Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-15
SOLDIERS HAUDSHIPS.
NARROWING STORY OF JOHN BATES
WHO FOUGHT IN CUBA.

John J. Bates, late OF the Hospital
Corps. United States Army, arrived IN
this city yesterday morning from New
York. having sailed from Pinar Del Rio,
Cuba. last Saturday at o'clock, the
journey from Cuba lasting five days.
The government OF this country has
given a number Of poor excuses for the
IN treatment OF their soldiers in the
field but the account of the dastardly
treatment OF these men at this late date
surpasses even the former CHASTITY
events OF the trips from that trouble
some island in the West Indies.
Mr.. Bates tells the following story;
I'm the city Of Havana 5000 brave
American soldiers, who sacrificed all the
comforts of their homes to Uphold the
nag and honor Of their country, waited
for days and nights in this city for trans
portation, some begging for rations on
The streets each day, hunger staring
them in the face. At last becoming dis
couraged with this state Of affairs, and
after receiving no satisfaction from the
officers-in charge, a collection was taxi
en- M to defray the expenses OF a tele-
gram to President Mckinley, an answer
to which was looked FOR each succeeding
day. but in vain. At last they realized
their case was hopeless; that they were
mere men, and no attention would be
PAID from such a source as this"
Mr. Bates description Of their treat
ment while waiting "for shipment" as
ne termed it, can never be appreciated
by the people OF this country unless
they hear from these men themselves
what they We're compelled to endure in
that city.
For nearly two months Mr.. Bates lay
In the hospital at Pinar Del Rio, suffer-
ing from typhoid fever and after par
tlal recovery, was anxious to return to
his native state.
After long period OF waiting he f.
naily succeeded In securing transporta-
ton on the steamship HAVANA, which
left that city last Saturday. In speaking
OF the passage to New York, Mr.. Bates
tells Of a few Incidents on board the ship:
There were Just hfty-eight American
soldiers on board, nearly all OF whom
had lately been discharged from the diff
ferent hospitals throughout the island,
and who were under the command OF
Captain Taylor. Second Artillery, u. s.
A. The rations supplied for the ffty-
eight men consisted Of one box OF rot
ten canned beef and one box OF hard
tack. Although we were all sickly "A
scene occurred which was really laugh
able to us ALL The first day out the box
Of beef was opened and odkawd kwfldko
Of beef was opened and the soldiers filed
up to receive their share Of food. In
stead Of marching in the regular custom
to receive their rations they proceeded
along the deck with hats Off, keeping in
step with a funeral march, accompan-
led by the taps OF the drummer. Upon
arriving at the open box each man held
his nose, took a can from the box, put
, II on the side Of the vessel, and then
pushed It overheard. aftenward placing
the American flag on The empty box. Fol
the rest OF the voyage they were com.
PEELED TO eat hard tack"
l Yes, 1 will say compelled, says Mr.
Bates, because not one American sol
der was allowed to eat in the cabin Of
that ship offered fair sum Of
Z was refused me.
"rhe captains horse was a noble
Z beast" remarked Mr.. Bates, Eyes. IA
Z deed noble far more so than the captain
: himself. This animal was given fin
B bed Of straw, and he was well fed. too
I and often during those five days out W
= envied that animal, and would have beef
6 glad to share part Of mis- bed at an.
price. The men on board most all hal
a certain amount Of money with them
and would have gladly given a few dol
lars for a meal or two, but it was posi-
lively refused them ON every occasion
An ordinary dog would have Jared ia
better than we did, who placed our live
in continuous danger for countr,
which In late years had failed to appre
"a ciate their worth. What excuse can tn
N United States Government give at tn
present day for such treatment? Month
ago they might have been overlooke,
10 but not now"
Mr.. Bates Is a true and brave soldie
h. who would tomorrow, II the occasion d,
!. manded IT, fight for his country. il
u returned to his native soil a wreck phi,
. sically, but a noble character to all q
millions Of citizens. He could tell NOR
A which would be interesting matter 4,
" the whitewashed investigating commi
he tee, who have just completed their fl
NJ vestigation.
d, Mr.. Bates brings with him numerol
articles Of interest. among them a vel
intelligent poll-parrot, which can swe.
huently, both In Spanish and Englls
He has also number Of Spanish sworl
a and other interesting relics. most an a
a. cient and antique in design. Mr.. Bat
RI formerly lived in this city, but was boz
ds in Philadelphia about thirty years ag
l's Among a number Who were listening
as his story was a prominent Grand Arm
as Of the Republic man in this city. who d
le. clared that during all his four years a
tive service during the War Of the r
IS bellion. ne never experienced such roui
nd treatment, and he had his share of
too. He denounced the United Stat
en- Government and officials al Washin
m ton, in the most uncomrlimentary tern