Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-09-15
HOME FROM PORTO RICO.
BOYS THAT WERE IN IA HARD CAMPAIGN
Disease and Lack of Food Is What Made II
Hard. Peaked Faces and SaIIow COL
orS Show Effects of Fever Climate.

Home, sweet home" That is the
way hundreds of soldier boys just
returned from the front in the war of
'0S doubtless feel about it just now.
That is the way five of them in the
twin cities certainly will express their
full telling today with emphasis that
leaves no room to doubt of its earnest
ness. Yes, "home, sweet home"
And we'll may it be thus, for when was
home a richer haven of rest to the
weary? When will mothers cooking
and mothers tender nursing find more
fit subjects in the family circle upon
whom to bestow her devoted attention?
Not until :he patriotic, self sacrificing
boys in blue of some future war come
home from a campaign in the fever
haunts Of the south.
1t was Saturday morning that our
Johnnies came marching home-Chas.
A. Podawiltz, Grand Rapids; Chas. n
Laramie, Fritz Brandstedt, Arthur
Houston, Earl Ridgman of Centralia,
and August Zirbel of Nekoosa-
worn and weary, their long ride by
boat and rail direct from Ponce, Porto
Rico, ended at the station OF the Marsh
field & Southeastern Ry. in Centralia.
All were privates in Company A of
Marshfeld, Second regiment Wisconsin
volunteers. They followed their com
pany to above city and thence fastened
home. Few people were at the depot
to greet the soldier boys because 1t was
not known that they were to arrive on
that train. The boys had planned to
get here as quiet surprise, not even
advising their relatives of the time of
arrival. But the news spread rapidly
and the whskered, tired ones were
obliged to run gauntlet of joyful hand
shaking before they reached the coveted
tireside. And in the evening Prof.
Hirzy's German band paraded the
streets and called out large crowd to
shout and cheer in honor of the returned
disciples Of Krag-J Jorgansenism. To
those civilian volunteers who remained
in the twin cities these soldiers carried
messages of trying experiences, not
written messages or spoken Ones-but
such aS were selfevident in the dingy
blue uniforms and the drawn and fever
marked lineaments of their faces.
Clad in the garb of the nations
heroes, what changed appearance.
AS the Sentinel mentioned the whole
Second regiment so we found our boys.
But few months ago they marched
away, volunteers to their country's call.
They were strong of limb and sound of
lung. Their shoulders were straight,
their eyes were clear, their step was
quick and firm. In truth they were in
the pink of physical condition. Satur-
day they came back. They were not
the same men who had journeyed
southward four months ago. Their eyes
had lost their brightness, their step was
slow and trembly, their hair unkempt,
their shoulders bowed. Their short
service IN the tropics had rested heavily
upon them. They were the same men,
yet they were different. Verify Gen.
William L. Sherman spoke truthful
words when he declared War is He'll"
The Second regiment began its home
ward trip from Porto Rico on Sept. l,
sailing for New York on the transport
OLDHAM as body guard to Gen. Miles.
They reached the Erie docks at Ho-
boken, N. j., opposite New York, on
Tuesday noon, Sept 6, being transferred
directly aboard the train which brought
them into Milwaukee at an early hour
Friday morning, Sept. 8. In the Cream
city the soldiers received royal well
come, were treated to warm chicken
broth and hot bon bons when they
stepped of the train, and then marched
to a monster banquet at the Plankinton
dining hall. Company A left Milwaukee
at noon over the Wisconsin Central.
The train stopped at Stevens Point
long enough to allow the ladies of that
city to serve fine luncheon. On arrival
at Marshfeld in the evening a hearty
reception and chicken pie supper was
given.
Now the boys are home and they are
glad of it. They do not regret their
experience, nor would they be without
it. No word of complaint is offered,
service was freely and obediently rem
dered, but they were not furnished
with sufficient or proper food in the
campaign. The government provided
supplies enough for all and wherein the
commissary departments have failed,
as they certainly did fail, will doubtless
come to the surface under the light of
pending Investigations which have been
ordered bv President Mckinley.
Gen. Miles said: Il am pleased and
entirely satisfied with the service of the
Wisconsin soldiers, Without distin-
gushing between the regiments or
making comparison with regular troops,
| will say that the Wisconsin soldiers
bore their part with intelligence, BRAY
cry and energy up TO the highest
standard" For gentlemanly conduct
and behavior while encamped at
Charleston, the citizens of that city now
refer to the Second Wisconsin as 'our
regiment" Charleston people cannot
speak too highly of this regiment in
comparison with all others. In these
words of high praise the twin city boys
are entitled to their full share and the
REPoRRER is pleased to make mention
thereof. We congratulate them on this
proud record.
some years ago from Minneapolis. He
was employed for a long time as barber
with A. Sickles. Later he accepted
there he became a member of the W.
N.G. On the first call for volunteers
he was foremost in his city to offer SER
vices and he departed with Company
A, at noon April IS, for Camp Harvey
in Milwaukee. On May y he signed
Uncle Sans muster papers and in two
weeks went with his reg iment to Chick
amauga. Life at Camp Thomas con-
tinued for month and then orders
were to Charleston, where for ten DAYS
the soldiers were held on waiting orders
for Transports At Charleston Mr.. Lar
annie was assigned as nurse in st. Fran
els Auxiliary hospital and there be
assisted the Sisters of Mercy in attend
ing to his sick comrades until noon of
the day he shipped for Porto Rico. The
water trip was very hard, with few