Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-04-14
is falling. The track Is protected with
sandbags, and precautions are being
taken to prevent washing out, as far as
possible.
ONE DAY AT MANILA.
A Member Of the First North Dakota
Tells Of the Routine Of Life in
Camp.

III. Chamberlain, a member of Com
pany H, gives in a recent letter the
daily routine Of camp life as follows:
In the wee s1ma' hours Of the morn
ing as I lie on my bunk listening to
the soft swish swash of the waves as
they break on the beach, thinking Of
where I am and of the circumstances
which brought me here, also thinking
how I would like to be back. my dreams
are rudely broken in upon by the notes
of a bugle ringing out upon the silent
air. Everyone knows its first call,
5:35, and not much of a stir is made to
get up. The buglers are about the
only ones that get up for that call and
they assemble at their usual place in
front of the quarters. After ten
minutes reveille is sounded. This is
the signal for everyone to get up, and
five minutes later-5:50eassembly
blows and every is supposed to be
in the ranks. The roll is then called
after which ome s%ettling-up exer-
cises. These last for about five min
utes and then we are dismissed. Soap
n water and towels are then brought
into use and when mess is sounded.
nearly all the boys are ready for
breakfast.
This consists of oatmeal, which is
sometimes cooked and sometimes not.
bread, coffee and-if the cook gets IN
early enough-perhaps we have pota-
toes. Sometimes we buy milk from
the natives for our coffee. 1t doesn't
taste so very bad but it looks like blue
water.
Twenty minutes after mess m
the sick call. The top sergeant comes
through the quarters and spells some
thing like this: "Come on all We sick.
lame, lazy, debilitated fakirs. one-eyed.
petrified and otherwise" There are
generally a few sick, but no fakirs. of
course.
Drill call is sounded at Z o'clock,
and all the companies go out to drill.
At 1870 fatigue is blown, and a squad
is detailed from each company to 10
lice the camp. 1t is cleaned this way
every morning. which adds greatly to
the health Of the camp. Recall from
drill is at 7:45. but the companies are
all through drilling before that. The
guard buglers blow guard mount at s
and all the buglers assemble at the
guard house. Five minutes later as
sembly for the guard details off the
dlfferent companies sounds. At S:15
is the adjutant's call and then the
guard is inspected. It generally takes
from 20 minutes to half an hour for
inspection and to march the guard to
Its post during which the bugle corps
plays most of the time.
From 8 O'clock until 9:3O is drill time
for the rockies" or new recruits. We
old vets. "a joke on the old vets of '63)
stay in the quarters and take it easy
while the "rookies" sweat and toll be
meath the hot tropical sun. From this
time until IL O'clock every one takes it
easy except the guards who walk their
beat in rain or sun.
Recall from fatigue sounds at IL,
and first sergeants at 11:OO and mess
again at u. For mess we have beef
steak, potatoes, bread and tea, ONE
times we have prunes and cabbage.
These rations, with some radishes.
and perhaps a pie. all of
which we buy. make a pretty fair din
ner.
At l o'clock fatigue sounds again
and the prisoners are put to work.
From 3 to $3.50 is drill, but if the streets
are muddy or the day too warm. we
are excused. In the meanwhile, if we
have nothing else to do, we lie on our
bunks and read and take u s'siesta.'
Recall from fatigue goes at 5 O'clock
and 30 minutes later first call for re-
treat sounds. After an interval of
ten minutes assembly sounds and the
70. is called while the companies are
at parade rest" after which the corps
sounds retreat. Five minutes after
retreat is mess. We always have
supper before retreat, SO we take a
stroll down the Luneta and listen to
the band. Supper consists of about
the same materials as dinner, with
perhaps a few beans or rice for a
change.
A band plays at the Luneta every
evening, and that is the only place Of
amusement there is, so we make our
selves easy in the cane chairs, which
the natives rent for "doce centimos,"
one cent American money, until we
hear tattoo sounded by the different
regimental buglers. Then we start
for the quarters and arrive there in
time to hear .tto quarters' which
sounds fifteen minutes after tattoo"
At 9 o'clock taps is sounded and lights
are put out.
1870 .sEE asatSa E-.e-l