The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-14

The following letter has been re-
ceived by Attorney r. J. Bourke from
Frank V. Trumbower. of West Scran-
ton. formerly of the Thirteenth regi-
ment. but now with the Third regiment
of United states Engineers stationed
at Matanzas. Cuba:
Matanzas, cuba, April T.
Friend Richard; As | promised to
write to YOU from cuba on leaving
Camp Mackenzie, l take great pleas
ure in now writing these lines to YOU,
and will try and make them interest
ing reading for my old friend and COM
rade in arms.
The home papers have just reached
me giving splendid accounts of the
grand reception that was given to the
gallant old Thirteenth, and as it is
characteristic of Scranton's loyal cit-
2ens never to do anything by halves
in any undertaking, ! know that the
boys feel amply repaid for the sacri-
fees they made in the ten long months
of camp life. and | also know that
they We're deserving and justly entitled
to Just such an ovation as the good
people of Scranton accorded them.
How / would liked to have been with
the boys at that time. and | know that
the wish | have just expressed was
the wish of each and every one of the
score that transferred from the regi-
mcnt into the Third Engineers.
Our life since coming here has been
an active one. more especially those of
us that are in the Third battalion, of
which | am a member along with Ter
ry, Riley. DuEgan. Jones, Williams,
Franey. Gairnes, Hamilton, Corwin
and Biddleman who just reached here
few days ago, as they We're untor-
tunate enough to get left at Charles
ton, S. c., where they had to stay for
three weeks waiting for transporta-
1iOT We all gave them "A rousinr
welcome when they finally did reach
here. OF the boys who went to the
First battalion are Sparks. Ball. Lent,
Finn, Bailey. Seelig. Potter, Keller
man and Winnie. They parted with
us at Havana and are now stationed
at Pinar del Rio. and / have not seen
any of them since.
ALL IN GOOD HEALTH.
OF the boys that came here to Ma
tan2as with the Third battalion we
have all had splendid health since COM
ing here, and We have Il very nice camp
situated on q high bluff overlooking
Matanzas Bay and about $50 yards east
of Fort San Sav RENO, a very sub
stantial looking fort and over which
now proudly floats the stars and
stripes. having been raised there 10y
this battalion of engineers on January
lst.
The Twelfth New York. which had
been assigned that duty. did not ar
rive until , o'clock y. ~, just three
hours too late. Gen. Sanger was also
on the delayed boat, and it is said that
he offered the transports crew cool
$1,000 80 get the boat here on time.
But it was of no use; the flag was
there to greet him when he arrived.
our boys naturally feel proud that
they We're able to place the flag, for at
that time there was upwards of $4,000
Spanish soldiers at the fort and bar
racks hcreabout waiting for transports
to convey them back to Spain against
one battalion of engineers.
They could easily have annihilated
the Americans had they been so dis
posed. but in justice to the SDaniards
our boys We're used very nice by them
and they seemed really glad when it
was all over with, and all our bows
had TO do was to ask them for any
thing they owned and it was cheer
fully given. In that way we received
some very nice relics, and our one
trouble today is how we will be aGle
to get them all back TO the states
when our turn comes To leave here on
have. | will tell you how the boys in
this battalion are distributed in com
panies in case you or any OF theii
friends should care to write To them
Hamilton. Kellerman, Corwn and Bid
dleman are in | company; GairenS in
NJ company; Jones. DugEan, Franey
Williams and Riley are in ID company,
while Terry and the writer are in l.
company.
JADWIN IN COMMAND.
The company of which | am MEM
her is recruited from along the Mis-
sissippi river towns from st. Louis tC
New orleans. and is commanded by
Captain Sturtevant, who had charge of
the government dredge fleet on tn,
river. Most of the boys are former
employees. and he has the respect of
them all. just like Company G of the
Thirteenth with their beloved captain
Our battalion commander is Lieu
tenant Colonel Jadwin. "A former Penn
sylvania, and it is needless to say that
he has the respect of all the men in his
command.
The first work that was done by the
| engineers on arriving here was tc
build a dock into deep water so that
| everything would be i'm readiness fol
the Incoming troops that Were as
signed to this province. The work was
commenced on December 23rd and al
day Christmas the boys worked like
| beavers and II was finished in ten days:
| quite an undertaking with the tools al
| hand. Every pile was driven by hand
and the dock completed by the time
| the regiments reached here with the
| exception of the Twelfth New York
| Since that time we have all been busy
| on different details, making maps OF
| the city and harbor Of Matanzas fol-
nsa of the WIZ denArtment. while nthaI