rations as were, brought with them. After
being at sea day or two an arrangement
was made whereby the officers were al
lowed meals from the transports supplies.
Those officers who had money loaned it
for the benefit of their comrades. but the
men. IL! weakened by their long ex-
posture and deprivation, ate mouldy hard
tack, canned meat, which many of them
say was generally in a questionable con-
dition, and carrying with it an odor far
from appetizing, while there was a scant
supply of canned tomatoes, which very fire.
quently had soured.
1t would have been hard enough on we'll
men to be obliged to subsist on such a
fare, but for sick men. who were rem
dered miserable enough by the added UNI
pleasantness of seasickness, this diet was
intolerable. 1t aggravated the bowel COM
plants from which nearly all Of them suf-
fer when they attempted to force such food
down their threats, and those who coul.
not do so grew weaker day by day. This
condition would have been intelerable
enough under any circumstances, but it was
made disgraceful from the fact that the
steamer had provisions under lock and key
m oh a tn p,,f
there was no magical money to unlock
these provisions. and the red tape had be-
come so fearfully entangled that no power
existed to unwind it.
To Receive Every Comfort.
But whatever the men have suffered, the
prospect today is that they will receive
every comfort that will tend to restore
them to health. Major O'Brien, in COM
mand of the troops during the illness of
Major Hine, who is being cared for in the
hospital, has been informed that if the men
need anything for their comfort that is not
promptly supplied from the commissary
stores here, he has only to say what IS
wanted to have it furnished by The Even
ing Star, If it can be purchased
The battalions are located on the most
magnificent camping ground imaginable.
Beyond Montauk the ground rises and
when the top of the first hill is reached a
view Is had of q splendid rolling country.
Camp Wikoff, which today contains some
thlng like 10000 troops, stretches over an
area OF country for a distance of about
four miles in every direction. A view of
the entire camp is commanded from the top
of the first high hill beyond Montauk, on
the top of which Gen. Wheeler's head
quarters are located. The view is magni-
hcent. Thousands of white tents dot the
Eillsides in every direction, while off to the
east tents are seen along the seashore. The
detention camp. to which the District regi-
ment was taken upon landing, Is within
stones throw of headquarters and is pitch
ed along the hillside. A cool ocean breeze
is blowing there constantly. and however
warm the sun may be, under the shade of
the tents it Is always cool. A cheering
sight for the District soldiers in this camp
is the lighthouse at the extreme end of
Montauk Point. The white tower is out
lined against the sky with almost precisely
the effect of the Washington monument as
1t is seen from many parts of the District
of Columbia.
Looks Like Home.
There's the Washington monument"
one of the boys called out as the battalions
had climbed to the top of the hill and be-
gan a descent e. their camp.
1t makes the place look more like home,
and after all that does them as much good
as medicine.
After few days spent in quarantine in
this detention camp the regiment will be
located where 1t will remain until sent
home.
Before leaving here Secretary AIger told
your correspondent he could not see that it
would be necessary to keep the regiment at
Camp Wikoff as long as two weeks.
Burroughs of two months have been given
all the men Of the I'd Massachusetts and
the list New York, and when General
Wheeler was asked today whether such
privilege could not be extended to the Dis
trict troops soon he replied that he hoped
to see action shortly that would givs all
the men who wanted to go home for q time
a chance to do so. 1t is likely, however,
that the boys here will prefer remaining to-
gether until they go to Washington in a
body. They will be more comfortable here
than IL they were at home during the next
three weeks, when the weather is likely to
be quite warm in Washington. They will
not suffer from the heat here, and as they