The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-06
Special to The Tribune.

Camp Meade, Middletown, Pa, Oct.
z-The prospects of a trip to Cuba in
the near future are becoming brighter
and more pronounced every day for the
Second army corps, and particularly
for the First division. This is made
the more probable not only by the state
Of affairs which seems to have devel-
oped there but on account of the con-
ditions existing here. The men can
not safely be kept in this camp much
longer, as the nights will soon be so
cold that sickness will be the rule. not
The exception. AS it is even now, under
what may be considered quite favor
able circumstances, the hospitals are
crowded. With the lowering of the
Temperature, which is bound to sue
Ceed the present fogs, rains and heat,
an increase of patients will be the in
evitable result. Besides this, orders
have been recently issued to obtain the
number and the condition of govern
ment teams and army wagons. Every
thing points to an early movement of
the troops of this camp to a more
southern cline, and If indications are
not entirely deceptive, the Third bri-
gade, of which the Thirteenth is
member, will be one of the first to
break camp.
T1Ae men are now fully convinced that
such will be the case, and, strange to
say, there is less objecting now than
there was a month ago when the future
was enveloped in doubt and in uncer-
tainty. IT, as reported, they will be
sent to Cuba for a time, and then
brought home to be mustered out, not
word of complaint would be heard.
The members of the brigade, and of the
Thirteenth. are willing and anxious to
do their share, but simply object to the
idea of being retained for two years
while other troops are discharged from
the service. This is only very natural
feeling on their part and they are now
ready to bide their time, patiently
awaiting the development of events.
Taken all in ALL it is safe to predict
that the Pennsylvania troops now sta
toned here will be bidding adieu to
their native state before the end of the
present month-and, perhaps, even be-
fore the goth.
TO BE DISCHARGED.
Mr.. Dolph Atherton, secretary of the
Soldiers Relief association of Scran-
ton, and representing that organza-
tion, arrived in camp this morning on
mission which will be appreciated in
many instances. He comes armed with
authority to look into the question of
having those married men discharged
who have some at home depending
on them and wish to leave the service.
He interviewed Brigadier General Cob
in, Colonel Coursen and all other COM
pany commanders and received posi-
tive assurance from each and every
one of them that, if a bona fide appli-
cation for discharge comes to them
from any man who has a wife or
children or anybody else dependent on
them at home, they will approve it
without any hesitation and will see
that 1t goes through the proper chan
nels with all possible speed. Mr.. Ather-
ton also stated to your correspondent
that he had not undertaken this work
as the representative of the Soldiers
Relief association without feeling that
good results would follow. In fact he
has it on the authority of the secre-
tary of war himself that such appli-
cations will be favorably heard. The
effect of this will be to cause general
satisfaction among the men, particu-
larly those who have wives or children
dependent upon their earnings Many
applications for discharge are already
being made out and will be handed in
at once.
Two questions of vital interest are
now being discussed by the boys. One
is sea sickness, the other. the contem-
plated excursion from Scranton. Sew
eral bets have already been made by
many Of them that they will not ex-
perience that dizzy feeling while on the
boat from the United States to Cuba,
and all kinds of ludicrous suppositions
and theories are advanced as to the
cause and origin of sea sickness. Some
Will prevent IT by drinking a quart
of the briniest salt water, another by
eating nothing for several days and
still another by walking rapidly up and
down the deck-so they think.
The coming of the excursion, however
is causing the greatest amount of in
teresting speculation, and the boys are
delighted with the prospect of seeing
and entertaining their friends for a
day in camp. Especially is this so for
the reason that they will soon be
going south, to be away at least sew
eral months. The visitors who come
from home will get a cordial welcome
here. The boys will be happy to see
them.
CORPORAL WATKINS INJURED.
Corporal William Watkins, of B, is
now laid up in Division hospital with
his leg encased in a plaster of paris
cast. The knee cap is the seat of the
chief trouble. He was first injured
four or five weeks ago, and was then
incapacitated for some time, but there
We're no serious results. While on de-
tached (fatigue) duty at Mlddletown
recently he sustained another severe
injury, wrenching the knee. He then
had to be removed to the hospital for
treatment.
Captain Smith, of Z, is officer of the
day; Lieutenant Murphy, of G, officer
of the guard; Franklin NJ. Gardiner, of
G, sergeant of the guard: Lewis NJ.
Reese, of B. George w. Rennnger, of
Z, and Conrad Watson, of II, consta-
bles. Ebenezer Hughes, of ID, is regi-
mental orderly.
Word has been received at regimen
tai headquarters from William Davis,
major and surgeon of the United States
army commanding the United States
general hospital at Fort Myer, near
Charles Krona, of c, Asa HiclScck, of
g, and John e. Beechman, of b, are
now the only members of the Thr-
teenth being treated there. They are
typhoid patients.
First Lieutenant Theodore W .Grggs
of the Fifteenth Minnesota has hepn