The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-16
FROM THE BOYS AT BARACoA.
Letters From Lieut.. Thomas ana
Sergt. Swift of the Third.

VI AhC
Lieut.. James A. Thomas, Jr., of the
Third Regiment, U. S. v, has written an
other interesting letter to his parents from
Baracoa, Cuba. where he is now station
ed with his company. The letter is dated
Sept, 30.
This Is certainly beautiful and healthy
place" he says. 1.-The sea beats right up
against the mountains, and Baracoa is
situated on a fiat strip along the shore.
The camp is half way up the mountains
on plateau of about 20 acres which over
looks the city and the sea. We have a
continual sea breeze all the time. The
streets of the city are kept clean, well
drained, and there is very little sickness
unless it is ordinary fever, which is every
where. There has been but one death in
the company, and this was only recently.
There have been but three deaths in the
entire regiment up to the last report about
two weeks ago. One of these died from yell
low fever. on the south side OF the island,
and the third was killed by the accidental
discharge of gun. This record is very
encouraging to the commanding officers
of our regiment, who feel that the men
are being pretty well cared for. People
who entertain the idea this is hot bed of
disease are badly mistaken, as / feel free
to say there is no healthier place to he
found The only trouble is in large towns
where sanitary precautions are not observ-
ed in any way.
Lieut.. Estill has received his commits
sion as first lieutenant, and l myself have
gone up in the list of first lieutenants five
or six points, and possibly more.
I'VE have just been mustered for pay,
which reaches us the last day of every
month. We do not always get paid a this
time, however. as this is sixty miles from
the eastern extremity of the island, and is
not always convenient for the paymaster
to reach.
Il have been appointed postmaster here,
and must confess that do not Ike the job
very much find 1t a big task to distri-
butte all the mail, and especially the Span
ish and Cuban SUM. l am studying Span
ish though and can speak ii a little al
ready. The old priest here is my instructor.
Since he could not speak word of Eng
lish when we first came you will doubtless
wonder how we can make each other I'M
derstood.'
Sergt. d. T. Swift, who is also men,
Der of Company l, Third Regiment has
written a letter to friends in Savannah,
in which he gives some account of the
movements of the regiment. Speaking of
moving into the old Spanish hospital, he
says:
we VIII soon go INTO the ola spanish
hospital, which is one of the most pictur-
esque spots on earth. Imagine a cliff 800
feet high and running out TO a point in
the ocean. The grounds include about five
acres, and the building, which is after
the old Moorish architecture, is surround
ed by massive walls. The building will
accommodate 1000 men. 1t has been thor
oughly renovated, the floors have been
taken out and replaced by Others and
everything has been done to put the place
in the best condition.
Some of the boys have made up their
minds TO return TO Baracoa if we are
mustered out of the army, as we believe
this an exceptionally good place to make
money. The country is wholly undevelop-
cd. Fruits, grasses. vegeta bles and nuts
of all kinds grow wild. Coffee grows TO
perfection here Chocolate and many 9TH
er things used in the states can be had
for a trifie here"