The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-03
FROM A ROUGH RIDER

Key West. Fla. July "a. 'ss, U. S. en-
sral Hospital.-I have thought that tat
boys Of the National Guard at Oklahorn:
City might Ike to hear from ore Of theil
late members and knowing the interes
you take in them, and US, ! take tti:
means OF communicating with them all
On June 20. we sighted Daiquri, a VII
lage about twenty-five m lies east Of San.
tiago and lay off the coast there rolling
IN the heavy swell for swo days. On tins
22nd a. 10 o'clock the feet there went in
and shelled the place. l was up in the
rigging and got a front seat at the show.
Every little while we would see a puff
Of smoke and then the dirt would fly al
around the blockhouse upon the hill. The
gunnery was excellent and the bIockhouse
was soon knocked very silly. Then the
landing began. We had to land in small
boats. and then we had to go a half a
mile before we struck a sort of wharf.
| Then the fun began. There was a very
heavy swell and our boat danced up and
down. First we threw our packs out OF
the boats. then carbines and belts. and
got ready to jump. "Chugr the boat rose
and hit the wharf and ! jumped Ready
hands caught me and I was on the Is
land of Cuba. BY 7:30 we were all landed
without an accident to our boys, and we
went into camp. Col. Wood told us not
to unpack. but sleep on our arms, so
after supper of beans and a little coffee
! "a very little) with the ubiquitous and in
! dispensable bareback, we laid down At
| o'c1ock The next morning shivertng with
cold, as I was wet through with dew.
| and seeing a fire I went to Il and dried.
After breakfast we pitched tents and
some Of the boys went gathering cocoa
nuts, OF which there was a large quantity.
AT o'clock the order came to pack
and march, and as long as I live will
remember that afternoon. We carried in
our roll blanket. poncho half shelter
tent change Of under clothes and blouse,
also canteen and harversack with three
days rations for two men, as we only had
one sack for two men, carbine, 100 rounds
or ammunition and mess KIT Quite a
load. That afternoon we marched 10 or
IL miles along a mountain trail some
times in column of tours, sometimes by
twos and more often than not in single
file. The thick brush and overhang1ng
trees made it very hot and some Of the
boys fell out did keep up, but when we
arrived at Siboney my pack felt like a
ton, and I wasn't anxious to go any far
Their that night. After eating something
L lay down under my poncho as 1t had
begun to rain. 1 slept until about II mid
night and woke up wet. The rain had run
dow nthe hillside and had soaked me-
So I stripped and dried my clothes and
once more laid down. Next morning we
started on toward Santiago We had an
a w III hi iy,b -;
went right along for five miles. Then we
stopped and few minutes afterward we
were told to load our carbines. A little
later we heard a shot and then the Maui
sers cracked and the bullets sang down
that trail. ID" troop deployed off to the
left for time I lost sight of them, as I
was orderly to Major Brodie. I had to
follow him around and take orders along
the line. About 10 o'clock, after two hours
lighting, 1 came up to the Major and he
was then with our troop. The boys be-
haved splendidly, cool as cucumbers. and
fighting like veterans. I turned to go I'D
the line when I felt as if 1 had been hit
with sledge hammer and taking one
step forward, I fell. The bullets for half
an hour rained all around me, but I
was not hit again. I laid for about an
hour and some one Of our troop came
along and picked me up. Ed Loughmiller
was among them and 1 saw tears in his
eyes when he found that l was hurt. To
see those tears was harder than to bear
the pain of the wound. Ed is a real good
fellow, good soldier and a good comrade
always ready to do mis- duty and to help
others. They carried me in a blanket to !
the field hospital and l found that I was
hit in both hips, the bullet going through
the body. Since then l have been an in |
teresting case to the doctors. We lost /
nine killed including Captain Capron. and I
were carried to Siboney on Iittersetaetaoi /
forty-siX wounded. Next morning we
were carried on filters to Siboncy, five /
miles away, and put in an old store. There .
we stayed for time and were put on the |
Iroquois, a hospital ship, and brought to I
Key West A soldier from the first regu- /
lars and were on filters in a row-boat. /
and 70 get US on the Iroquos they foisted
US boat and all. One of the ropes came
lose when the boat was three feet out
Of water, and there we lay with one end .
Of the boat in the water and the other
three feet in the air. To make it worse .
the sea was rough and the pounding we "
the ship. In consequence we both. to
use the words Of Prell, the other man. /
are "buffaloed" on rowboats. We Law on
our htters on deck OF the Iroquols for
three days. and we were very glad to get
here.
All the boys are doing well, and pro-
crossing as well as could be expected.
Mauser bullet wounds heal very quickly.
though It takes some time to get over the
shock.
II tie war is over as soon as some think
none OF US here viii see any more ser
vice. I want 20 say one thing about our
officers. they are as brave and nervy q set
OF men as ever were IN a regiment. Can't.
Huston. 1 saw <wo or three times direct
ms his men as quietly as II he vas on
parade. He IS extremely popular among
the boys and deversedIy So
I nave only praise for the men OF the
hospital corps. Every one have come il
contact With has been as gentle and ten
der as any woman
OF the fight before Santiago 7 know moth /
ms except from heresay and the papers.
heard. however. that the other boys are
safe. T Folk is in k troop and ne
other three from Oklahoma City. n ID"
our original organization.
jay - Dave Mcclure had a touch q
suns.role- 7 shall De glad 70 hear from
any Of the boys as x relieves the ronot-
o1y here. BY tee way. 50 DO The nos
quitoes- They are larger and mezner than
any 7 ever saw
Everywhere we 20 we are treated very
vel BY the citizens w:o send Us 5el.c2-
c-s-. clothes. tobacco. etc
Ny Stock q wearlnx anparsl consists OF