People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-08-18
Having Lots Of Fun.

Robert Lamme al Santiago, SHOWS
that the Wellington boys are having
lots of fun, living well and making
the best of their experiences in Cuba;
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, July %, 1898.
DEAR SISTER; Received your very
welcome letter day before yesterday
and greedily devOured its contents
Very much obliged for this paper.
Had it not been fer it l fear you
should not have heard from me for
some time, as | have not sheet Of
paper to my name.
Well, as you already know, Santiago
has surrendered and we have $4,000
Spanish soldiers guarded by United
States soldiers. 1t is too bad that
they were obliged to fight with US;
they are not our equal. As the Cubans
say, Americana muchO big. Espan-
ola piccauny." They look like a lot
of boys compared with us. They fight
hard, but seldom stand their ground.
What surprised them most was to
have our men fire and advance. They
claim we didn't fight fairly; that we
fire and mix them all up and then run
right up on them. They will not ex-
pose themselves, but fire aShOt or vol
ley and retreat In speaking Of our
artillery, one Of them said, "Ameri-
canO boom, NATURALIZATION
EspanOIia, "(making gestures with his
hands showing how they would fall
oVer) We are their SuperiOrS, is the
only explanation | can make to suit
the occasion.
Some of the boys obtained all kinds
Of trinketS from them by trading them
pork and hard tack. They were very
hungry when they surrendered, and
some of the boys got gold watches in
exchange for few hard tacKs. l did
not see anything l cared for, so got
nothing.
Our regiment had to guard them
for twenty-four hours, and when |
was On post had considerable amuSe.
ment out of it. My post was along
the top of hill, where our men had
been entrenched, and every once in a
while as some of our boys would pass
along the line they would crawl up
and try to steal across the line to get
something to eat. l would yell at
them; some would Immediately 20
back; Others hesitated. One fellow
kept nOdding his head and going on
till l leveled my gun at his head, and
strange to say, he made "detour. ="
Another one was crawling up through
the bushes, when l happened to spy
him. | pOked my gun down at his
'cocoanut" and he Immediately de-
parted. It's lois Of fun. My gun was
not loaded and l had no intention Of
loading it either. Id rather guard
SpaniardS than herd cattle. | was In
hopes some would try to get away, SO
l could pick off few, but even that
pleasure was denied me,
Well, it is all over now, and we are
in permanent camp on the outskirts
OF the city. Each company has its
own cook aud all we have to do is tC
90 and get our meals and wash on,
dishes.
Some of the boys are homesick anC
want to know when we are goin.
home. Others, like myself, are con,
tented where they are.
] have been transferred to a new
company, Co. l, and like the officer
much better. All the Wellington
boys and a fellow from Topeka are il
two tents together. Allen, the De
boys and | occupy one tent; Bob Sea
LaRew, Pile and Matson occupy tn
other, We fastened the ends of tw
shelter tents together, making roor
for four in tent. Then we tore dow
q block house and foored our tent,
raising the floor about a foot from tb
ground, so when it rains we are hip
and dry made small table lust 5
the edge Of our tent and during III
day we raise the edges of both tent
tie the edges together and throw
couple OF blankets across this. makir
avery comfortable awning, and I the
use the edge of my tent floor for a So,
before the table. also put she
under the table closing in both on,
and one side, and this we use for
cupboard.
The other day we had fresh bre,
issued to us, and for four meals we a
good white bread. More will be issu
today.
There is a small insect, peculiar I
bis frequent change of locality, infe.
ing our camp. Also that terror I'll
walketh by night finds its way in
our midst.
Well, guess l will have to Quit: I
oil fllopAs