Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-07-17

DAY. and / WIN send one home Where
you can see it Il you with. We are
fully equipped, except buckles Tor our
belts. and II they would only send rs
to Cuba I think every boy In the reel-
ment would rake up wire buckle OK
some kind: so you see 1t is not mex
of equipment that holds us back. All
the boys are rapidly getting rid Of their
pay. as they spend money as II 1t was
nothing but dirt The stand owners
are getting rich, and fast too. Com
p2ly M is, OF course, the crack COM
pany Of the regiment, in drill and
everything we attempt.
About twice a week we tear down
tents, pack up everything, take ten
days rations and go on short march
of about 400 yards and back again.
then pitch tents, place everything in
shape for camp-life again. Company
M holds the record (23 minutes)
for this, and no company has
come close yet, and even if they do
you can rest assured that the Wheeling
and Mcundsville boys have still a Ht-
tie "hurry-up' up their sleeves, and
can lower the record If need be. We
are sure to go to Cuba, but when, is
| the question. All the officers treat US
all 0. X, and although our camp life
| is somewhat hard, we could stand 1t
little harder if We only knew when
we were going to go to Cuba, as per-
son would be to eat good dinner
after starving for two weeks. It
rained most all day. and We were
treated to a holiday, and we certainly
relished it. as we had a sham battle
yesterday and were on the double
time most of the afternoon. Company
NJ was in the reserves and when we
charged up a knob en- the enemy,
company NJ was first to get there, cap
turing about half company and los
ing only one man.
Target practice began Monday, and
our turn will come about the first of
next week We are going to try for
honors. l will let you know later how
we come out. Taps has just sounded,
and | had better blow this little candle
out or | will find myself doing extra
duty tomorrow. I will finish writing
in the morning.
July 15th-Reville was sounded In
a down-pour Of rain this morning.
wish you were here to see our tent; we
have a ditch around the upper sides,
but last night 1t OVERLOOKED and a
stream Of water about four feet wide
rushed through our tent all night. One
poor fellow slept outside last night, as
it did not look like rain when we went
to bed. He just laid down with a
blanket around him and this morning
when the rain awoke me | looked out
side, and there in all that rain, with a
peaceful expression, and a snore which
resembled the thunder which was then
going on, lay this poor boy. Well, TO
cut the story short, he's up now, and
the words he used would not look well
on paper. | suppose we will have 10
drill this morning in all this mud, and
as it is nearing the time for our first
| drill | will draw this monotonous mis-
| sive to a close, but before closing
want to say that any reports about the
! Wheeling boys deserving, or being
| shot, is as disgusting to us as 1t would
| be TO hear that Sampson had joined the
| Spanish forces to help defeat his own
| country.
All the Wheeling boys are In the
finest health, and you need expect
nothing but good reports from them,
either in the camp or at the front.
Give my love to all Be sure to write
all the news. Mess call has just
sounded and | will get in line for
pork and" or l may drill on an
empty stomach All the boys send best
wishes to those at home, and hope to
| see them soon, but not until Spain Is
wiped off the map. Write soon.
| Your friend
CLARENCE IRA ECHOLS.