The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-21
GETTING THE WORST NOW
Doing Guard Duty in the Rain
Is No Joke.
SOAKED AND 0RABBLED
Everything in Fine Shape at he Fort.
All of the Short Suits Have Been
Filled-Are Now Wear
ing the Blue.

had to start them off in military life.
1t may not be apparent to the boys
at frst-maybe some of them will not
see it at all-but there is one good
thing about it. If they will look at it
properly. All they have to consider.
while they are or guard in The rain
and the mud. is that IL cannot get any
worse even in Cuba. and they will
have some consolation. 1t is much
better for them to start OFF with light
rations and muddy walking and driz-
zIine skies than IL woul be 20 have
the beginning brighter than the end
can be. Now. when the pleasant
weather and the home made cooking
comes to them the Troop Fs Will feel
that. after all, life is not the empty
dream that il seemed to be while it
was raining. There is not much doubt,
from the appearance of some of The
boys when a Standard man visited
them yesterday afternoon. that life did
seem rather hollow and void to them.
They We're seeing the very worst side
of the new life and they did not seem
willing to believe that there would be
any silver lining to the clouds. These
were the boys who were on guard and
who were stopping drearily through
the mud and water on their beats. IL
was tough. to be sure. but they might
better get il at this stage of the game
than to wait till they were surfeited
with the mad gaieties of military life
and the run up against the hard end
of the proposition.
That is the philosoDhic way that one
of the young troopers explained the
situation to the reporter. He was wise.
Moreover. he spoke from experience.
He had spent the first rainy night of
the stay at the fort. on guard. and had
been soaked and drabbled when his
relief came. While he was telling how
the matter ought to be considered. he
was sitting in the barracks. resting
comfortably on his bed and enjoying
the heat of the box stove. as he calmly
contemplated the scene around him
and figured as to how long ii would
take for his turn to come around
again. He knew how pleasant the fire
and the CHEEKY room eemed after the
dismal round of guard duty. and he
gave vent to the above philosophic SEN
timents. The delivery seemed to weary
him, for he turned over and left the
reporter to the mercies of Quartermas-
ter Sergeant Guffy. who was showing
the sights of Troop Fs barrack life.
Things are in very nice shape out at
int III tipbB u 10 ibai N'if' III ~
old barracks of Company G of the 25th
infantry. and they have all that they
need to make them comfortable. There
were n few short suits I'm the equip-
ment at first. but most of these have
been remedied and the boys have now
warm beds. clean, dry rooms. good
grub, a good cook and plenty of exer-
else. Some of them are taking their
first swing at washing dishes and do
inn nnIia. duty hnt thew are taking
hold like men and are getting to be
better soldiers every day. There We're
not many of the troop I'm the barracks
when the reporter went through-most
of them were at the quartermaster's
office drawing uniforms, blankets and
shoes. The few who were i'm the bar
racks were taking things comfortably.
Some were resting some were liking
clothes; some were telling stories;
some were discussing the war situa-
ton and talking over the lessons that
they had been receiving in army work,
and all of them seemed as comfortable
as III they had been I'm garrison all of
the time for years. All Of them had a
pleasant word for the visitors and all
were eagerly watching the luck of the
boys who had been after uniforms and
had tried for "A fit.
The dining room was visited and
presented an attractive appearance.
The Ions tables were so clean that
they shone like mirrors, n the rows
of plates were shiny too. Everything
looked as If the cool and his assist
ants knew their business. and this
opinion was confirmed by the peep that
was taken into the kitchen. There er-
erything was in applepie order N the
big range was fired up and from its
top big Kettles were sending out APP
petizing odors. From the oven came
the pleasant smell Of roasting coffee.
and the cool stopped long enough from
his work to give the visitors the glad
hand. Sergeant Guny opened the doors
of the ice box and the contents showed
that the boys will not be hungry again
| right away. There We're nice cuts Of
beef, big rolls of butter. vegetables,
fresh and crisp. and all that was need
ed To make the board of the tenderfoot
soldiers as comfortable as could be.
Everybody seemed satisfied and not a
complaint reached he ears of the re-
porter.
Interest yesterday and to-day cen
tered i'm the issue of uniforms to the
troop. The order for the issue was
received by Lieutenant Shattuck.
uuartermaster of the 25th infantry and
in charge OF the supplies at the post,
from the general headquarters of the
department to proceed yesterday with
the issue OF uniforms from the supply
that was ON hand when the 25th left.
This was welcome news To n boys,
who had been trying hard To look like
soldiers under the trying conditions of
having no uniform and 40 arms. The
issue Was begun at once and Today
most OF the soldiers ave on the garb
of Uncle Sans defenders. They make
splendid soldiers and the city IL uore
than ever proud of her representatives.
Some of the boys found il not essv to
get clothes that would ft them. First
Sergeant Heyfron had in his suit a
pair of trousers that must have been
ordered for Y Major White. this
long-legged idol OF the 25th. and Quar-
termaster Guffy had a coat that would
have easily enveloped the portly form
of Band Sergeant Norton of the 25th
But the boys took the matter in gooc
part and a visit to the tailor mad