The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-07-28
How they Pass the Time Cooped Up
on the Morgan City.
LIFE ON TIE OCEAN VAYE
One of the weiser Volunteers writss OF
Soldiers Experience on the Sea.

About fifteen hundred miles from
San Francisco-July 3rd, 1898 On
board the Morgan City. After hoist
ing our anchor at San Francisco, We
took our position as second in the
line of transports the Indiana lead
ing, Ohio third with the City of Paris
bringing up the rear.
When the Indiana, the flagship
gave the signal to prepare, hundreds
of whistles sounded, thousands OF
people cheered, the bands on board
the ships and pleasure craft began
playing, and we started with enthu-
siasm at its highest pitch. At every
wharf for three miles, and from every
house, hill and street, the Friscoans
cheered us out OF the Golden Gate.
A happy lot OF fellows we're scattered
about the deck, almost eight hum
dred strong but "There will come
u time.
In the Bay where the water was
quiet, Jewell was the only man sick.
But two miles out from the Golden
Gate brave soldiers began to pale.
Soon there were the most desperate
lot Of men ever saw together.
Until sundown managed to keep
up. But afterwards L got afraid
that would injure an internal organ
but was in such misery that did not
care il did
On account OF the roughness OF
the sen, many OF us were sick for
three days. A few, among them our
two Licutenants, escaped altogether.
For the first five days our coffee was
as bitter as quinine; a biscuit,
piece Of fat bacon and couple Of
potatoes with sugar once day made
up rather the hardest fare we had
: seen.
. Hard tack comes every meal with
e no fruit or anything sweet. Onions
e and pickles were given AS treat for
p the sea sick on the fourth day out.
e On that day the soldiers took the
/. kitchen which caused the ''push' 10
e investigate Since we have fresh
J. meat often and are not complaining.
g We had no canned goods issued 10
;, us but at stated times tire regimenia!
IS commissary offers them for sale, at
T. exceedingly exorbitant prices. He
le was called down by some Of the Of
lie fcers but showed his list.
y The cooks even got to making pie
= and cake from our rations and sci.
|. ling them. This was stopped by
10 Major Higgins, now the negroes nre
a. almost afraid to step out with any
A. thing in their hands.
'e The companies are fed in order ol
r. frank, T. A. H. i d. g. b. g. The
US The rations are put up in buckets,
p, pans and boxes and passed to the
m men lined up in single rank. hard
th ly think stomach would last man,
n life times on soldier fare on board
,lf q transport
lo Discipline is maintained as on lane
lis by thirty-two guards.
es No fresh water except for drinkin,
k is furnished.
nd We are in the steerage from tel
,s- until Eve. This is ventilated by al
RS coming down circular canvas tun
IS, nell All right when there is stron
de breeze. In the morning the men ar
us covered with cold sweat caused b
the hot water pipes and the electri
nut lights.
of We are not allowed to sleep o.
ra- deck
.ep Whales have been sighted an
yer flying fish leave the water constantly
ng Gulls followed us for several days
zen petres still longer. One Of the la
of ter circled about the ship on I'll
al ninth day. Will the sooth-sayel
cry explain the potent
nd The glorious 4th was as fine da
as any ever in Weiser In the mori
ted ing the usual exercises were held
lis Then came the all-important dil
ron ner-W Weiser has never rushed as di
ing we to the festive board.
leir Siewed beef and potatoes vii
will dumpings, beans with vinegar :
the bread we could eat, can
far tomatoes to every three men, en-
the ing with mixture of rice and prime
not After dinner came the sports, 7
its cling, wrestling, boxing, aud tug
> war
ght All in all the Rocky Mt Brav
as enjoyed themselves exceedingly we
the July 7th, we sighted land said
Iant be the leprosy island
lsh- Then came the Island on which !
sore are to land, bare volcanic one
kris seems on first appearing, bnt so
the reveals itself as a beautiful tropi'
rful land
here This letter leaves at first opp0rI
sec tunity and things are moving =