The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-03

Special Correspondence to The Tribune.
Charleston, S. c.. Feb. 2S.--A half
dozen of boys from Scranton, belong
ing to the Thirteenth Pennsylvania
Volunteer infantry, who were to be
transferred from that regiment to the
ranks of the Third United States Vol
unteer Engineers, got left" in Charles
ton, that is. the government TRANSPORT
steamed away from port without us.
Here was fine fix we were placed in
and we thought there was nothing to
do but to lie down on the dock and
wait for the boat to return from Cuba.
We could not go back into the ranks
of the Thirteenth at camp Mackenzie,
Ga, as we had left our comrades in
order to see military service in Cuba.
Gathering enough courage we in
quired Of two street Arabs the 1irec-
ton to take to bring us to some mil
itary officer in order to report for Cr-
ders, as we were beginning to get
pretty hungry.
why don't you guys goes up and
port to Fad'er Wood? He am de
sojers' priest" was the reply.
FOUND FATHER WOOD.
With this information in hand, which
meant a great deal to us. we got Up
and took the direction indicated to us
and we didn't have any trouble TO find
"Fad'er Wood" for every pickapinny
on the street knew him, so we re-
ported to him, and were all looking
wise and expecting the articles uf wGr
to be read to US. Here 1t was we were
agreeably surprised. We were ushered
into the presence of a young man about
thirty years Of age who was robed in
the usual house garment of a Roman
Catholic priest, and although five of
our party were nom Catholics, never
theless the Kindness and hospitality
shown to us completely won our hearts
and we remembered the trite saying
Of an Indiana soldier who had passed
through Charleston previous to us:
AN when yous guys meets dat man
its right dere where yous ill begin
to like de town." and such was the
case.
We were treated to fruit and given a
square meal, and finally when we we're
feeling in good spirits Father Wood
wrote a note and sent us to report TO
Major Willis, the army quartermaster
of Charleston.
WE'LL TREATED.
Arriving at his office we received the
same hospitable treatment. Major
Willis said: II can't send you men
to the hospital as you are not sick"
and II cant send you to Jail as you
haven't done anything wrong" SO II
guess / will put you under care of
Father Wood" so here we have been
for the last ten days, comfortably
housed in quarters given us at st.
Francis infirmary, which is under the
direction Of the Sisters of Mercy. Hos
pitality is not the right word to ex-
plain the kindness we have received
at the hands of this soldier priest.
There are some eighteen other SOL
diers here, and we have formed our
selves into temporary battalion
Father Woods battalion" We will
leave this place next Tuesday to en-
bark for Cuba, but if we live a hun
dred years We will never forget the
true fatherly care we received during
our forced sojourn in Charleston.
There are only a few Catholics in
the crowd, but that has not influenc ID
Father Wood in the least. He has
been father to us all and nothing
can be said to fully express our feel
ing toward him. Some of us boys new
er knew the real meaning of the word
Father until we Scranton boys
bumped against Father Wood, of
Charleston, S. c.
Sergeant Archer r. Corwin,
Third L. s. Volunteer Engineers. SIS
Wyoming avenue, Scranton, Pa.