The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-19
Special Correspondence.

special Correspondents
VANCOUVER BARRACKS. Wash,
June ia noble river is the lordly Co
lumSia. and t is at present hearing some
sound save its own dashing. 1t is hearing
nearly $50 active. energetic young msn
making righteous protest against being
kept on its peaceful shores doing druag-
cry and being deprived OF the privilege OF
seeing the active soldier life they left their
good homes for. They ara forced to ira
verse tranquil trails when they want war
Fort Vancouver is a pretty post and a
large, comfortable post. but still the young
men who compose the Third battalion o.
the First regiment OF Washington yoluu-
teers are regarding II as akin to a prison
pen. for they do rot want TO stay there.
and do not know why they should he kept
there unless II is to stop salmon from 60
ing UP the river. for there are no fleets
OF Spanish mackerel to intercept.
What are we here for?" said one Of the
boys yesterday. and another answered:
ITO intercept the growth Of grass on
the lawns OF the regular officers and to
90 drudgery" and another went On 70 say:
we are tired and disgusted at the treat
men, we have received. and II something
doesn't turn up soon quite {. respectable
few OF Us are going TO take French leave
and miss few roii-calls for couple OF
years. and accidentally find ourselves an
swering calls In some regiment that does
get to tho 'front.'
"Cuss IT, said Private Patience. when
we enlisted we very fairly implied that
NO were going TO war, and now that We are
chained down here I consider that the
government Is guilty OF securing our en-
listment under false pretenses."
The American soldier IS the best soldier
and tho most resourceful soldier in the
world, and no matter how much OF
chine he allows himself TO be turned into
he can't discontinue thinking. And there
are times when ne is justified in thinking
on. pretty loud.
II am not a chronic kicker" said Pri-
vato Patriot. but have seen enough i'm
position here 10 kick the patriotism out
OF any man. ! never had 10 split wood
or sling hash or run a lawn barbershop
or be bookkeeQsr for a muie-team until
l came here as boy In blue. And
pretty b.ao boy +, Is making me-"
Fort Vancouver Is pretty big post. and
therc are dozens q. large build ngs, and
they must be kept in repair. What is II
TO the Washington volunteers that those
h9iidings should be kept in repair? Not
:. shngie on their roofs 10 these soldier
A..
work as carpenters and painters on gov
ernmcat buildings. getting TO compensa-
tor for the same. Their enlistment de-
scriptive lists show their occupations 70
be painters and carpenters They quit
those trades whore they could earn s.
DAY following them. 70 become sol.iers at
;0ur b'ts day. and now the good govern
nert orders them 70 30 their skilled trade
work fov I; without compensation aud
against their viii ana n VOCATION cf all
fairness. Those Of chem Who have read
raul Rcvere's r4e feel Ike ri3ing them
se'ves oa a rasl for allowing ;he govern
n,ert rr-p 20 tighten on them II those
g'a5oteFs ar carpenters NAo are sor'ed to
"a and y1'd for the government AZ
fsar 20 4 day want - have their own
houses at hou'e painted ;acy VII have TO
pay some man So 4 day
LIFE a. Fort Vancouver Is al a summer
dream as follows,
4 haze teen II the service now -
nearly two nsontas said 4 we!f-rai scf
vouuS man Mo !eft good horne 10 40
IN war. as he supposed and the only
c5othes have bsea aale 10 draw is a
blouse a9d a SHIRT have managed 20
bay Z sew secondhand articles arl s;iu
lock ike a sioUen. ard though. | would
Ersrve AZ TIE South Tacoma camp. and
Aavs may a tine let tae table hungry.
te-e a. Vancouver. N - land % plenty
ard have wondered WHY I ever became
u s>,. - y So-ca'iel soE5ie~ I hAa pa
trsefi>cn s0s.h.es! .rto NJ. sua fui3awe.
;ha .liTe eora cH tce Nvatf3e ara here I
ara. a k}at ~ so|5.sr. sy@3s1nx stove
woo3 aai to.RE sraGssry nat never saI
% ia before.
Ore 9. t5e w1r<t tr,Qos!,.c-s - III. sol-
d.zr vc'an;cers a, Va->oever = the So
ca'lca fatigue % xood-s9'lttiar
Consertah1y ioca.e3 ;sa~e are the fan
Lies e.. sercrs. -tv@la- army officers They
AAvc sroe n-s>es rvr: t~ee. a1a aye f.s--
n.shed s3el ans aes.< Tee husband anA
ta.aer draws from So - $40 a month
s.eaay s4.a~y. - x vaGd seem ,haf ;hes.