Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-09-24
Saturday, September "a, 1895.
DOWN AT PANAMA PARK.

The Second South Carolina Is In Comfort
sidered Their Refusal to Take Pay From
Negro Paymaster-One of the Boys
Killed En- Route.
Correspondence Of the Yorkville ENQUIRER.
PANAMA PARK, FLA, September
20.-The Second Regiment of South
Carolina Volunteers has at last left the
home station, much to the grati6ca-
ton of both officers and men, and is
now comfortably encamped at Camp
Cuba Libre, Panama Park, Fla, just
across the highway from the First
South Carolina, where the First has
heretofore had its corral but the
place has been so thoroughly policed
and renovated that it will no doubt be
perfectly healthy.
The Second has met with every
courtesy and kindness from the First
South Carolina, its sister regiment,
and from the northern regiments en-
camped near by, so that although we
have been here few days, we feel as
much at home as the regiments who
have been here for over four months.
1t is expected that the First South
Carolina will leave here very soon now
for Columbia, where they will be given
80 days. furlough before being mus
tered out, and that the Second South
Carolina will take the place made
vacant by them, in the Second brigade,
Third division of the Seventh army
corps, commanded by Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee.
This brigade is in command of Briga-
dier General Barkeley, of Illinois, and
in it are the Fourth Illinois and the
Sixth Missouri.
The Fourth Illinois presents, at pres
ent very amusing condition of affairs.
The lieutenant colonel and major were
put under arrest by the colonel for
sending certain kilograms to the gov
ernor of Illinois and the colonel in
turn was put in arrest by the brigade
commander, General Barkeley, upon
charges made by the majors. And 30
the matter rests at present, with
court martial in progress.
The climate here is as cool as that
of Columbia, and much pleasanter, as
there is pretty constant breeze.
The sick reports for the past few
days have been unusually large but
there are few serious cases, and the
accommodate in the division hos
pital are so perfect and the nurses so
kind and attentive, that it is almost
a privilege to be sick.
The Second Texas regiment, which
at FIRST refused to receive their pay
from the Negro paymaster, appointed
by the president, reconsidered their
action, were paid off and returned
home to be mustered out yesterday.
When the president learned of their
refusal to receive their pay from the
paymaster because he was Negro, he
declared that in that case, they would
receive no pay at all, and in addition
preferred charges against the whole
regiment. Although the president was
perfectly right in enforcing discipline,
it does not justify his action in ap-
pointing Negro to responsible po-
sition where he will be thrown in con-
tact with white troops when he is
perfectly aware of the Unborn preju-
dice of the southern whites for Negroes
being appointed to positions above
them.
There was some talk that the South
Carolina troops would not receive their
pay from Negro but the South Caro-
lima boys were too sensible and so hard
up that they would have welcomed the
paymaster had he been Hottentot.
The Second South Carolina had been
paid of before leaving Columbia, and
the decentralization that usually follows
pay day had passed off, so that when
they arrived here they were in good
condition and presented such credit
able appearance that they received
many compliments from the immense
crowd that met them at the station.
Today all the tents are being floor
ed, the United States furnishing the
lumber and all the floors being exact
ly two feet above the ground.
1t was reported throughout the reg
iment last night that General Lee had
assured Colonel Jones that we would
leave for Cuba within 20 days. The
statement aroused considerable enthu-
siasm, the regiment appearing as
anxious to reach Cuba, as they were
to leave Columbia.
The big Y. M. c. A. tent just south
of the First South Carolina camp is
continually filled with the members of
the Second, who find the long tables
and free stationary very convenient
for writing to the dear ones at home.
The members of the Second, however,
are such industrious correspondents
that the supply of stationary has been
temporarily exhausted, and conse-
quently the tent just at present is
not near 80 popular.
While en- route here, Coperal Francis
NJ. Cooper, of Company I, who was
riding on top of the cars, contrary
to orders, was struck with some pro-
jecting part of coal chute and knock
ed senseless. He has since died from
the injuries received.
Private Brooks Easterling, of COM