Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-14

ment we found the larger part empty,
and what medicine there was was not
appropriate to our wants.
s'Since we went into the United
States service we have found army
very unbusinesslike. and
its administration in the hands of
officers who were both inexperienced
and stupid. The quartermasters and
commissaries in the department have
been useless, while the medical de-
partment was simply rotten When
this regiment arrived at Camp Alger
il was in fine form. We had an eX-
cellent hospital service of our own.
We were provided with medicines,
cots and bedding and prepared for
any emergency. All of this was fur
nished by our friends. and vet we
were compelled to turn over the sup
plies to the government officers, who
insisted that the general medical corps
was the only properly authorized
body to care for the sick. As result
the bows of this command suffered,
and l have no doubt that some of
them died owing to lack of proper
care.
Notwithstanding all this hardship
the 9th has stood the campaign well.
The men in the hospitals at Ponce 1
believe will all recover.
Trying to Leave for Home Direct.
..Col. Foster has been trying to get
such permission, as it would be cas-
Ter to send the companies to their
homes from there, saving from 10 to
"a hours of travel. None of us wants
to go to Springfield again. We had
enough of Camp Tanner and do not
care to repeat the experience. | sup
pose, however, that Springfield wants
us, and unless sufficient influence can
be brought to bear l suppose that we
shall have to go to the state capital. ="
The 9th Illinois volunteer infantry
is in command of Col. ID. j. Foster,
and includes II officers and l, 102 en-
listed men.
A dispatch to one of the Chicago
papers says the Manitoba forward
and aft was in clean condition, but
amidships the vessel was filthy. Some
of the troops had to sleep in the be-
tween deck sections amidships, just
quartered.
just Before Departure.
A letter came today to THE ARGUS
from its correspondent, Louis Rosen-
field, who, after all, is with his regi-
ment, enroute for home. 1t was
written shortly before leaving for
America:
Ponce, Porto Rico, Sept. 2.-Just a
few words to let you know that we
to load ship and start for
Gods country" next Tuesday, Sept.
6, or before that, if possible. All the
boys are rs well as could be expected.
Harry Coyne has rejoined the COM
pany after being in the hospital for a
few days. He is getting fat. Great
is our sorrow over the death OF one of
the best and finest soldiers in the field
and the best fellow in the regiment,
that of Sergt. Hicks, of Moline, who
died in this city yesterday of stomach
trouble. ROSEY.
This morning Mrs. William McCon-
ochie received a message from her
son, Capt. McConochie, announcing
his arrival and stating that he and
his brother, Bob McConochie, were
well.
Mrs. Carse received second tcle-
gram from Mr.. Carse this afternoon
stating that the boys had informed
him that John was up and about when
they left, but that he was going to
to learn to a certainty, if
possible, as to his condition now.
Sergt. Bert Sears, of the United
States signal corps, did not respond
to the order which he received from
the captain of his company to report
at once at Montauk Point. His fur
Tough does not expire until Sept. so,
and not having fully recovered from
his sickness, he says he was informed
by Major Blunt, of Rock Island az
senal, that he would not be expected
to obey the instruction until such time
as he felt physically able.
Private Ed Siemon, of Company A, !
writing to his folks in South Rock |
Island from Ponce, Porto Rico, tells |
Of the wearisome march through the |
island over mountains and across
streams. He says the boys faced the |
cheerfully, and while plod-
ling along-he says it was raining
nearly all the time-they would be |
Il would not have missed |
this trip for anything he writes. |
Il have learned more than l would in |
10 years reading papers and books. |
never had any idea of how people |
lived here until l saw for myself. |
The rich class fare well, but the poor |
i've in forlorn-looking houses and
,Nist mostly on the native fruits"
Davenport's Company Home Tomorrow.
The 5Oth Iowa is likewise speeding
from Jacksonville, Fla. 1t |
caves Chicago tonight over the
road. Company b, of
Davenport, win disembark at De Witt
md reach home in the morning.
The funeral of John Schroeder, of
Company b, will be held at ) p. m.
omorrow from the Armory there