Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-18
800. The dynamite guns proved
themselves to be terrible engines Of

war. Throwing IS pounds Of dyna.
mite without any smoke or NOISE they
were something mysterious and terri.
BILE to the Spaniards.
Today, after being on the island
about five weeks and undergoing
hardships that no American soldier
ever went through, finds nearly 25
per cent Of the army unfit for duty.
Fever and chills are the result OF un.
bearable heat, cold, damp nights,
sleeping in wet clothes and on wet
ground. The atmosphere contains a
sickening moisture that seems to take
all the vitalito out OF a man. Our
food until recently consisted of hard
tack, bacon, coffee and sugar. Pretty
tough for sick man and it becomes
very old to a well one in months
time. The commissary department
Is to be praised for its work Of getting
even such rations through to the
men while in battle as but few have
had to 60 hungry from necessity.
We are now getting fresh beef from
Chicago and fresh bread, baked by
our bakers in Santiago, potatoes,
onions and canned fruits.
Our camp, that is the entire cavalry
and artillery, is near Caney and about
five miles from Santiago the pref
tiest camp ground ! ever saw. High
in the Sierra Cobre mountains with
good pure water and plenty of wood
it is an ideal camp. No work is done
from 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. on account Of
the extreme heat.
Since writing the above ! have re-
ceived the REFLECTOR Of the 8th ult.
and noted the article in reference to
Pete Dlx's death. | am sorry to say
there is no doubt as to his death. |
have known him for years, have been
with him every day for more than a
year, and on Sevila's field wrapped
the blanket around his lifeless form
and saw it placed beneath Cuban SOIL
As his troop lined up to march out
the day before, near my tent, Pete
said to me, "Well, tell the old man
(meaning his father) II they get me ]
will get Spaniard." He was killed
almost instantly; telling Lieut.
Byron that he was shot he, started
for the rear when he fell dead. The
York spoken of in the same article
was an old soldier, having served
some Is or more years in the army
and spelled his name Bjork. There
were eight of the lst cavalry buried
in one grave and for fear stories will
get out regarding the burial Of the
dead will say that with one or two
exceptions our men were decently
buried. The exceptions were in the
heat of the battle when all was con-
fusion and their bodies were after
wards re'entered properly, and all
graves were marked where it was
possible to find out the name of the
dead.
We are now under orders from
Gen. Shafter to be moved to Long
Island, n. Y, as soon as the sickness
of the cavalry division can be got
down to five per cent. That is
rather an indefinite time as about 25
per cent are now sick and the climate
is the worst Of the year. However,
it is thought we will leave sometime
this week and we are all happy.
| would like to tell you something
OF Santiago but we have not been al
lowed there. From what one hears
and can see Of the town from the sur
rounding hills it is a beautiful place
and a well built city. have seen
all the great battleships and cruisers
and to a farmer they "air" mighty
queer things, and Judging from what
they have done they are useful as
well as ornamental.
We hear that peace is sure to come
soon and we are glad Of it.
"The stars and stripes forever.
Tow G. DAVIS.
CRITICISED M00DY'S SCHOOL,.