Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1898-10-15
REACHES rIANILA.
HiIfred ThOmasson Tells of Soldier
ing on the Pacific.

Thomas Thomasson has received
an intensely interesting letter from his
son Hilfred, who has now arrived at
Manila. Lack Of space alone deters
us from printing the whole letter.
The postage on the letter was paid
here by Mr.. Thomasson, for, under
the postal regulations, a letter from
the boys at the front need only be
marked as soldiers letter" and
signed by the captain, and it will be
forwarded without postage prepaid.
MID OCEAN, Friday, Aug. 20 98.
On board transport St. Paul.
*** Everything is now Strengthened
around and arranged as convenient as
possible. Our blue uniforms have been
boxed up and stored away, and in their
places we have the brown and white
duck. 3 ~
Every day, one sergeant, one corpo-
raj and four privates Of every compa-
nv are detailed to clean and scrub the
companys quarters. We had hard
time to keep clean before we reached
Honolulu; salt water soap had been
overlooked by the boys, and other soap
was worse than none at all, but at Hon
olulu they put in a good supply. Z I
| In nv letter from Honolulu did
not state the true condition of affairs
as thought it would make you worry
all the more. By the time this letter
reaches you we hope to be with our
old company aud regiment and farhlgg
better. The first two days out the bill.
Of fare was soup and bread, which the
boys who were not seasick seemed to,
enjoy but from then on uutilWe reached
Honolulu, it was pretty tough. Break
| fast, small piece Of bread, fresh meat
small piece, one potato and coffee;
dinner, salt horse (labeiled on barrels
:, mess beef" but examined by doctor
and found to be actually horse meat,
hard tack, one potato and coffee; sup
per, a small piece Of very fat bosom of
| female swine, hard tack, coffee and po-
tato. The Red Cross Society of F'ris-
co had put on board large quantity
of canned goods for us I hat the officers
were getting fat on. The, boys said
they would not stand it, and made a
kick in body while at Honolulu, con
sequently we are living somewhat bet
ter now. At mess time, often think
of the speech Mr.. Colyer gave the boys
at the Opera House, and now begin to
realize that his words concerning
army rations were only too true.
x !, <
Sunday, Aug, 22nd.
To-day Lieut.. Col. Slower, of South
Dakota, who is in command, issued
orders that every man must take off |
his shoes and go bare-footed the rest
of the voyage, claiming we were
wearing out the decks There was
quite protest made. Co. d. Mimi. !
in body refused and were ordered I
into the hold. Capt. Howard, of Col, .
refused to give such orders to his
men and was put under arrest. 1t is
all settled nov, shoes without nails |
can be worn.
Monday, Aug, 23.-The last few
days it has rained nerrly every hour
of the day and night, but to-day it is
nice and clear and the old sea is as
smooth as glass. The Colonel had
another surprise for the boys to-day.
All boards must be shaved off.
Tuesday, Aug, "a We had in
spection of underwear this morning
before breakfast. We have seven I
shower baths on the after deck and
four times a week we all have to line
up naked in company form and take
bath. About the only way we have
had of washing clothes is to tie them
to rope and drag them in the sea
after the boat. This has been pro-
hibited.
Monday, Aug, 29.-We have had
heavy sea the last four or five days
and the fish and | have got to be
good fliends. [ have more than
equally shared my rations with them
lately. / am feeling better to day,
but | am weak and shuttle along like
an old man when | walk, but | have
always managed to keep on deck how
ever sick have been.
About one-third of the bots are
more or less sick from the want of
wholesome food and exercise. There
is quite stir on board today as we
just sighted land. Everything is be
ing overhauled and cleaned up. just
saw some green branches floating on