The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-10-07
UNKEMPT NEW YORK DANDY.
How Wnr Levels All Social Ranks
Among the Soldters-Where
Mans a Man for q, That.


Lying alongside the steamer Yucca
tan, government transport, on board of
which was the First regiment of United
States volunteer cavalry, otherwise
known rs the rough riders, l saw an in
teresting incident. The deck was COW
cred with rough men, nearly all of
whom had a weeks beard on their
faces. had been talking with some of
them, and they We're complaining q
little of the travel rations they had
to eat, and more of the confinement on
board the ship, and still more Of the
water they had to drink. We were at
that moment filling the tank of their
ship; but they had as yet none of the
water, and had been drinking Croton
water which had been brought in the
ships casks from New York more than
two weeks before, and was hardly fit
to drink. Of this they We're allowed
but very seant half cupful at time,
which they had to drink while they
stood In the presence of the men who
doled it out. That they should be hot
and thirsty and not be able to get
more than drop of dirty water seemed
to these rough western riders very far
from the thing they had enlisted for.
Well. as our steamer lay alongside
the Yucatan, the purser of our boat.
who Is always a very well-dressed
young man, was walking. immaculate,
down the deck. He heard his name
called from the mass of rough Riders:
"Denisonl Denisonl" The purser
looked, and saw rider as rough as
any Of the rest advancing to the rail
of the ether ship and looking eagerly
toward him. The man was dressed,
like the others, in clothes which were
like the brown drilling. overalls and
jumper of farmer, only dirtier than
farmer ever wears. The mans face
was covered with weeks beard, He
was pretty tough specimen. The
purser did not recognize him, "Well,
! don't wonder" said the man, but my
name Is b, and l am from New
York" The purser had TO iook twice
more to recognize tho face of q young
New York millionaire who had ridden
treated him with good deal of con
slderation and who, when the purser
was last in New York. had given him
q fine dinner at DelmoIico's.
The purser was certainly shocked,
and q certain hungry look in the million
aire privates face led him to ask what he
could do for h,n. Give me drink of
cold water, for Gods sakc!" said the
soldier. "Why, perhaps might find
you cold bottle" said our purser.
''That won't do" answered the New
York man, ats against orders TO
pass any liquor aboard the ship, and
couldn't violate the regulations II you
could. But guess they'll let you give
me q drink of water" So the purser
went end got pitcher of good, fresh
spring water. and put some ice In It.,
and the soldier took q glass of 1t
eagerly, and gave the rest in the pitch
er to his comrades. There was no
compared with that for deliciousness.
Even the officers of the regiment had
no better water than the old croten
the men had been drinking. One of
the officers on that same day offered
the steward of our ship two dollars for
lumr of Ice, and the steward had to
refuse. Then the officer told the stew
ard of sick man on board who needed
the Ice, and of course he got lump Of
the Ice for nothing for the invalid
Chicago Inter Ocean.