The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-16

A FISHING EXPEDITION.
The first extensive fishing expedition to
supply messes was the feature of this torrid
Sunday. One Of the teamsters of the regi-
picked up since comm ere Jim is all ex-
pert fisherman, speak anish, knows the
haunts of alligators, f, s, snakes, can tell
fish two hundred feet under water and
is an all-around genius of whom Quarter
master Hutson is very proud. He piloted
the party to Hillsboro bay in an army
wagon, careening over wild roads and al
most impossible swamps at speed of n
mile an hour. Assistant Surgeon Garstang,
Major Barnett. of Fort Wayne, and Cap
tain Gilbert, of Angola, with the corre-
spondents in camp. made up the party,
pumping heads and flying up into the
aid for several hours. On reaching the bay
gill nets were thrown out in the shallow
water. and the fish were driven into this
corral. The water swarmed with the tinny
Fellows. Mullets were jumping above the
surface every few feet, plump ones of tempt
ing size. The first circle of the net brought
up twenty-five fish of many varieties. A
dozen of the mullets escaped by jumping
over the nets. Sheepshead, with their black
striped sides, sand perch, queer founders,
resembling an ordinary fish split in half,
trout and other varieties were caught. Six
or seven powerful sergeant fish were i'm
prisoned, but quickly dashed through the
stout net Several stingarees, uncouth look
ing things, somewhat like skate. but with
poisonous singer in their tails, were
trapped. Teamster Jim told startling stories
of men and boys killed by these saw-like
singers The party before returning visited
deserted bark stranded out in the bay
fhN Gel,
which they were allotted for two days.
So much has been said in the Northern
papers, through the Richard Harding Davis
VS.. Poultney Bigelow controversy, as to the
condition of volunteer troops here, that the
public can take its choice and believe either
side of the story. And here, to be truthful,
it may be said both men are wrong and both
are right. Each has seen conditions from
different points of view. There is a common
ground far more truthful than that taken
by either of these well-known writers, and
1T recognizes bits of truth from the pen of
each of the controversiaists
MUCH DEPENDS ON THE MAN.
The condition Of the volunteer soldier in
Tampa depends largely on the soldier him
self and his commander In some of the
regimental camps discipline has been lax,
and in these cases the men have suffered.
The Importance of outstanding their strength
and keeping their temporary homes up to
sanitary requirements has not been drilled
into them. For instance, in some of the
regiments the officers did not insist on the
men ditching their quarters, and particular
ly around their tents. When Sunday night
with it's severe storms, came the wise soldier
suffered little, while under the careless
commanders tents were flooded and the men
xaaf1
ments. Permitting sinks close to habitation
is another evidence of gross mismanage-
ment, but it may be said this offense is not
sufhclently common to menace health That
the men are not thoroughly equipped, meas
ured by the standard of army regulations,
IS only too true. If the men are waiting
for coats, they might as well move on, for
blue flannel shirt is ample in this respect
Two weeks in Tampa has taught the vol
unteer soldier to improvise, and he can do
this to perfection, save when it comes to
improVising on beans and bacon. If the
government has sufficient rations and am
munltlon 1t is time to subjugate Cuba. This
is the sentiment of the average soldier He
is tired of the restraint. He is ready to
fight His chief protest is against delay not
against his equipment nor his rations. Two
weeks of hot Tampa has convinced him that
the pestilence and terrOrs of Cuba are buga-
boos. He understands the need of drilling
and discipline, and he knows he is deficient
but he deSpiSeS his enemy'S strength too
much to count these for much IN this war
He estimates he is far superior in training
n
tered his first battle of the civil war. The
volunteers here want to make grand dash
into Cuba and fight 1T out face to face
without so much of this preliminary maneu-
Vering. All this may be very unwise but
it types the volunteer soldier in Tampa.
HOLSTERS ARE HAPPY.
In contrast to the regiments which furnish
topics for pessimistic reflections is the One
hundred acknowledgements Indiana 1 can
not pretend to give true reason for the
happy conditions in Ibis regiment TO the
discipline and executive ability up at head
quarters much is due, but to be added to
this is some inherent quality in the average
man from northern Indiana A case Of
drunkenness is unknown. The men are to
bed early and they keep close to camp. The
hospital is still free from any case border
ing on the serious. And browning it all is
a spirit of content almost universal and so
comprehensive it ranges from rations to
probable destination. The officers are all
enthusiastic and ambitious to learn every
point of war. One month of service has set
tied officers, as well as men, to regimen
necesSitated by limited supplies Butter is
practically unknown, and milk is a luxury
seldom in sight. At Colonel Studebaker's
mess to-day at dinner was beef. hard tack,
iced tea without the ice) and canned
peaches. The spread at the most favored
board in the regiment is little more elaborate
than at company mess. There is not a
grumbling word heard.
One soldier thus pictures his return home
after the cruel war is over I'm going to
sleep out in our back yard, just as far away
as 1 can get, the first night. Then each
night am going to edge my way gradually
up TO the house till I can get accustomed to
frame building and a roof
In one of his stories Novelist Barrie gives
rollicking funny picture of a man in
Thrums who witnessed a funeral held in his
own honor. Private Eugene Marshall, of
the North Manchester company, had q
somewhat similar delectable experience the
other day when he picked up one of his
home newspapers and there read patriotic
story of his death. He enjoyed immensely
the tributes paid to his noble character and
his devotion to duty, the sacrifices he made
at his country's call, and so forth and so
forth: more tributes than he ever expects
to get again as long he lives. His health
is excellent despite the obituary. In some
strange way the report reached North Man
chester that he had died at Chckamauga.
Capt. w. e. English, of Indianapolis, was
down at Port Tampa docks this morning
recovering from a bad attack of f1gurative
heart trouble and hopping his brows as fast
he could mop. Captain English spent
the night at Tampa, and the early morning
train was an hour or so late. Just as he
boarded the train he heard that the trans
ports had all slipped away at daylight On
the Allegheny. the boat to be taken by
General Wheeler and staff was Captain
Englishs horse and baggage. Coming down
the captain figured out all sorts of plans
for reaching his boat, chartering a tug or
swimming, if necessary. But when he came