The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-16
WAR ADVENTURES OF A BOY.
Will Dawson Ran Away from Home, Wa
Wounded in Cnbn, and Mnde Money.

Will Dawson Ran Away from Home, Was
Wounded in Cuba. and Made Money.
BUFFALO. Oct. ia few days ago Mrs. Daw-
son. wife of the army hospital steward at Fort
Porter. was made happy by the receipt of q
postal card bearing the brief message: II will
be home in a few days. am we'll" 1t was
signed just plain will" Tho card was mailed
at New York. and was the first Mrs. Dawson
had received from her son in weeks.
Will is 10 years old. Until he reached home
he was looked upon as only an ordinary boy.
To-day he struts around the military rcserva-
ton, the pride OF his parents and the envy Of
his brothers and sisters. as well as OF the
other children in the neighborhood. He is a
hero. a traveller and a wealthy man. Leav-
ing home absolutely penniless. he returned
with 5000 cash. which he earned. and dressed
In new clothing. Besides he was wounded by
the 6paniards. suffered from yellow fever and
When the thirteenth Regiment left Fort
war 1t went by n special train. Among, other
BAGS boEsS aRS m Sas EG%iHiKK % DsW Tnis tr AND f his SIdsr
brother. both OF whom had run away from
until the train reached Tampa, after which It
was smooth sailing for them. as the soldierg Of
they had enough 70 eat. But il was not for this
Kind Of life that Willie lett home He Locked
he could supply. In that hot climate he de-
cided it was something cold, and borrowing a
quarter from one OF his friends, a private in
Company G. he started a lemonade stand. The
first light he repaid the money he borrowed and
afew days later started Two more stands, estab-
fishing his brother and another boy In the
business. When the orders came for the regi-
ment to move TO Cuba. Will made up his. mind
point his brother went back on him. and the
two boys separated. the older one coming
home. VIII secured n Job as a cAblnboy on tho
transport 0rizaha, receiving for his services
popular and was aliowed to continue the lem
onade business. business prospered. and in a
short time he had accumulated more money
thuu he had ever seen before.
On tho arrival of the transport off Santiago
VIII wont ashore. When the troops moved he
followed. and he was. present at the battle OF
San Juan, and when IL was over the surgeon
had to remove from his foot a Mauser bullet
watch chain. He saw the destruction OF Ger
Yera's squadron and collected souvenirs which
he brought home with him. 1t was while in Cuba
that he had his experience with yellow fever
and the tarantula. neither OF which seemed to
do him much injury.
When the transport sailed for Porto Rico
Will decided to cast his lot with il rather
than with tho regiment. and went along. At
his head and tried in every way to Increase his
wealth. Once he tried his luck at the. gaming
table, but when he counted up his loss and
found II amounted to $40 lie refused again to
made some additions TO his wardrobe. paying
prices several times more than the goods were
worth. From that island the transport went to
Montauk, and after staying there for SOM time
him a letter from the Captain Of the 0rizaba,
praisinR him for his industrious habits. and
requesting him TO return to the vessel when IL
was again placed in commission. 4