The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-09-03
Extracts From Toms Letters.
Coamo, Puerto Rico. Aug, 81 '0S.

DEAR ONES At HOME: The past week
has been very quiet one, SO far as any
military operations on the island are
concerned. We have put in the time
with outpost duty and routine camp
lie. Have had to get down on our
marrow bones" and pull grass, grade
streets and clean up generally. Got a
rife range fixed up and have been do
ing little target practice. "Pipe
| dreams come in at the rate of about
four dozen and seven a day. They tell
| of peace terms being settled upon: AM
erican victories; troops landing; when
we are going to start for home; that we
) will have a grand review at Washing
/ ton on Sept. 10Th; THAT WE WILL
BE KEPT HERE FOR OUR FULL
! TWO YEA RS; etc, etc. One thing | do
/ KNOW, Old Glory was raised with a
/ salute Of Jwenty-one guns at Gen. Will
sons headquarters early yesterday
morning, whether that las any signi-
( ficance or not.
/ The men are beginning to get restless
and say il there is to be no fighting they
want to be sent horne to their families,
| friends and business. Many would not
object to spending a few weeks here on
the island, the whole winter for that
matter, If they were not obliged to con-
form to army regulations, and were free
to employ the time to their own advan-
tage. The climate is delightful, but cit
uated az we are it is impossible for one
to take proper care of himself. When
| 1t rains, as it does frequently and hard.
the men get soaking wet and lie on the
damp ground and wet blankets at night.
Our large tents have been put up (7X7
| and 9x9 lcct) and Of course are good
deal better protection than the little
dog tents. \ 7X7 tent is occupied by
five men, and 9X9 tent by seven men,
| with their knapsacks, haversacks, can
teens, guns, shelter tents and all extra
clothing, and you can easily understand
that where we are packed in like sar-
dimes In that manner, especially If it is
wet and muddy outside, the conditions
are neither pleasant nor healthful. SO
itRi y i'' y i'N'i, VII ttit " iichtS bN"NtNi-
ful weather, but within tie past few
days have had a taste of the rainy sea-
son" which is ust setting in, Cramps
and kidney troubles have served to in
| crease the number on the sick books of
every company. So far [ have. not
heard of very many cases of fever. The
| authorities are taking all the percau
| tons possible to keep the men in good
! health, but with damp clothing, unuro-
! perly cooked food, sleeping on damp
ground in the cool damp night air (scv-
Ell men in small tent would sutfocate
| if the tent was kept closed) it Will be
wonder if maarial feyers do not deyel-
| op to an alarm ming extent.
! During the day the heat is intense,
/ but altogether different from the heat
We experienced in the Southern L. 5.
| There is nearly always sea breeze stir
| ring and unless just after a rain the air
| is always clear and light instead of sui
try and suffocating as in the south.
| Porto Rico L. s. will DE the ideal place
| for our rich politicians, retired army of
| ticers, railroad magnates, iron kings,
sugar kings, oil kings etc. to come for
the winter (even the youthful king of
! Spain may be allowed to visit the place,
during good behavior. Wouldn't
mind castle here over looking the sea
| myself.
| Cocoanuts are getting ripe and one
| who has not tasted cocoanut fresh
! from the tree cannot Know what Il diff
| ference there is from that and one
which has been shipped in and laid
around in the markets. "plantin' is Il
very fine dish when cooked up nicely
! When on outpost duty and rations are
short the boys frequently get hold Of
some ana slice it up and fry 1t with 4
! little salt pork. We are pretty careful
what we eat and when we run across
| something which we think might be
good. a native is usually hailed and If
| We can get him to eat of it We take
| chances and sample it also. Have tast-
ed a good many things that it would re-
! quire some education of my taste be-
fore ! would like them. There is fruit
| grows here, resembling somewhat in
| shape priCkly-pCar, varying in SIZE
| from large sized orange to nearly the
| size Of ones head. The skin is very
| thin and the fruit is as white as snow
as Corporal Buckley said he described it
"it looks like ice cream and tastes like
d custard." 1t is very delicious anyway.
! Has slightly tart taste and is always
| cool.
Now for another pipe dream, and this
is true all right, guess. 1t has just
been announced that the Div. hospital
/ Will be moved back to Ponce to-mor-
! row. Patients Will be taken bacl; in the
morning and the tents, supplies etc,
/ Will follow them in the afternoon. Gen.
| Wilson's headquarters Will also be re-
| move! To Ponce. The above dream is
| believe true, but half the things told
! around among the boys cannot be relied
upon. This may sound very foolish but
| from it YOU can Judge about how rest
! less and uneasy the boys begin to feel
| While | have been writing the last two
| pages there has been a continual buzz
of voices around me. One, Matt Con-
/ roy, well known IN Superior from the
fact that he wore the brass buttons of
+ the police department, a genial whole
souied fellow, honesty and good humor
shining all over his face, is one who in
I dulgcs in dreams" along with the rest
/ having previously pcrched himself on
i the best seat in our house, viz the
edge of q piece of board We have plac-
/ Ell in the front OF the tent to keep ont
/ the mud, just delivered himself Of the
foregoing with all the seriousness of a