The San Francisco call., 1898-12-03
CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS IN i.
 NEW BARRACKS Given Better Quarters
 at Manila, SICKNESS NOT DECREASED MORNING SUNSHINE TEMPERED BY THE SHADOW OF DEATH. Hospitals All Appear to Be Crowded to Their Fullest Capacity by
 the Suffering Boys in
 Blue.
SICKNESS NOT DECREASED
MORNING SUNSHINE TEMPERED BY THE SHADOW OF DEATH.
BY CORPORAL F. A. HEALY.
Special Correspondence of The Call.

.--s opeCld4 -SoIIespOAueIlSe oA 1He CdIl.
 MANILA, Oct. g, 1S9S.-Things con- tinue to go on here about as usual. Each succeeding day brings fresh ru- nor of startling happenings in the chamber where the Peace Commission deliberates when not occupied with Pa Tisian hospitality and each European born canard is equaled if not outdone bv the wild tales from the hills anent AguinalGo, and the hordes he is gather ing to crush out the newly established power of the Americans. All these diff ferent reports give us something to think bout and discuss, but as there is practically nothing else for the men to talk about, these very reports have in themselves become at last only an addi- tion to the already long list of monoto- nous happenings. The regiment moved its quarters a few days ago from San Miguel down to the large Spanish bar racks on the other side of the Pasig River, where that muddy and turbid stream is spanned by the big suspension bridge over which the Second Battalion marched on the memorable 18th of Au- gust. when they were the first Ameri- can troops to enter the promised land. The First and Second Battalions are quartered in a fine large collection of buildings adjoining the Division Hospi- tai, while the Third Battalion is quar- tered in another lot of buildings about three hundred yards farther down the stream toward the walls of old Manila These quarters, the best in Manila, were formerly occupied by the Eigh- teenth regulars, who have been sent fn ha troops, who; now occupy the old quar- ters we have vacated. Our new bar racks are a great improvement on the old They are: larger, better ventilated, cleaner and better drained, in addition to which advantages they possess ex- cellent cook houses and have fine fresh water shower baths, something not ex- isting in any other regimental quarters in the city, as far as I know.
 In former letter I said considerable concerning the prevalence of sickness among the troops. Well, we have just as much of it as ever, and each morn ing's sunshine still continues to be tenn pered by the shadow. of death As I write l hear the strains of a dead march and, looking out from my win dow, l see filing past a funeral cortege bearing to its last resting place the ly night from the effects of typhoid pneu- monia. He was Toye Freestrom, a pri- vate of B Company, and one of the best men in Captain Filmers command. He was sober, steady, brave and able, a good comrade, good soldier and a good man. None were more ready to help friend, none more willing to ac- cept post of danger and hardship. He was extremely popular throughout the entire command and many a sincere re- gret will follow his body to it's island grave.
 Not much information concerning things medical reaches us of the rank and file, and the only way that we have of forming our ideas as to the amount of illness among the men is by observation. We don't know just how many men are sick, but we do know that besides the division hospital-a place capable of accommodating con- siderably over half a thousand men there are other places here and there all over the city, and each one is crowded to its fullest capacity. The smallpox is still with us, and only yes terday learned that three new cases had gone out to join what is left of the little colony in the tents. The convales- cent hospital, established through the efforts of Colonel Smith and Major Me Carthy, at Hermita for California boys, is working wonders It stands in an ideal location, where it gets the full benefit of the soft breezes that sweep In across the broad expanse of bay, and where it's comparative isolation from the noise and hustle of barrack and city life insures the quiet which is so much needed by one recuperating from long and: severe illness. In ad- dition to this place there will soon be another hospital erected fo" the benefit of the Frisco hoys, where the danger ha inStpad nf tn : the general hospital. These arrange ments are of the greatest ben fit to the ;: health of the regiment, and too much cannot be said in commendation of Col onel Smith and Major Mccarthy, to whose energy the success of the two undertakings is due. The Red Cross people are still with us, and are doing excellent work, whic' couIa be greatly extended were there more of them. Good nursing is one of the things that is most needed in very large army. and which, as a general thing, is most lacking. The ladies of the Red Cross are doing all and more than was ex- pected of them, but there are so many down here who need careful attention. that double the numoer of women who are with us could not possibly attend to all. As to Schlott the manager of this auxiliary branch of the army medical corps, I know not what to say. He has certainly succeeded in winning fame for himself. if to be talked about is to be famous. There is no other man. down here who has been so thoroughly dis cussed and so thoro Ily burnt up as the suave, good-looking shepherd in charge of the Red Cross flock. He has been charged with most eyerythinp from pitch-and-toss to manslaughter, though when the matter is sifted down I don't believe anything .ery serious will be directly urged against him. As to his competence or incompetence I personally know nothing. What I do know, however, is this That he has done everything in his power to assist Major Mccarthy in the latters efforts in behalf of the regiment, and since his arrival our sick are better nursed and our convalescent taste delicacies which were impossible to obtain be- fore. So, since these material benefits have come with Schlott let him stay competent or incompetent-wha does it matter?
 Before I finish with this portion of my correspondence I would like to mention something that has several times struck me very forcibly. The Red Cross Hospital is situated on the Calle Conception, just below the divis- ion hospital It is crowded with men and officers, many of whom are sick