The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1898-07-19
VOL. LII. NO. pip.

it seemed as If the citizens could not do
enough for us.
Indiana numbers her regiments from
where they stopped In the late war, and
the 18TH Indiana relieved us. They
were pink looking lot of fellows, and
got drunk the first dash out of the box.
Resalt, they sleep In their dog tents, get
nothing, pay Soc per 100 fof ice or go
without, and the girls passed them all
up. Do you wonder we regretted leav-
ing?
The transports for the expedition to
Porto Rico are here and we expect to be
loaded any day. All the troops ln Tampa
were inspected by a delegation from the
regular armv, and our inspector told
Col. Turner that this was the best regi.
ment he had inspected yet. The trans
ports are larger and better than those
used In the first expedition aud as the
men on the first ones suffered from the
heat, we are to be allowed more room.
All Of which we are very thankful for.
One funny thing happened at inspection;
company NJ, the crack fancy dubbed
company of the regiment, turned out
with dirty guns. My! You ought 10
have heard the "call down" they received.
The inspecting officer told them they
were disgrace 10 the United States
army and 10 the 1st regiment OF Illinois,
and ought not to be allowed with govern
ment property; as they either did not
know how, or were too lazy to take care
of it.
Tue land at st. Petersburg, unlike this
| side OF the bay, is very fertile, and We
saw lot Of pine apples, oranges, lemons
aud bananas growing. Pine apples grow
a good deal Ike cabbages aud on the top
of each apple grow suckers. These
suckers are cut eff when the apple Is
about three quarters growp, and are set
out exactly as onion setsare. The plants
are set ia rows about two feet apart
and the apples about foot apart. One
thing, however, Is noticeable to Us north
erners. The plants grow better with
little shade, and posts are set up about
six feet tall and pieces OF 2x4 are put on
top Of them. On these musqulto netting
! is stretched. This little shade is ample;
the ohjsct being not TO shade the plants
too much GEd still not allow the suns
rays tc sttihe them as they would In the
open. Bananas grow on trees that look
like peech trees. The bananas are nearly
ripe now aud aC the cad OF each bunch
there Is a very deep red flower that looks
very similar TO a holy hook.
Drill increases daily a. the boys grow
mora accustomed 10 The climate.
Our regiment has been recruited up to
| l06 men TO the company.
The last batch Of recruits arrived last
night. The seasoning process we have
been through shows plainly now. The
men that came out on the Goth OF April
can and do daily go out and so through
| four and five consecutive hours drilling
in the heat of the day with no apparent
Inconvenience; while some OF the re.
cruits are always on the sick list from
the heat: and they get only an hours
easy squad drill every morning and even
ing.
Our officers have applied to the adju-
tant general at Washington for pay rolls.
But we are from that poor state OF
Illinois and | guess we won't be PAID.
JUS heard than there Is A censor on all
mail IN after. 80 il you don't get tails you
will know the reason why.
| Your, WALT.