The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-13
ECHOES OF THE WAR.

William T. Thomas, Of Larksville, q
member of Company A, Ninth regiment,
Pennsylvania volunteers, died Monday
morning at Chickamauga of typhoid
fever. He was only 90 years old and was
son of Edward w. Thomas, of Ply
mouth township. The telegram stated
that the young soldier would be buried
in the National cemetery at Chicka.
mauga. When President Mckinley issued
his call for volunteers young Thomas
was desirous of enlisting and after re-
peated urging his father gave
bis consent, which was neces-
sary, the boy not being of age.
He enlisted in Company A shortly after
the Ninth left for Mt. Gretna. Previous
to cnlisting he was employed about the
mines. lI2 father and mother are
stricken with grief over the news of their
soldier boys death and since he will
be buried in Chattanooga the news is all
The more depressing. The deceased was
a member of Washington camp, 127, =.
.. Of A.. Cf .arksville. Besides his
father and mother several brothers and
sisters survive him.
"The condition % the Ninth regiment
is improving and il is hoped that every
thing will soon be IN first class shape"
says a letter from a staff correspondent
of the Wilkes-B Barre Record. "The main
cause of complaint seems TO be lack of
good water. but this Is being remedied
tC a great extent. The water for cook
ing is furnished by pipe line and the
drinking water is brought In barrels
from the Blue Springs, three barrels of
cooking and washing water and one of
drinking water being allowed to each
compay. 1t is expected that this allow
ance will be increased soon. The gov
ernmen; is sinking great many pump
wells throughout the park and a good
supply is being obtained from this source.
orders have heen issued to put a stop
to drinking the surface water and from
springs that may have taint of sur
face drainage. All water is to be boiled
and if the boys take proper care of
themselves the physicians say there will
be very little sickness
Professo" John Shovlir, of Wilkes
Barre. has received a letter from John
McGuigan, private in Company f. Sew
enth Infantry, who formerly resided IN
Wilkes Barre. The letter was written
near Santiago June q and is as follows:
about three hours after landing tfrom
Tampa we were ordered to move fur
ther, about four miles. Four regiments
of MS camped that night under as beauti-
full downpour of rain as Cuba can af-
ford. We did not get a bit wet under
our skins. Assembly call at a. m.
brought orders to move at s. We went
about two miles and camped for the day.
The First cavalry, Tenth cavalry (col-
ored), and two companies of Rough Rid
ers were about three miles in advance of
us. We had just got word to dig out,
forced march. We heard the firing and
moved on as rapidly as possible under
the circumstance. Then we began to
throw away our blouses, blankets and
extra clothing. When the Spanish saw Us
they ran. They were about 1000 strong,
had a battery and were ambuSheG along
the narrow road going up the mountain.
We were compelled to move single file
at times. our troops were only ~ yards
away when they opened on us. They had
all the hill and had us hanked. After the
engagement we began to see what dam
age was done. Up to the present We have
lost seventeen killed and forty-thrce
wounded. The Spanish lost about l13
killed and 200 wounded, this last state
ment coming from Cubans who escaped
from Caney yesterday, and some two or
three men and seven women. Spanish
who were out looking Tor fruit, as they
are starving around Santiago. One OF our
sergeants, who was killed. had four bui-
let wounds and bayonet stab Three
dead Spaniards lay around him and he
lay there with one hand ciutChing the
throat of Il dead Spaniard anG his sin
shooter in tne other, he having broke
the Spaniard's skull with the butt OF it.
Young Hamilton Fish, of New York was
Sergcan; With the rough riders and is
among the killed. So We Were inform "a
10y the meE OF his company. Well, John,
you have often heard the old saying
and the CoOred troops tit nobly.'. Well
on last Tuesday they verified that fact
The Tenth cavalry fought like devils
One of our captains, after being shot
twice once through the abdomen was
turning his command over TO the first
lieutenant, WREN a bullet struck the lieu
tenant, killing him. The second lieuten-
ant took command and leaped In front Of
the company, shouting give them hell,
boys, which they did. -Four men were
detached from our company who carried
the wounded captain down about three
miles to the Headquarters Red Cross boat
He will die