The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-22
He FOUGHT At SANTIAGO
RETURN OF FRED G. FORT, A BRAVE
YOUNG SOLDIER, FROM CUBA.
He Fell III and His Father Went After
Him-AnxiOus to Reach the
Front Again.

Fred G. Fort, of 1011 Ash street, has re-
turned to this city from Santiago de Cuba,
where ne has been serving as soldier in
Company F. Third u. S. Regulars. His
father, NJ P. Fort, last Saturday read in
these columns his sons name among the
sick and wounded soldiers landed at Fort
Monroe and he at once went there for the
purpose of bringing him home If possible.
For some weeks past he had been unable
to get any word as to either the where
abouts or condition of his son. though on
June 26 he had been advised that the boy
was at that time in the hospital at Siboney
suffering from what was termed malarial
fever, though the symptoms displayed. ac-
cording to the testimony of the surgeons at
Fort Monroe, are nothing like those expert
enced by sufferers with that complaint. On
July 1, though at that time in bed apd for
hidden by the doctors to leave it. young
Fort got up when he received the intelli-
gence that his regiment had been called to
take it's place in the left wing of the army
and assault a portion of the barbed wire
rifle pits Hastily donning his clothes he, in
his own words, '.sneakedt past the doctors
and nurses and found his own company
Taking his place he fought through the day,
which ended in the capture of the rifle pits.
During the excitement of the day he ex-
perienced no i'll effects from his rash step,
but at night the company was compelled to
sleep in the pits. within rifle shot of the
enemy. The ground was damp and al
though his comrades protected him as much
as possible with blankets, before morning
he was compelled to return to the hospital
Here the fever developed with greater vio-
lence than ever and finally became so
alarming that the surgeons ordered him sent
home among the first to leave for the States
BY a singular coincidence he returned
to Fort Monroe on the same boat - the
Breakwater-which carried him from Mobile
to Cuba as a transport AS an indication of
what the climate of Cuba did for young
Fort he says that when he left Fort SMELL
ing, Mimi. for Cuba he weighed 165 pounds.
and when he landed at Fortress Monroe he
weighed los pounds. His father had great
difficulty in obtaining permission to bring
him home. as Major De Witt the chief sur
geon. thought he was not able to stand the
journey ard, moreover. needed immediate
and constant medical treatment. Mr.. Fort,
however, prevailed on the surgeon to allow
his son to come home, on his promise that
he should have the best medical attendance.
Young Fort says the soldiers have been
receiving the best of treatment, both from
their officers and the surgeons, and the only
regret he feels is that he will be compelled
to stay at home for a few weeks to get
back some of his old flesh and strength.
To-day he will celebrate the anniversary
of his enlistment. which occurred in this
city, in the office of Captain Black. one
year ago During this time his army
perience has been quite varied, but, ac-
nothing in army life that will tend to change
his original opinion that 1t is the finest
profession in the world He is now resting
main there until he is able to return TO his
regiment, and his only fear is that the
may close before ne gets chance to get in
one years of age.