The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-06-15
IN CAMP.
TAMPAlS REACHED AND TENTS
ARE PITCHED.

A Very Interesting Letter Describes Life
at the FrOnt-Private HOllenbach Grinds
Some Coffee Home News ut a Premium
Tampa, Fla, May 3d. We arrived
here Saturday evening about 600 D. m.,
and slept in the cars that night. We
marched to Palmetto beach the next nOt n
about three -fOurths Of mile where we
are camped. We have a good high level
place cne-fOurth mile from ali arm of
Tampa bay where we go bathing. The
beach Is fine; can walk out over a mile
on ebb tide without getting intO:dsep
water. We can get small soft shell
crabs and shrimp. had a small mess
OF these to-day. We worked hard yester-
day grubing roots and pitching tents.
The soil here is white sand we'll sOdded
50 will have no mud, and no need Of tent
floors. Last night we rolled up in a
heavy blanket and slept well. There is
a ane breeze blowing and the nights are
always cool. We had an elegant trip
only it was too short.
We left Columbus at 100 p. m., We'd
nesday and arrived here at 600 D. III,
Saturday, being almost 70 hours OIL the
road. 1t is very dry here, having had
no rain to speak of for six months. The
rainy season begins soon, but is all over
after shower. There are very few
Wellington people who can have palms
growing in their tents and dinning
rooms. We have good water from
artesian wells with just a little sulphur
in it and not to cold.
Ice here is worth 45 cents per 100 lbs
wholesale and 90 to Is cents retail. We
get ArmOur's fresh meats once day and
SOW belly" for other meals. Good DO
tatOes and onions and the very best
black coffee. There are very few snakes
here, once in while rattler and land
moccasins, and whip snakes, but only in
woods and logs. We got some very nice
celery this morning that one of the
natives gave us. We see tomatoes turn
ing. Watermelons as big as your head,
sun flowers, etc. The girls down here
are almost as pretty as the northern
Ohio girls. | was talking with north
erner who liYes here and he says that he
has not taken medicine for years, is
healthy, no ague at all. One of the boys
told native woman he never saw such
lazy people as they had here. She re-
piled; "Yes and after you have been here
week; you will be too lazy to say we
are lazy.
May 80, 1898.
| am down at Palmetto Beach this
morning, it is fine, was just in bathing
We have no guard lines to-day and can
get off until 5:O0p p. IN. Was down town
yesterday on quarter-master detail and
saw the town and don't think much OF it.
There are about $4,000 people scattered
all over. Part Of the way the sidewalks
are of pine and while greater share Of
the way there are none at all, and per-
son sinks into sand to your ankles. You
remember how used to hate to grind a
few spices, well | was on guard the
other night, and all day after, and the
next morning did not get up in time for
roll call at 500 a. NJ, so had to grind 16
pounds Of coffee in one Of those little
box grinders. 1t took about five hours
steady work. That was the only roll
call | have missed, and have not missed
drill unless on guard since left Cleve-
land. The boys in Co. L. caught an
alligator over seven foot long in swamp
a mile from camp. Co X, one about 5 feet
long. They have them Tied to post in
camp and they attract considerable at
tention. They sell them here those
s inches long for.25 cents. Everything in
the eating and drinking line is way up.
Cakes, cookies and etc., sell 2 for s
cents. Lemons $500 box. The brew
srys and cigar manufactures. are built
like our school houses. The Florida