The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-30
Special to The Tribune.

Special to The Tribune.
Camp Meade, Middletown, Pa, Sept.
29.-The case of Major G. r. Parke has
been closed. The evidence is all in.
Major Parke called at the Thirteenth's
headquarters this morning on business,
and bade his friends goodbye. He left
on thirty-day leave of absence an
indication that his case is considered
as practically decided in his favor. He
was supposed to be under arrest and
the permission given to him to go home
shows what result is expected.
Colonel William A. Stone Republi-
can candidate for the governorship, was
in camp today and called upon Colonel
COursen, He made the rounds of the
company streets and expressed himself
as very faVOrably impressed with the
soldierly appearance of the men and
the scrupulous cleanliness of the Thir-
teenths quarters. He dined with Col
onel Coursen and the staff
The prospect of attaching a part of
the First Delaware to the Thirteenth
so as to make the latter a three bat
talon regiment now seems about to be
realized, and no stronger indication
that we will be held in the service for
some time could be had than this. 1t
United States infantry regiments con-
sist of three battalons, and it has been
the evident purpose of the government
TO produce among the volunteer troops
a conformity with this rule. It looks
very much now as though this will
happen also i'm the case of the Thir-
teenth, and, that once done. winter
vacation for the boys in Cuba or Forto
h.
but an absolute certainty.
WILL BE MORE CONTENT.
The die will soon be cast, and the
men will then be more content. 1t is
the uncertainty of the situation which
affects them most and makes them
restless. While they would certainly
object very seriously to being used for
garrison purposes for two years on for
eign soil, there is only a small percent
age of those who have left some one
dependent on them at home, that would
object to going to the West Indies till
next summer. That, however would
be the EXTREMIST length.
The records of the cases of sickness
in the Thirteenth, the Fourth Missouri,
the Eighth Pennsylvania and the Fiji
teenth Minnesota, have recently been
obtained as they stand up to date, and
they are certainly interesting, The
Missouri and the Minnesota regiments
are composed of twelve companies
each. The former has four hundred
and forty-one enlisted men sick; the
latter four hundred and fifty, giving,
on the average. one man out of every
three incapable of attending to duty.
The Eighth Pennsylvania has ten com
panies and one hundred and thirty
nine men on the sick list--or one man
In every seven. The Thirteenth COM
posed of eight companies, has now
eighty-fve names on the hospital re-
ports, or, in other words, there is one
sick man to every nine who are well.
These figures show that, notwithstand-
ing the many cases of sickness which
have been reported from day to day
in the regiment, the Thirteenth is far
from being the worst in camp. In
fact. If the figures of other commands
could be obtained they would show
beyond a doubt that the Thirteenlh is
one Of the healthiest regiments in the
Second army CORPS. There are many
reasons for this--most Of the men are
hardy. and from experiences received
in National Guard encamrtments know
how 10 take care Of themselves under
all the conditions of this life. Besides
this, the officers from the colonel down,
and the medical staff are always Wig
liant. and are prompt not only to
check disease whenever it appears, but