Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-17
GLAD TO GET HOME
Members Of 4th Immunes Talk of
Their Army Experiences.
GOOD FOOD ON TRIP FROM CUBA
One of the, Soldier Boys Dies on
the Transport.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, May 49, 1899.
government transport. with 1874 men
aboard, exclusive of ships officers and
crew, Is not a dream of luxury under the
most favorable conditions. Today was
showery in spots. The upper bay was a
big fog bank, and the 4th Immune Regt-
ment aboard the Dixie had anything but a
pleasant anchorage off Liberty Island. The
desire to land coupled with the depressing
weather. had an effect upon the spirits of
the boys. Leaving quarantine after their
clearance by Health officer Doty. and dur
ing their passage up the bay to the Liberty
Island anchorage, the immunes lined the
sides Of the transport and exchanged greet
tngs and boyish remarks with everything
and everybody they passed. AT the anchor
age the vessel was somewhat out Of the
track of the passing river fleet. and it was
a dreary wait indeed lodging raindrops
and admiring the gigantic but symmetrical
proportions Of Bartholdis famous statue.
Formerly the Ell Rio.
The Dixie was formerly the Ell Rio one
of the steamers pressed into the transport
service, and is probably one of the hes. of
this class of vessels afloat. She is COM
manded by Capt Gum. 1t was the origi-
nal intention to dock the Dixie at the foot
of Pacific street, In Brooklyn, but the
transports Buford and Fitzpatrick occupied
all the space at the United States quarter
masters pier, SO Capt. Gum received
ders from the quartermasters department
while at quarantine to take his vessel up to
the Liberty Island anchorage and await
orders.
The orders came late this afternoon The
captain was instructed to dock at the Conn
mun.paW slip Of the Central railroad of
New Jersey, where the correspondent of
The Evening Star boarded her this even
tng. IN every part of the transport there
was hustle and preparation. While the
men VIII remain aboard all night and
take the train for Camp Meade about
I o'clock in the morning, there was big
hustle to get the belongings of the men
out of the vessel and on to the freight train
In waiting, and which left for the camp
descriptions were being rapidly slowed in
the cars, excepting such few personal eff
tects as were necessary for the comfort of
the men during their last nights sojourn
on the Dixie. Some of the troops lay about
the upper decks, wrapped in blankets; but
the majority slept below, where the air was
milder.
Four Companies Recruited Here.
In the regiment aboard the Dixie are four
companies recruited IN the District of Co.
lumbta, and to these men your correspond
emit paid especial attention. The companies
are A, c. = and F.
The Dixie left Manzanillo Cuba, on May
II and came into this port just a few hours
inside the five days sanitary limit 1t was
swift run, and with the exception of one
day, tne weather attended the trip. When
off Cape Hatteras on Sunday last a some
what heavy storm struck the ship and the
men all received a pretty severe shaking
up. A number of them were made sick
but this passed off in a short time and the
remainder of the trip was pleasant for nu-
he an had ala
months Of service, and the return home
was a happy run for most of them. There
was comparatively little sickness during the
homeWard-bound run, and the sick bay had
but few patients. One Of the men of Com
pany G died on Sunday last of internal
troubles after an operation. He was Cor
poral David Z. Hammond of Wheeling. w.
Va, and was not We'll when he took ship
al Manzanillo. Corporal Hammond was
buried at sea on the day of his death with
the usual military honors, the regiment be
Ing drawn up on deck, where divine services
were read.
like Enthusiastic College Boys.
The men tonight were more like lot of
college students the eve of some ath-
letic struggle than a lot of service-worn
soldiers. The prospect of getting ashore so
buoyed their spirits that they rushed their
baggage about in a manner that would
have done credit to professional baggage
pushers. All were so busy that 1t was hal
to corral one Of them long enough to get
an extended talk but the prvates general
ly expressed themselves as particularly
pleased with the treatment they had re-
cetyed on the homeward trip, They all said
the food was the best they have had since
they went into the service. In the morning
they were breakfasted on coffee, rice bacon
and beans. No bareback was served on the
way home; bread cooked on the ship was
the proper thing. For dinner they were fed
on beefsteak, with bread and coffee and
several vegetables. For supper It was
much the same as the breakfast.
First Lieutenant Anthony Holmead Of
Company f, who resides in WASHINGTON
when he is at home, confirmed the state
ments Of the men and praised the treat
merit the regiment had received on their
way UP from Cuba.
''The food was fine" he said. I'VE had
the best meals on the return on the Dixie
OF al that we have eaten since we left for
Florida, eleven months ago. We had good
bread all the way up and but little hard.
tack since we struck ManZanillo. The food
was well prepared and all that any man in
the service could wish for We have ali
eleven months we have been in the service,
and as soon as l can am going to get to
Washington, w. i VII be a great treat for
me to see washington again. and I know
ali the other boys feel the same way.
While in the service the regiment lost only
ten rnen-aL by sickness Corporal Ham
flond Of Company 9, who was buried at
The burial occurred while the Ship Was
about four hundred miles off the coast of
Florida.
Expect to Get Home Soon.
1T Is, of course. impossible to say just
when We Will be mustered out, but as the
government Is expected to push the matter
as fast as consistent with regdmental rou-
tine, it should not be more than ten DAYS or
two weeks before We are homeward bound.
The boys have not generally discussed
plans for the future when they put aside
their uniforms for citizens clothes Their
one idea is home and the future-well, that
win take care Of itself Some Of them left
government employ to take service in the
war, and some left their employers in COM
mercial life after years of service 1t is
safe to say that this class viii be taken
care of when they return, with nearly a
years honorable army service to their
credit. 30
Il suppose the District of Columbia will
be as glad to see US as We will be to see the
District. The people of the capital city are