The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-05-13
On A q. s. Transport.


We extract the following from letter
received by @. 81. Carhart from his
brother, Ned, who is with Company Z
3rd q. s. Infantry in the Philippines.
Since the letter was written the 3rd has
seen plenty of fighting:
~. 8. TRANSPORT SHERMAN.-At Sea,
March 9Th, 1899.
I did not get chance to write from
Port Said SO will get ready for the
next port.
We reached Gibraltar in the morning
of the 4th and stayed there nearly two
days. A few men were allowed to go
ashore and I was one OF the lucky ones.
I am especially glad I got off there, rs it
is likely, to be the last time any shore
leave is granted. 7 had about eight
hours, which was longer than any except
my party were allowed. We visited
some of thu Notifications, the barracks
and the "frontier barriers" as we'll as the
town proper. The British soldiers were
very cordial and took us around the
rock to different points of interest. We
did not have time to go up to the gal
leries in the rock as We would liked to
have done. The picture of the rock used
by the Prudential Insurance Go. in it's
advertising is good one, of Meditter-
anean side, but the town and harbor are
on the other side. We went through
the town first, it is built in Old-world
style, with narrow streets and in some
places there are no sidewalks. It is the
cleanest town I have ever seen, which
accounts in part for the exceptional
health Of the people. Great Britain has
about 1900 soldiers here, all crack troops.
There are people of all nat1onalities, aud q
great many Spaniards. The streets
were very interesting to us, with the
Red Goats, Meoors, Spaniards and others
with their national dress. We visited
the British outpost guarding the Spa
ish Frontier. This outpost consisted of
about 300 men, ard is stationed just
inside the line of sentries, which extends
clear across the isthmus, connecting
the rock with the main land which be-
longs to Spain. There is a space of
about 100 yards which is neutral ground
| and on the other side is the line of Span
ish sentr1es. We were not allowed to
CROSS the British line, as it was not con-
sidered safe for, us, and have no doubt
it was very wise precaution. In case
Of an attack in force from this side this
outpost would be withdrawn and as soon
az they had retired past what are called
the Bay-side Barriers the iron gates
would be closed, then there comes an.
other line Of barriers, and then comes
a space, of about $50 yards which is
covered by two artificial ponds, one on
each side of the narrow road. This road
is mined and can be blown up, and the
| water in the ponds lowered II feet, az
one pond runs to the foot Of the perpen.
dicular rock. and the other to the sea
SO it is pretty effectually defended on
- -
this side even it this was all, but til ere
are four other lines OF acknowledgements OF
one kind and another, and at the last
one has to pass through tunnel in the
solid rock, ateach end Of which is door
about foot thick and could not be bat
tered down except by artillery.
Before returning to the ship We had
| supper at q restaurant and I can assure
you that the beefsteak and pork -chors
which we made away with il large guam
Titles, was BY no means the least enjoy
able part Of our trip. But all good
things has an ending, and We went a
sboardat 10 o'clock that plight.
The next day We passed the island of
Malta, and an Italian penal island. The