Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-03
LIFE IN PORTO RICO.
As Seen by Corp. Otis Cronk, One
of Rock Islands SOL
der Boys.
WRITES AN ENTERTAINING LETTER.


sweet Home,- Etc.-A Comfortable Sleep
in a Ditch-The Weary Marches.
ONE of the most interesting and en-
tertaining letters written by the
Rock Island boys at the front
has been received by Mrs F.. Cronk,
of 24O4 Sixth avenue. from here son.
Corp. Otis Crank. of Company A. 1t
is of somewhat later date than others
The ARGUS has published, but is
timely, nevertheless. 1t follows:
Adiuntas, Porto Rico, Aug. IA,
1S9S-Loved Ones at Home: Hurrah,
Last night the glorious news reached
here that the treaty of peace had been
signed. and the band got out and
played few popular airs, Home,
Sweet Home, = The Girl Left Be
hind Me- and Yankee Doodle. and
the natives came down the line with
their poles with handkerchiefs tied on
shouting '.vive" (meaning long lve)
ut almost every step. No doubt you
have heard that we were all killed,
but we have marched from Guanica.
distance of about 30 miles. through
mountain passes and along mountains
where 100 men (nOt Spaniards) could
hold anv number of the enemy at bay
as long as their ammunition lasted.
don't suppose anybody outside OF
the two companies engaged in the
skirmish have seen hostile Span
lard. As for myself l have not seen
one to know it.
We left Ponce last Tuesday AND
marched about - miles and camped
in the middle of the road on rocks,
but Ole and | bunked together in the
ditch aud had fine sleep. The next
day we started about . O'Clock and
marched up to place about four
miles away with bluI on one side
and 4 ravine on the other, and | slept
in hole in the wall. The next day
we marched about six miles and
struck this place, and here we are.
1t has been almost six weeks since l
got letter from you, but when we
strike the next seacoast town. we will
get all kinds of mail. which will be
very nice. You should have heard
the plans of the boys last night about
when we get home.
When you hear that the Rodman
Rifles are really coming home | want
you to go to the NJ. IL X. and get me
some underclothes, socks and one
shirt, and have 4 tub of water in the
coal shed so | can clean up before going
into the house.
We have passed through some of
the widest country and grandest
scenery l ever had hopes of seeing.
Now all that is lacking is trip
through the western United States and
my, hopes of travel will have been
realized, but when | reach Rock Island
| will be satisfied to stay couple of
DAYS at least. / always wanted to
travel in the south, but | pass it up.
1t seems to me that the natives of
Porto Rico are smarter than the ne
groes in South Carolina.
On the 18th day of August, 1897.
the Rodman Rifles were getting ready
to 90 to Camp Lincoln as Gov. Tan
mars dress parade soldiers. On Aug.
Is, 1898, on a foreign shore. the same
company, as Il part of the 9th from
McKinlcy's invading army. learned
that the treaty of peace had been
signed.
Hully gee! but you ought to see my
lilacs; they are beauts; redder than
dads, so l guess will have them cut
before | get home. But | might bring
them with me.
From the talk going around | guess
we will have To serve out our time in
the National Guard. which is very
nice q don't think, but | much pre-
fer to serve my time in the states as
national guardsman than in Porto
Rico on garrison duty.
At Utuado.
Utuado, Thursday. Aug. 19-We are !
Is miles nearer home than we were
when / wrote the above. and the best !
of it is we marched it all in one day.
through mountains, two rain storms, !
and mud half way to our knees. After |
we reached here we had to stand in a F,
binding rain while they hunted a /!
camp ground for Us. The consequence !
is that we have the best camp ground |
that we have had since we left the !
states.
Yesterday for the first time since !
we struck the island we had what
could. he called a good band concert
and guard mount
Ole and / are in fine health at the !
present time. but of course we are n
little sore vet. as we had heavy load |
TO carry on the hardest march we have
had.
The only bad feature about the |
country is that it rains most of the |
time. Remember me to everybody. |
and especially to my comrades of the |
war of 6l-65, which was not fought |
on scientific principles like this one.
and also tell dad that am undecided |
As to which organization | will join
the L. V. u. or the g. A. II. or both
and / would like his advice, but |
guess / will wait until we get back to
the states, and maybe we can have a
little e.. A K. of Our own. Good-bye,