The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-08-05
For the CECIL WING.

T was late on the morning OF the 2ith
when | was permitted to make my
way to the transport, satisfied that
all my duties were performed, and
obligations filled. The pier was crowded,
soldiers with their blanket rolls and rifles,
with campaign hats pulled down over their
eyes, and clothes neatly adjusted, made
by no means silent advertisement OF the
business then in progress. Whistles were
blowing, horses backing and prancing,
drivers and stevedores yelling, newsboys
calling the latest news and the endless
stream Vi street cars that passed the pier
made music on dilapidated gongs-every-
thing was hustle and animation-but there
were many quiet groups where some soldier
boy was saying goodbye to his best girl,
hoping she would get safely away before
his next one rounded him up.
After seeing about my luggage went on
deck to meet my future fellow travellers,
and see my quarters.
I made many acquaintance, most OF
whom promised to be pleasant ones. Just
astern of us, anchored in midstream,
lay the Philadelphia, white as sea gull; to
the east was Oakland, connected with the
city by an occasional ferryboat, tug, or
some jaunty yacht.
Behind all rose the gray and brown hills
almost devoid of vegetation, but clear and
picturesque.
The band from the Preside came down
to bid us farewell, chaperoned by Gen.
Shafter. We listened to good many old
familiar tunes-''Star Spangled Banner"
whereat we all went daft; "A Life on the
Ocean Wave" whereat we became contem-
plative; "Auld Lang Syne," whereat we
became meditative, and 1.-The Girl | Left
Behind Me-" whereat some made dive
for their staterooms, and others wished
they could do the same.
At last we were off-past the Iowa, where
the jackies manned the yards and gave us
three rousing cheers-past Fort Mason,
Alcatraz and the Preside, where the flags
dip graceful farewell-past the headlands
of the straits, and the brown seal rocks
The Golden Gate has closed behind us, the
hills that line the shore are draped in
mist, before us the sun dips low in the
placid ocean, and paves way, all emerald
and pearl, for our good staunch ship to
follow, and follow it we will for 1000
miles, to far away Manila and its duties.
The officers quarters are spacious, and
conveniently placed amidships. Those of
the men are aft and forward, on three decks
beneath the upper deck. There are long
lines of hunks running parallel to the
length Of the ship, each line having about
twelve hunks placed end to end, and are
three Deep placed one above the other on
each berth deck. All are merely strip OF
canvass secured to an iron frame, simple,
substantial, yet comfortable.
1t is interesting to watch the men and
note how they look forward to the voyage.
We see many types, and am reminded of
Lowell's words that "Wheresoever ten men
are .athered will find mankind in little as
the stars glide up, etc.
Here is some mother-boy to whom the
privations and separations of a soldiers
life are new and distressing. | think none
the less of him for his timidity, his most
palpable homesickness and his self
ton. Here is another an antipode OF the
former, with sullen, revolving face and
slouching frame, Others are contemplative,
but cheerful, while on the whole one may
say they are lot of happy go-lucky set of
youngsters only too anxious to get into
fight But the army of today is not what
it was year ago. Ninety per cent. of the
men are utterly green and unused to dis
cipline and military methods, know moth
ing of rifle efficiency; in fact, are mass of
raw recruits. They have not the influence
of the old non-commissoned officers eX-
erted over them as in the former army, and
its want is manifest Also promotion has
been so rapid that many commissioned Off
GERS are filling positions to which they are
new, and which they cannot fill yet as
efficiently as could their predecessors Of
longer experience. However, fine army
is in process of formation. Men cannot be
drilled and perfected in soldering in day.
But six months from now we will have an
army of veterans well seasoned, to act as
basis perhaps for a larger organization. 1t
is very lazy life am living now. | have
covered most Of my Spanish grammar and
it is we'll learned, the days are quiet no
one has much to do, skies are overcast,
weather cool.
We iourneyed 1000 miles without pass
ing "a sail and had nothing to relieve the
monotony but occasional schools Of flying