Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-08-08


very popular throughout.
Our band has forty pieces and when
they get together on "E Captain" on
dress parade 1t is hard to beat Company
A in keeping a good line when passing
the colonel and staff. The spectators
are many and all give us the glad hand
when passing
As yet we have no colonel, but before
this reaches you it is likely that 1t. Col.
Good will be promoted to the colonelcy.
come his advancement.
Camp Thomas is becoming unhealthy,
caused by the troops lying in the one
place too long. 1t is fact demonstrated
before now that troops should move at
least every three weeks or suffer from
camp fever, and very many men today
have that fever.
Many regiments are moving to new
locations here and the Ninth and First
will change sites in few days. The
near the banks of the Chickamauga
creek and from that dirty stream comes
the fever. There is an order against
| bathing in the creek and bath here is
luxury. We have to pay dearly for it.,
for II we are caught swimming the
guard house and fine is the penalty.
WATER SCARCE, FRUIT PLENTIFUL
We have had no water since the first
nf -Inlv npr ,yalI
that date and since then VIC have hauled
our water in barrels from Crawfsh
springs, distance of seven and one
half miles. Four barrels are allowed to
each company and we never have any
to spare.
Our food has improved a little in
quality and quantity, but as yet we don't
receive enough to satisfy me- If it were
not for the choapnoss of fruit many Of
the boys would often go hungry to bod
This is one of the finest places in the
South for fruit-raising and the farmers
are reaping harvest. The water
melon crop Is now in its height here
and the largest melons sell for 5 cents
apiece, while the kind that reach Free
land go begging for buyers at 9 and 3
cents.
| have just been told that the officers
are sounding the men about going to
the Philippines to do provost duty. The
boys will so anywhere to get out of here
Cuba, Klondike, Patagonia or any old
place. They say we can go with the
$4,000 men who are wanted in the Philip
pines II the officers only ask for the
assignment.
The Fifth Illinois have at last got
away from this camp and are en- route
to Porto Rico. This was o regiment
| that had been toyed with and iolled
along like us, and think it would be in
| order for the First to do the same as
| they did, that is, raise cain; then we
might be sent to the front.
A WONDERFUL BLACK PILL.
We have good hospital corps attach
ed to this regiment. When fellow
wants to get out OF hard drill or march
and goes over to the hospital the doctor
in charge generally knows what ails
him, and II he isn't sick he soon becomes
so, for the dose he gets makes him think
of home and mother and never again
does he try to avoid drill or other duty.
Much has been said and written about
the black pill they give us. That
black army pill cures all diseases from
toe-ache to tooth-ache. Like some of
doc" Growers patent medicines it is
good for all the ills the flesh is heir to,
and IL new complaint was discovered
tomorrow the black pill would be the
first cure tried by the doctors here.
The mule question is still worrying
our regiment. We have not half a
dozen drivers who understand the pecu-
liartics of the average mule, and to see
them trying to coax or cajole balky
lad is sight worth dozen minstrel
shows. | am satisfied that no one but a
miner knows anything about mules, and
II l were given few weeks furlough |
would bring down some Freeland boys
to teach these clerks and counter
jumpers how to handle this noble
animal
THIS Is OUR PAYDAY.
1t is payday here today and for a few
days the camp will be quite lively Tho
boys have a good time while their money
lasts, which is not very long, for in buy
ing enough to cat our wages soon dis
appear.
The canteen, or beer saloon, of our
regiment has been closed by Chaplain
Brady. Much has been said about the
army canteen being bad thing for the
soldier, but the men as a rule favor it.
saw Slime Neuburger and Jim Davis,
both from Freeland, the day before |
was taken sick. l have not since
heard from them but suppose both are
well. Sine was detailed as orderly for
Colonel G. Bow Dougherty. 1t is an
honor much sought after by privates
and 1 am glad to see Slime there. He
will learn great deal more Of army life
| In that pocitinn than In bic com m n I,