The San Francisco call., 1898-06-27

hungry to bed. This was soon reme- died. The colonel insisted on having the cook brought up with round turn, and now everything is lovely and the goose hangs high.
 The majority of the enlisted men in the regiment come from homes where the environment was one of cleanliness and carry with them habits which make the labors of the sanitary corps comparatively easy, inasmuch as all orders looking toward neatness are cheerfully and intelligently carried out. But with such large body of men con- fined in so small space unusual pre- cautions have to be taken and conse- quently as soon as the men rise in the morning blankets are taken on deck, triced up in the rigging and allowed to air nearly all day. Details from each section are sent below and, stripped to the skin, go through the entire length of the berth deck and thoroughly scrub each bunk with soap, water and dis infectants. Later each man, after a good bath, at the end of an hour, is lined up while both his clothing and person are thoroughly inspected At stated times the colonel himself goes along the line, and woe to the unfortu- nate whose clothing, arms and accou- trements are not up to the standard.
 Equally strict are the precautions taken to prevent accidents Nearly twenty-five guards are constantly on watch, and the punishment for any in Engagement of the regulations looking toward the safety of the ship are very severe. Fire, the greatest danger the sailor has to fear, is especially provided against. Smoking is allowed only in certain quarters of the vessel, and the loss of a months pay, together with thirty days in the brig, is the penalty for smoking or carrying a light of any sort in prescribed parts of the ship. Two unfortunates have already been caught and are getting their medicine.
 While at sea the three vessels are continually in sight of one another, of- ten approaching so close that the men can recognize their friends on the other transports and are able to hear the cheer that invariably answers their own. The signal corps is continually at work sending messages of one kind
 
 now become so proficient in the use of the little flag with the red square in it's center that a conversation can be maintained with hardly any interrup- tion. It may be of interest to the signal corps of San Francisco to know that one of its old members, J. Wesley White, has been detailed for signal duty from Company l. and has shown fine eli nal man and soldier as to win common dation from both men and officers
 Rev. Father McKinnon, the regi- mental chaplain, has won the hearts of the boys by his kindness and liberality and when the word goes forth that he is to hold some sort of service the only fellows who are absent are those who are on duty and those unable to get into the saloon owing to the crowd gathered there before them.
 Last Sunday services were held, and an eloquent sermon, such a one as could be listened to with profit by one or any denomination, was delivered. At the conclusion of the services it was evidently decided by those. in authority that, inasmuch as our souls had just received a thorough overhauling, it would be the proper thing to renovate their earthly tenements. Consequently all hands were assembled and marched aft by companies while the doctors went along the line with their little Sharpened worries and vaccinated every mothers son of us, officers and all The boys took the proceeding as huge joke, and the loudest laughter came from the fellows with the sorest arms.
 Our food, consisting for the most part of bacon, beans and hardtack, has been varied occasionally by a ration of oh f,Ar took with us when we left The kill ing of a beef is always an occasion of great interest. When one is about to die the crowd that gathers to witness the execution would make one think that the unfortunate animal must have committed some terrible crime while under the influence of too many horns; or that possibly he was a sort of bo- vine Durrant.
 On Monday Decoration day) exer- cises were held on board, and all hands were given liberty to attend. A plat form was erected over the engine room hatch. and there, under a canopy of American flags. Colonel Smith, together with Commander Gibson of the navy. Lieutenant Colonel Duboce Chaplain McKinnon and Captain Smith of the vessel, took their seats, while the rest of the officers and men gathered on deck or perched on davits, boats or in the rigging made in their uniforms a fitting setting for patriotic gems that flashed forth in a fine programme
 At the conclusion of the set pro- gramme the band struck up Glory, Glory, Hallelujah." Some fellow in the ranks with magnificent tenor voice commenced to sing. and in an instant all hands joined. The effect was im- pressive to the verge of sublimity. There we were over a thousand miles out on the broad breast of the ocean, bound away from our homes and kin dred, the first expedition of the kind ever sent forth by our native land, with our faces pointed to a land six thou sand miles away, where it will be our duty to lower the flag that was the first to spread it's crime-laden insignia