Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-10-18
TALES OF The CAMP,
Trooper Williams, of Bland, is in Town
from Montauk Point and Being We'll
coined by Many Friends,

Trooper Thomas C. Williams, of
| troop, LIST volunteer cavalry, is in
town and talked pleasantly with a New
Mexican representative last evening.
The trooper was one of the unfortu-
mates who had to remain behind at
Camp Tampa; but he never grumbled,
remembering that he was a soldier.
However, to use a naval expression, he
is out of commission now and can
talk, He enlisted in troop E in this
city. and suffered his first adverse eX-
perience at San Antonio when he found
himself among the 20 men taken from
the Santa Fee troop and located in
troop |, which was organized by trans
ferring 20 men to the new command
from each troop III II squadron. When
the eight fortunate troops left for Gu
ba it was understood hat the remain
ing squadron would be sent for shortly.
but shortly" never materialized, and
the boys had to remain in Florida.
They would have had a better time but
for the shortage in provisions. for one
thing. There was naturally some dis
position to complain at the fact thaS
army rations were found to be army
rations. whether in the sub-zero wilds
of Montana or in the torrid heat of the
s~emi-tropics, and there was just claim
that a distinction should be made in
these things. But eve then, the boys
would not have evinced a disposition
to rise to object" had there been
enough to eat of what there was. The
regimental quartermaster department
| was suspected of getting away with a
| lot of supplies that should have reach
| ed the troopers, but which never did
| So there was a change in the quarter
master later on, and then things SEEM
ed to go much better.
Another just complaint the men had
to make was the way they were shut
up in camp. Lieutenant Sayre, a
young sprig of an officer, who had
| charge of the passes, such as are
| lar delight in cutting down the
time of absence asked for by the mer
who wanted to leave the camp. This
got to be monOtonous after a while, ant
the boys were heartily glad to get away
from local control and come nee more
under the command of the colonel a
Montauk Point. There, they came ant
Went as they pleased, and there vas II,
one to say nay. Mr.. Williams fount
the 5th cavalry mighty good people an,
regretted leaving their society.
At Montauk,. Mr.. Williams got sicl
for the first time, which more or les
astOnished him. as he believed he wa
going to pull through without seeing
sick day. He got his feet wet ever,
day leading horses to water, and tn
first thing he knew he was down witt
a fever. However. he was among tn
fortunate mes cared for by million
aires, and was taken to Islip. where
with a number Of other soldiers, he wa
given the very best Of care. A specia
physician was on hand, and they wer
given delicacies and taken out |
yachts and treated the best their en-
t~ertainerS knew how. So it was wit
full hearts, as well as full stomachs
that the convalescents left their kindl
hosts for the west, and they will neve
forget the kindness and the bounteou
hospitality shown the sick soldiers b
the wealthy New Workers on Long Isl
and. Mr.. Williams made special men
ton of Helen Gould, who did so muc
for the soldiers, and it was her hous
on East 18th street that she threw ope
to the sick and cared for them hersel
Then she gave orders on the railroad
to have the inequalities Of the lunc
counters extended to the travelling so
der boys so that they did not have t
pay for their eating en- route to thei
homes.
4 What a contrast was this to the att
tude of the st. Louis q San FrancisC
road, where no courtesieS were extenC
ed to the boys, and where they had
pay in full for everything they bough
Trooper Williams proved a good 50
der, and it is his regret that he we
mot given u chance to face the enem
under the inspiration and guidance {
his country's flag. He leaves for hi
home in Bland later in the week.