, 1899-03-21
ave much sympathy for the black

have much sympathy for the black
devils.
One of boys of Company F from
Douglas gave me a fine sword blade the
other day, but l presume I will have to
wait till we get home to have 1t mount
! ed. 1t is a Spanish Toledo blade" and
l prize it quite highly.
The boys of Company F captured a
small cannon the other day. Colonel
Smith of California got hold of it, but
we intend to apply to General Otis for
it for our state and l think we will
come near getting it or know why.
Remember me to all Laramie people
and tell those parents who do not hear
from their boys that / have seen them
all today and they are all brave, noble
fellows, all well, and they will all write
as soon as it is possible for them to
do so. The boys from Douglas are just
the same, no difference, none in the
Wyoming battalion from commander
down.
You said some one spoke in praise of
me; truly in my heart l would rather
the boys got it, not the officers.
l was glad to hear our cadets did well
at Cheyenne. Please subscribe for the
university paper for me and forward
it here.
Cathedral San Juan del Monte, Feb.
~, Sunday.-'Tis a beautiful morning,
all quiet and calm after the battles.
Company F boys are in this church and
/ have just ridden over to see them all.
The church is a grand old torn down
wreck. Here and there are great holes
which our batteries made last Sunday.
What a change in so short a time.
Where shells screamed and dealt out
death and destruction, now you can
hear the gentle hum of some old ia
miliar song, the relaxation of pent up
strife. The church part proper, with
out the many annexes, consists of a
large room 100 feet long and 40 or so
high, grand in its limitations. The en-
tire floor is black and white marble.
The windows are stained glass, through
which various weird rays of light
penetrate and are so arranged as to
cause the desired effects on the various
images. The walls and ceiling are
painted to represent marble and it is
impossible for the eye TO discern the
difference at a short distance. The
walls of this church are adorned with
fourteen h~and-carved images OF the
crucifixion of Christ-quite marvellous
and besides these there are some
cheap paintings. In the rear Of the
church, facing the altar, is a high bal
cony for the choir. The enclosure
around the three affairs is raised some
two feet. The floor is of fine marble.
The bases Of the three fftars are COM
posed of white marble, v~ariously decor
ated. Rising from one of these to the
ceiling is the main altar, surrounded by
many candles. The great arch is sup
ported by many pillars, resembling
marble, but painted. In the center of
this is the crucifixion of Christ carved
out of wood, life size, painted a very
dark color, showing the wounds and
making a very imposing picture. In
the alcoves are many figures. In front
of this usually hangs a luxurious cur
tain. This one has been torn down.
The two smaller affairs on the right and
left resemble this very much. Through
ont tho church are VASES confession
chambers and various symbols of
priestcraft. In the rear of the church
is the cemetery. Many vaults have
been opened and there lie the remains
of men buried long. long ago, in a mod
crate state of preservation. While they
are by no means as great and grand
as the vaults in Egypt, yet they are a
partial reality of those great tombs.
How rapidly time changes the face of
all things! 1t has been so marvellous
here you cannot help but notice. This
has been a vast education to us all from
many sides of life.
While the boys are anxious for an
other conflict-more than eager-I
might say, yet hope for peace as every
engagement e. some good Ameri-
cans less. We have no sympathy for
the insurgents now They must bow
their heads and take off their hats to
us now and forever.
Our battalion is still Oh the line and
may remain so for many days.
rIknNr n C0DJvDN