The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-09-26
SERVICE IN CUBA
Dramatic Account Showing Neglect
Of the Men.
A CASE OUT OF THOUSANDS
A Young Lady's Letter on the
Homecoming of Her Brother.
At Montauk Point.
A CASE OUT OF THOUSANDS
(Harper's Weekly, Sept. 1O)

(Harper's Weekly, Sept. 1O)
Here is a moving letter from a young
woman, describing what she saw at
Montauk in her search for a brother
who had enlisted in the Seventy-first
New York Regiment. It's strength and
sadness are beyond comment. We have
not mentioned the name of the captain,
but will give it to any one having
authority to demand it for a proper
purpose, Ed. Harper's Weekly.
EasthamptOn, Long Island,
August %. 1898.
My dear Mrs., i am afraid l
shall scare you with long letter this
time, for I have lots to write. thought
you would be interested to hear about
Jack, and what l saw at MOntauk
Sunday we got a telegram from Jack,
saying he was out of detention camp,
and we could see him. We went up
Monday morning Mamma and-and
/ drove from here-tWenty miles-and
the rest went by train. We were told
for Heavens sake not to go without
taking something, and we loaded up
the carriage with bread and hard-bOil-
ed eggs and fruit and forty or fifty
sandwiches, as well as some dozens of
handkeTchiefs and socks and towels
We were glad we had done so. When
we got within a mile or so of camp we
began to meet soldiers, both regulars
and volunteers. The first / saw was
a young boy-he could not have reach
ed eighteen years-who was leaning
against the fence. He was white as
death, thin, with dark lines under his
eyes.
[ called to him, and he came walking
Over-nOt walking, shuffiing like an
old man. I'm awful hungry" he said,
when | asked him. His voice was low
and weak, and he steadied himself
against the carriage as he spoke. We
gave him a good meal to take away
with him. He wanted to pay us.
They tell me the suffering in the
regulars camp is as great as or greater
than that in the volunteers; but l
cant say myself, for l did not go be
yond the lines of the Seventy-frst.
saw enough there Men lying in their
tents so weak that they cannot drag
their canteens toward them, though
they are frantic for water. Men, ach-
Ing IN every DOuey WuO nave W llS OL
the bare ground with nothing but a
pOncho under them. Many of their
blankets were stolen by the Cubans
and they have had no others issued to
them Big six-foot bearded fellows so
weakened by illness and starvation
that they burst into tears at kind
word or action. Boys sitting outside
their tents with a look on their faces
it is terrible to sea fixed blank look
that asks nothing, but tells an awful
story of suffering and despair. 1t Is
fearful
We passed on, more and more sick
at heart, until we reached Jacks COM
pany. I asked the first man | saw if
he were there. and he said yes, and
called his name. From in front of one
of the tents a tall, thin, shaky figure
got slowly up and came toward us.
thought, Good heavens, l hope that's
not JackH'
1t was Jack.
We rushed up to him, and he caught
hold of US as though he would never
let 20 again. Mamma came up just
then. and Jack smiled at her, and the
next moment rolled over at our feet IN
a dead faint.
A dozen men were round us at once,
and they bathed Jacks head ana gave
him brandy, and tried to cheer US up.
But it was long before we could bring
him to. Then the men carried him to
/ the carriage, and told US to drive him
up to the hospital and make the major
there give him leave. It was two miles
there and a rough drive, but mamma
succeeded in getting thirty days fur
lough as soon as the surgeon saw
/ him. and I staid back, and the rest
came up just at that moment. We
/ spent the time doing what we could
/ for some Of the sick men. Jack was
a. well man, and was to go on guard
that night He had almost died Of the
fever in Cuba, and if it had not been
for DR.. FroeIch he would have been
left on the boat coming home. Before
that he had bloody dysentery. The
men told us that he worked so hard
nursing his terminates who fell i'll first
that he made himself much worse.
They said that long after he ought not
to have stood up he was working over
them night and day, and would not
give up When they were out of dam