The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-18
ECHOES or THE WAR.

Peter Higgins, of Minooka, received
letter Saturday from his son John. who
enlisted with Lieutenant Dentler and Is
now in the ranks of Company c, Eleventh
infantry. stationed at Tampa Speaking
of soldier life and the war, he says:
you need not worry about me. | am
all right. Myself and Mike Joyce sleep
together. On last Friday we had target
practice and we beat the whole crOW'!.
The target we shot at was X and the
distance was 100 yards Out of Il possi-
BILE $50 points l made 1873. brear!ng the
record of the company at that distance.
Mike Joyce came next with i35
I'VE surprised all the old timers to
think that two raw recruits from the
land of breakers and coal mines could
put down Uncle Sans well disciplined
soldiers. But woe to the Spanlard that
comes under the fire of the two Nimrods
OF Long Island fame, for the thick un-
derbrush in Cuba Is surely his grave.
Tell ma not to worry about me for
we are as happy here as the day is long.
The sisters come to visit us twice a
week and distribute scapulars and med
ais among the soldiers. We go to church
every Sunday down to Tampa.
There are $50 wounded men here now
who have come over from Santiago, AMI
they say that one American soldier can
chase four Spaniards. Last night / re-
ceived a piece of Spanish flag taken from
a block house in Santiago, and will send
1t to you as a relic in my next letter. We
have now our full equipment and are
ready to go at a moments notice; but
maybe we would not go at all, as the
latest dispatches say that Santiago has
surrendered and Spain is suing for peace
We get the latest dispatches first. We
are Camped right along the seashore,
waiting for a Spaniard to show his nose
until we turn up his toes. Goodbye,
write soon and let me know all about
Minooka."
Higgins and Joyce were first class wing
shots. and were reckoned among the best
youngsters in that sport around the
county. They are both under age. Hig-
gins being 10. He is a well developed
young man, and so is Joyce.
Lieutenant John ]. Blandin. the Off
Ger on the deck of the Maine on the
home in Baltimore, Saturday was
cousin of AL Blandin. of the
Scranton Bicycle club, and George
d. Blandn, of Honesdale. Lieu
| tenant Blandins death was due di-
| rectly to the shock his nervous system
sustained on the night the Maine was de-
stroyed in the harbor of Havana His
GOODNESS on that memorable night was
marvellous. After the explosion he start
| ed for Captain Sigsbee's cabin to report
| the fact and met the commander of the
| ship rushing toward the deck. The lieu
tenant saluted with as much precision
! as he would during a drill and calmly
| reported as follows: Captain, the ship
has beer blown up and is sinking" He
received his orders and with Captain
| Sigsbee began the work of rescung the
| men from the vessel and the water, never
ceasing his efforts until what was left
| of the Maine had sunk and all the men
struggling In the water had been res
| cued. Later reaction set in and Lieuten-
ant Blandin has since been an invalid.
Mrs. c. Bow Dougherty. of WilEes.
| Barre, wife of Colonel Dougherty, OF the
| Ninth regiment, has returned from a
visit to Camp Thomas Chickamauga. 81;
| is not the officers who need our sympa-
thy and help" she said "because most
of them can afford to buy whatever
| luxuries they need, but it Is the poor
| private soldier who must take what he
| can get and say nothing. Typhoid feve,
| has broken out in camp and when ! left
| there $50 of the Ninth regiment were III
the hospital and have every reason tc
| believe that the number has increased
sirce then. went through the hospital
| and | don't want to see such sulferinu
again. OF course, the men have the ser.
vices OF the very best physicians, Drs
| Stewart and Weaver, but they are work
| cd to death and so are the Orderlies.
saw men lying in the hospital burning UP
| with fever. while dozens OF mosquitoes
| hovered over them or rested upon theii
| faces. The attendants are doing every
thing possible for their comfort, but the
| people here at home should know that
| there is much to be done which the gov
ernmcnt cannot do. and which we mus
| 1o.'