Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-07-21
LETTER FROM 6. N. MORSE.
san Francisco From Tie soldiers Standpoint
Troops on Toe wag TO The Philippines

i pany D Isl Reg Montana Vol. INF.
lett Nirginia City, Montana. MAY ).
1898. eurnnte for Helena. Montana.
We took the train at q place called
Ironrod AID arrived in Helena. Mon
tana Al l2:50 a. N. the next morning;
went into campat y o'clock the same
I day. May J, where we staid until Nav
-, deyouring beans, bacon, hard tack
and black coffee, until we were suffice
iently drilled and equipped to come to
San Francisco. In the mean time we
We're a anxious to see the morning
daily" as we are now to 90 70 the
Philippines
We arrived in San Francisco Satur-
day at 1880 M. May Is, after ted
ious and wearing-out ride OF three
days and nights, and more PLAYED
out and tired set Of soldiers are not
often seen. but the God-loving angles
eli San Francisco. the Red Gross socie-
ty. were at the wharf with Sand-witch-
e. coffee. cake. pie, fruit and in fact
everything Imaginable that was in
tended for humans to eat. besides bou-
quets 80 large and fragrant that we
could hardly carry them. When a
person talks about hospitality they
should use san Francisco Red Cross
society as criterion May God bless
the order
We marched out to our camping
groands about four miles from the
wharf and went into camp at Camp
Merritt When we arrived at Camp
Merritt the free-hearted people for
which this city is noted followed Us
with 50 much fruit and eatables that
we almost believed ourselves Mt home
with our mothers and sisters Or
anges were thrown to US from the
sidewalk and roadside as if the wind
was blowing. They would col0e to
Company and empty them out by the
ease. ! think | ate twenty odd or
anges the first day; the second day it
was the same as the preceding day
and continued 50 until the officers
stopped it, much to our regrets but
maybe for our benefit.
The climate here is astonishing to
Us mountaineers. When we left Mon
tana there was several inches of snow
on the ground aad the weather was
cold and disagreeable. Here the
weather is warm with a soft sea
breeze from the ocean day and night,
and warm enough to make it comfort
able in our shirt-sleeves during the
day and comfortable with our coats on
at night, although the citizens wear
an overcoat in the evening and claim
to be very uncomfortable. but as we
are used to cod climate | suppose
we don't notice the cool breezes as
they do. Everything is green and
growing. Fruits of all kinds are in
/ the markets and have been for some
time. Cherries are cents a quart,
oranges ) cents a dozen and so on,
other things in like proportion. A
friend bought box, regulation size.
for 80 cents-al nice sound oranges;
water-melons are not in yet but will
| be by the time this letter reaches you.
Ask jim Gates or any Beetown boy
what can do to a watermelon. He
knows.
I me First Sergeant and myself went
to the Cliff House Sunday. Took a
bath and chicken dinner-the first
.'square" we had since the landing.
When we got filled up we strutted
around there like millionaires and 1
think we did own the largest part OF
the place.
Yesterday took in the park which
you read so much about and it is
worth persons time and money to
visit it if he ever comes to California.
! will not begin to tell the sights as it
would cause you to throw this down
and quit reading on account Of being
tired out; but the sights are immense
Our regular routine Of the day Is a.
follows Get up at 5:45 a. m, roll
call at 6 a. m, breakfast at $50. drill
from $40 till 11:30. dinner at y, drill
2.15 till $50 ?. m. roll call at 4
taps 9:l5P. m, check call at 10 and 50
on. Sundays we generally have in
speetion OF suit, which takes about
one hour. Then we can 20 wherever
we please bet must be in for check at
1op. n.
When making out the Company
| ledger | discovered the name III +