The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-05
TO GLORY ON THE BUMPERS.
Across tho Continent on Trucks and Across
tho Sen to Manila to Enlist.

tho Sea to Manila to Enlist.
When the troops were hurryinR to Santiago
two boys came to New York and tried to en-
list. They were runaways from homo In a
Western city. They reached here after q
series OF experiences on the bumpers and In
freight cars. They were on the way two
weeks. When they landed they we're I'M
washed and unkempt and hungry. But they
were spelling to fight. They were II and 10
years old respectively. The uncle OF one had
been In the navy In the civil war. and from him
the nephew had heard enough to turn him in
that direction for enlistment. The boys first
night in New York was passed In City Hall
Park. The next day they went to tho navy
yard. but met with no announcement. In
fact. they we're told to leave and not como back.
They tried to stow ava on a transport and
were put of. They went to Camp Black. but
could not run the guard" to get In. They
camped out around the edges of the place, lv-
ing on what soldiers would throw to them now
and then. until the soldiers went away. The
two boys followed the last companies that
sailed TO the ship and there they halted, be-
cause they could not do otherwise.
They returned TO the city and took up their
quarters in CITY Hall Park. One night they
fn q I in their 9"srar asked @aR his S adyic en and h arl
ranged for a loan, They were still enthusiast
tic. but had reached III. conclusion that the
Still unwashed,. still unkempt. still hungry.
they turned their steps In the direction ofthe
freight house and loitered there until they se-
cured hunks on the bumpers and started on
their return home.
The pewspaper man who, made the boys a
small advance was reminded of the Incident a
few days ago by the receipt OF o letter from
Manila. j. was from one of the hoys OF this
story. and Enclosed was q United States lime.
AT. extract from this boys letter follows:
We wts put of between New York and Buff
an Italian organ grinder for 40 cents, and
bought some newspapers which and my
partner sold and didn't get stuck on a singie
copy; One day i watched a woman's baby In
the depot while she went uptown and she gave
me a quarter, There was a bottle of milk in
came hack y was CRYING for milk. We stayed
in Buffalo two weeks and walked TO Niagara
Fails, and stayed there "a week. Then we
started for Detroit on the bumpers and was
put on several times. And we Nas q week on
the way. " hen We got to Detroit We went Eo
see Coy. PiaEree and told him how we had
wouldn't have IL. He gave us some soup
tickets and a quarter a piece and told us TO inv
Tor more burners and get out Of town. I'VE
was TWO weeks on the way from Detroit TO
Chicago. stayed in Chicago a week and
on AZ Denver bout the time the soldiers were
one day when | was nut OF. 1 left Frisccnn IN
a TRANSPORT, j was hid away by two Nebraska
soldleIs' when we got to Honolulu my part |
neI got on, and | reckon he's there yet. Butt
on. and when ] got here / was sick and
they put me n,the hospital. But I've got here
YOU. Here's my half. JimiI send his II 9 ha
gets a Job in Honolulu. When an Hmericnnn
boy starts out TO tight and die for Ills en,intpu
you cant beat him. THAT'S what"