The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-19
Lieut.. Col. Cook Speaks
Of Its Condition.
HERE ON SHOR T FURLOUGH
Men Of First Equally Divided on
Matter Of Longer Service.
LATEST NEWS ABOUT COL. ABBOT

Lieut.. Col. Frank A. Cook Of the First
Rhode Island Regiment. is at home, in
this city. on O. seven days furlough,
having left Camp Meade Saturday af-
ternoon. and Is due in camp again on
Saturday evening next. This morning
Lieut.. Col. Cook paid his respects to
Gov. Dyer, and later was seen BY a
News man, who found him looking the
picture of health. Col. Cook said that
he had come home for few days to
see his family, having left the regiment
in command of Maj. Barker. He said
that the present camp was very salts
factory. there being plenty OF good
water and good air.
In speaking OF the health OF the regi-
ment, Col. Cook said that. while there
were a number OF sick men, the whole
trouble was due To the fact that the
regiment was allowed to remain too
long at Camp Alger, which was un-
healthy, and where many men contract
ed malaria. Right on top of this the
regiment was subjected 10 long march
i'm heavy rains. end this Increased the
cases of sickness. Now, however, there
were few cases that called for hospital
care, and the men, as whole, were
pretty we'll and contented.
Col Cook was asked concerning the
desire OF the men toNreturn home, ana
he said that, while no vote had been
taken, he thought that opinion was
about equally divided. He spoke very
highly OF the conduct of the men of the
regiment. and said that they had been
complimented by superior officers or
other regiments for their soldierly bear
ing and discipline.
In spite Of the repeated rumors con-
cerning the condition of Col. Abbot. late
last night Lieut.. Robinson, surgeon OF
the First Rhode Island Regiment. sent
a dispatch TO Gov. Dyer. which says
"Col. Abbot has made slight but steady
Improvement since last telegram" This
is news which will please all OF the
colonels many friends in this state.
He Was a Rhode Isl nder.
Capt. Allyn Capron Of the First artil-
lery died Of typhoid fever at his home
near Fort Myer. Va, yesterday. With
the death OF this brave soldier passes
away another OF family that has
grown famous for it's fighters. Since
the Mexican war. when his father. Al
lyn Capron. was a captain OF the same
battery. and fell with mortal wound
at Cherubusco the family has never
been without representative I'm the
army. IL was the dead captains son.
Capt. Allyn *. Capron, commander or
Troop X. Roosevelt's Rough Riders.
who was the second man to fall In the
battle of Sevilla Heights. when his reg
iment made the charge OF Las Quasi
mas.
Capt. Capron was born In Rhode ISL
and In 1S47 and was appointed from
North Carolina to the Military Acad-
emy at West Point in 1863. June 1I,1S61.
he received his commission as second
lieutenant In the First Artillery. and
remained with his battery until 1871,
when he was transferred to signal duty
at Fort whipple. Va. Two years later
he was promoted To first lieutenant. He
became captain In 1883, and since then
had been on duty principally In the de-
partment Of California. ,.,a y.
Quiet st Qu0nsct.
Everything Is quiet at Quonset Point
today, only Lieut.. Mckay of Battery
A. and the camp guard occupying the
camp. The detail. however. has plenty
to do. for between preparing the neces-
sary messes and looking after the
horses the 20 men do not find much
time TO loaf. There are LAG horses In the
stables and their grooming and feed
ing occupies great deal of time. This
detail or large part OF II will proba-
bly, remain at Quonset Point during
the 30 days. while the batteries have
their furloughs. They may rot have to
care for the herd OF horses all this
time. as IL OF them will be shipped
away at once and the rest may be dis
tributed TO the different regular bat
teries In need OF horses. Headquarters
will be open every day the same az IL
,ho command was enCamped on the
now deserted plain. Lieut.. Hamilton
Rowan, ". s. A., the mastering out Of
ficer, will be there daily. The regiment
al clerk. Walter A. Pratt, assisted by
J. Frank Greene and Frank Il. Lincoln.
will also be there doing the necessary