Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-07-27
GREAT DISCOMFORT AT SEA
The Third Wisconsin Boys Objected 10
Remaining in the Hold of a TRANSPORT
and Were Forced by the Heat to the
Decks Above

The Milwaukee Seatinel's war cor
respondent, on board Transport No. 30,
off Fort Sumpter, in telesraphlng to
that paper under date of July 81, says
that II Uncle Sam was transporting a
lot OF cattle to Porto Rico to fight the
Spanlards, he could not ship them with
more discomforts than the members of
the Third Wisconsin regiment are ex.
periencing. Packed like sardines in
The hold Of this boat are two bastalions
of men, whose acco nmodations are far
worse than those ep joyed by the horses
OF General Wilson aud staff and the reg
| mental staff. The horses are on deck.
The men are IL the hold under them,
where they can scarcely breathe and
can hardly sse the light of day. The
men have endured hardships since they
came to Charleston, but none such as
, they will endure on their trip to Pc rto
Rico. The fact is that the boat is over
crowded and valuable ship room has
been given to horses at the expense of
men. When the men board d the trans
port at 6 o'clock last night, they marched
into the hold of the vessel, nearly 90
feet below the deck. There was not
breath of air in the hold, and so hot
was the place that the men stripped to
| the waist in their effort to endure the
atmosphere. But even then they could
aot endure it, and were forced to re-
treat to the decks above As long rs
they were permitted to stay on deck the
men were reasonably comfortable, even
though crowded, but when orders to
quarters came the trouble begal. There
was scramble for swinging their ham
mocks Then it was found there was
not enough room to swing hammock
for each. For instance, Captain Lee
reported that for his company of eighty
ulne men he had room to hang only
thirty-two hsmmocks That was fair
sample of the room the men had. To
make matters worse the men were or
dered not to venture outside of the
quarters assigned to their company
Even under threat of arrest the men
paid no attention, and broke out of the
holds ard slept anywhere about the ship
rather than attempt to live in the hold
At 10 o'clock last night Colonel Moore
reported that no less than fifty men
had already been overcome by lack of
air. The various company officers
worked until late last night, trying to
quiet the men and make them comfort
able. Itwas found that there was no
water for the holds, and here the men
encountered new hardship. Water
was finally furnished them. The Off
GERS of the boat say that WHEN the trans.
port once gets uuder way there will be
plenty OF fresh air in the holds, as the
breeze will have a chance to circulate
through the ship. This is the mems
only hope. Perfect discipline
is 10 be maintained on board. The vari-
GUS company quarters are under guard
and there will be an officer of the day
and of the guard daily. 1t has been
decided to change the mems quarters
every twelve hours, so as to give all in
turn quarters on deck, which are by far
the best The dsstinies OF
the transports are still kept -cret
but it is generally understood the ships
one Of which is not yet out of the bay
will proceed direct to San Juan, with.
ont stopping at Santiago. Genera
Wills n had not yet opened his sealed
orders. The trip was resumed from
here this morning