The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-26
MANY ARE SICK
Letters From Wichita Boys
in Camp,
HOSPITAL Is CROWDED
From the Regiments at Miami
Florida.

AS every day goes Il discloses the where
about and conditions Of moro Wichita
boys who are IN the war. Below are given
two letters. one from J. Roy Houston OF
company B, Second Texas, whose parents
live on East Douglas. The date is July
II, and ne says ne is well. II a later letter
which came last night he says that
many OF the boys are sick They have
10 go two and one-half miles every day
20 drill. Marching through sand FIVE
inches deep and hot sunshine that is
simply terrific.
The other letter is from Corporal Daily,
who is well known here his family having
lived here for years. He belongs 10 the
Third Missouri in Camp Alger They are
sick Of army life without service. he saws.
and he describes the rigid charge and
skirmlsh drill. Following is Houstons let
ter:
Mama, Fla, July II.
Dear Father and Mother: I am well and
fat have been getting fatter and letting
out my belt for several days and 1t is now
out the full length. So If these conditions
continue will soon nave to make out
requiSition for a larger one And having
heshed up 10 nearly a major generals
proportion It has brought with il its re-
sponsibilities for the boys now seem to
think me bureau of information in war
matters, moving Of troops. etc 1t wor-
ries me for don't want to get much in
advance of General ordon. Yesterday
myself and others went out boat riding
md bod
ashore we went to the Hotel Comfy for
dinner. 1t has lately been opened up as a
summer hotel for the benefit of the SOL
diers generally and the proprietor parti-
cularly, for they charge 70 cents a meal;
they present good bill of fare and don't
have any Spanish mackerel or anything
with a Spanish names on it. They seem
TO shink the Spanish are the cause of their
being in H as they call this place, and
as to the latter part I am half inclined
TO believe IL, for il almost seems to me
that I can smell birthstone about noon
each day. l think we will move camp soon
We have had a general inspection and the
camp condemned. The boys condemned Il
long ago, and I think all concerned did
the right thing but not son enough for
our hospital is more than full, having 341
inmates and only capacity for 200. neces-
sarily, some don't get the care they
should have, but the managers and every
body connected with it do all they can for
the sick and SO are not TO blame. Many
deaths occur. Some of the sick are sent
to their regiment too soon and have to go
back 70 the hospital sicker than they were
at first. General Gordon's wife, Adjutant
wife and our Major Stewards
wife are assisting in taking care of the
sick, being in attendance from early
morning till late at night. All the doctors
do all they can. Our regimentai doctor
goes with US TO the drill ground two and
one-half miles from camp to care for any
one who might take sick while drilling.
He is very attentive and responds prompt
ly to every call. His name is Peoples.
Our general is Gordon, our colonel Open
heimer, major First battalion, Buck. our
major is Stuart. We nave a chaplain by
the name Of Watts. liked by everyone.
always inquiring about our health and has
a good word for all. He holds services
every Sunday and gets the boys together
as often as he O. through the week and
they sing TO drive away the blues and
cause to forget for a time at least the |
hsrdships of SUCH camp. Well, l just |
now heard that we were going to move. |
Did not hear where to. Before l close |
will tell you that since being in camp I |
have rescued three men from drowning. |
One OF them was in 16 feet Of water and |
at the bottom-gone completely-but by |
hard work he was resuscitated. l drank |
about a gallon of salt water, the man I |
rescued about d barrel. About ore man 1
out of over 200 onlookers attempted TO 4
help me any. They gave me a great |
cheer when I got the man out, which F..
made me feel as I think hero feels, bu, |
I must close. Enclosed find picture CT my |
self and band mate. From your son,
j. r. HOUSTON,
Company B, Second Texas.
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