The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-06-23
WITH THE BOYS At FRISCO.
Gossippy News From the Ecadsnar-
ters of the FIRST Begimeat.

y. camp Merritt, San Francisco, tai,
June 9TH. lS9S-It has been very disa-
sreeable in camp to-day. and the boys
have found it unpleasant indeed. 1t
was cold and foggy in the morning and
very windy during the day.
The usual battalion drill was omitted
during the afternoon and company
drill substituted for it.
\ general improvement is noticea-
BILE in the drill.
No one can safely predict when we
are 10 leave here. There has been con
siderable delay in securing transports
for the next expedition, and they are
not vet ready To go. As we are to fol
ow them. it will probably be some
time before we get away.
Among other rumors. there is one to
the effect that if the regiment remains
here any length of time it will be
moved across the bay 10 a camping
ground there. Nothing definite is at
present known. but the change would
be delightful indeed.
Company L has secured its ordcrlics
lately. Private kuh was selected Sun
day. Green. Monday, and Munroe and
Henderson to-day.
Vegetables have been added to the
daily ration. The boys have also had
fresh meat once or twice, aS a change
from the regular allowance of bacon
and ham. Fruit is cheap, and fruit
vendors do a lively business around
camp, and dealers in pie and cake are
as much in evidence as they were in
Sioux Falls.
a great many of the officers and men
have visited Chinatown and brought
back great stories of the sights To be
seen there. Your correspondent is
bound TO confess that the stories would
not look well in print, and as he has
not yet been there. he will have To de-
fer any remarks on the subject for the
present
1t is said here that all the firms in
San Francisco having contracts for
goods and equipment are being rushed
TO the limit. Many officers have Sc
| cured their equipment here. as there
are several firms who deal in such
goods. Local papers say that six uni
| forms of various kinds have been or
| dered, as well rs large quantity of
helmets, hats, blankets and ham
mOchS.
There seems to be something wrong
with the mail system here. Letters
appear to reach us promptly, but very
| few papers have put in an appearance.
| or example your correspondent has
| not received an Argus Leader nor but
two of another daily paper he should
receive. Others complain of the same
| state of affairs. Mail is delivered here
| from the Camp Merritt sub-Staton 10
| the chaplain twice a day and diStrib-
| uted To the variO Is companies through
,, their first sergeantS.
One Compis3iIued officer from each
J company how rises at a. IN, to see
that the company corps are out, and
| that breakfast is ready at 6:1J prompt
| ly. The order was issued becalIsc sew.
| cral of the companies were hate with
| breakfast for a morning or two. y
field officer is detailed each day to
have general supervision of the meals
| and rationS.
Regimental parade has not been n
feature Of camp routine since leaving
Sioux Falls. Retreat parade on com.
| pany streets has been substituted.
| The officers of the second battalion
| have been unotficialiy notified to cease
| shaving the upper lip. The request
| has caused no little agitation and quiet
| fun. for several of the officers are, or
| appear to be, devoid of the proper abil-
| ity to raise II mustache. The effect
| will be looked for with great interest.
| An observer cannot fail 10 notice the
large number of photographs of soldier
boys displayed by local photographers.
| 1t seems to be the expectation of near
| ly every one OF the boys TO send home
a photographs taken in his army blue
as he left for the war or the Philip
| pines.
| Those fortunate enough TO possess
boys say they had always heard that
| California was warm country, but
Flies have already become quite a
nuisance. especially in the open tents
| They tel us that the mosquitoes in the
| Philippines are worse than Spanish
| gunbOats.
| Lieut.. Fox, of b, has been appointed
regimental exchange officer, and all
the buying for the officers down town
is done by and through him.
| A number Of the officers have re-
! Gently taken out life insurance policies
| for sums ranging from $1,000 to $l0,.
600.
There were no new cases of serious
illness reported this morning.
| Private Bus, OF l., is nearly well
| There are number Of minor cases on
| hand Of about the usual run. Corporal
Heating. Of +, is in pretty bad shape
| due to IA bad cold. mainly.
|