Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-06-23
WITH THE BOYS AT FRISCO.
GosHippy News From the Hendqua
ters OF the First Regiment.

Gossippy News From the Headquar-
ters Of the First Regiment.
Sioux City Argus Leader.
Headquarters First Regiment s. D.
", Camp Merritt, San Francisco, CAL,
June 9TH, 1S9S.-It has been very disa
greeable 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.
A genera; Improvement is noticea-
ble in the drill.
No one can safely predict when we
are to leave here. There has been con-
siderable delay in securing transports
for the next expedition, and they are
not yet 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 to camping
ground there. Nothing definite is at
present known, but the change would
be delightful indeed.
Company r has secured it's orderlies
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 change
from the regular allowance of bacon
and ham. Fruit is cheap, and fruit
vendors do 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 we'll 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 as a large quantity of
helmets, hats, blankets and ham
mocks.
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-L 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-station tc
the chaplain twice day and distrib
uted to the vario is companies through
their first sergeants.
One commissioned officer from each
company now rises at Il. m, to see
that the company corps are out, and
that breakfast is ready at 6:15 prompt
ly. The order was issued because sew.
eral Of the companies We're late wit!
breakfast for morning or two. A
field officer is detailed each day to
have general supervision Of the meals
and rations.
Regimental parade has not been q
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 unofficially notified to cease
shaving the upper lip. The reques1
has caused no little agitation and quie1
fun, for several of the officers are, OF
appear to be, devoid of the proper abil
ity to raise q mustache. The effect
will be looked for with great interest
An observer cannot fail to 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 photograph taken in his army blue
as he left for the war or the Phili-?
pines.
Those fortunate enough to possess
stoves have used them all day. The
boys say they had always heard that
California was warm country, but
Flies have already become quite 6
nuisance, especially in the open tents
They tel us that the mosquitoes in tho
Philippines are worse than Spanish
gunboats.
Lieut.. Fox, of B, has been appointed
regimental exchange officer and al
the buying for the officers down 1owr
\ is done by and through him.
A number of the officers have re
Gently taken out life insurance policies
for sums ranging from $4,000 to $40,
600.
There were no new cases of serious
illness reported this morning.
Private Bus, Of l.. is nearly well
There are Il number Of minor cases or
hand of about tie usual run. Corpora
Heating, of T, is in pretty bad shape
due to a bad cold. mainly.
How He Won Her.