The Red Cloud chief., 1898-07-15
WITH UNCLE SANS BOYS.
Duties Experienced by a Former Web
ster County Boy Not so Severe
as They Might Be.
ST. PFTERspuRC. Fla. In

40 neY wight De- |
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, July 6.
EDITOR CuIEF;-Haviug plenty Of
time L viii write you an article TO-
your paper. Since leaving Chicks,
manga we were camped at lamp,
Florida, where we were TO load on tn
transports for The Santiago expedition
We had our mules aud horses all o.
board the Alleghauy, with part Of our
,quipaSe, when we were transferrec
from the Isl army corps TO the A.
! army corps under General Copingei
1 when OF course we were ordered to un. |
! load. We were cucamppd there until
Monday evening, June 20 IL, when w.
received orders to break camp neNt
morning, and be ready To move at 81
o'clock. Az once the company was al
hurry and hustle, many wondering
where we were going and the why and
wherefore.
We were oon told that Co. ID was to |
go to st. Petersburg, as a special de-
4 tdchment To relieve Co. Is of the First
| Illinois, which had been stationed
there on special guard duty, Next
morning promptly on time we had all
packed our rations and equipage load.
ed, aud fell into the ranks in heavy
marching order. The march to the
depot, about a quarter of n mile, was
500 ended, and we waited for the
train to the pier at Port Tampa where
we took the steamer Lawrence for st.
Petersburg.
st. Petersburg lies along the north
coast Of Tampa Bay, and only four
miles from the gulf. Its excellent 10.
cation and even climate makes IL an
admirable winter resort and the win.
ter finds lis numerous hotels crowded
10 tue utmost with northern pleasure
seekers. St. Petersburg is a new town
and has sprung from a village of $50 in
1890 10 a now thriving town Of $500
population, and has acquired many a
metropolitan air. The inhabitants are
largely made up of northern people,
Indiana and Illinois being largely In
the majority. The people have erected
many handsome houses, which together
with elegant business rooms and large
hotels, compose a town the equal OF
which is hard to find IN a city twice or
thrice its size.
The town is surrounded by large
farms and orchards. The principal
products are bananas, oranges, guavas,
peaches, Strawberries, pine apples and
melons.
Their are very few homes In town
that have not some tropical fruit in
one OF the various stages of cultivation.
The surf Is particularly. fine for bath
ing and the two pavilions accOmmo-
date quite q goodly number Of bathers.
The fishing from the pier 10 excellent,
the waters Astounding with Spanish
mackerel, catfish, trout, bass, ETC., as
we'll a. shark, pOrpoises, sawtish and
many OF natures curious fnny tribe.
The town Is noted as q water station
a. all Of the large transport ships and
war vessles stop here for ice and wa er
aud water is taken from here to the
. blockading feet.
Our duties here are to protect the
pumping stations aud tanks, End the
! lake from which II is supplier. The
danger of spies or Spanish hirelings
poisoning the water has made It neces.
sary for as to guard these places we'll.
Our tents are pitched in the town linn.
, its, on one of the streets bounding the
: PARK. The pavilion In the park we
9 use as q guard house, and during the
heated part Of each day find refuge un.
, der the shade, and at night the pavilion
is lighted by electricity, quite a de.
parture from the usual army guard
house. 1t Is by far the best camp SO
o TAI on our "Trip. Ino people are very
, hospitable, no want but what they are
anxious to supply, giving balls, parties,
and 9 q for the boys, bringing us a
goodly lot Of reading matter and rre.
senting cake, etc. Yesterday taey
| gave us a fine dinner, served ice cream
In the park, and during the day the
, 4th Of July was celebrated with speech.
es, wheel races, boat races, and In the
afternoon q game Of ball was played
between st. Petersburg and Co. d,
: with a score Of Q to I in faver Of Co. ID.
: The whole affair ended Ia the evening
, with q grand military ball.
How long We will be here we know
: not, as we are looking for orders 10
cross the pond any day. We we're
further equipped yesterday with each
a hammock for use in Cuba. More
anon. LESTER KooNTz.