Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-08
AT CAMP C0LU MBlA.
THE WONDERFUL CROP OF ROCKS
IN CUBA.
CUR SOLDIERS ARE BOYS AGAIN.
Throwing the baseball and Kick
ing the FOot-Ball-A Work of Art
The sick-PersonaI Items of In
terest.
G-orresnondence Of the DlsnatchN

Correspondence of the Dispatch)
CAMP COLUMBIA, HABANA, CUBA,
February 1.-The mere mention of Cuba
conveys to the mind a country rich in all
the products Of nature. a land which
would be flowing with milk and honey il
all the cows and bees were not starved
out It's wealth is revealed to the troops
at Camp Columbia, by the fact that
shes got the rocks" and the soil
about us seems 10 be as productive In
that line as in any other. Ever since we
have been in Cuba throwing and hauling
rocks has been the big job, and still they
are plentiful.
Backward roll backward; o, time, in
thy flight.
And make me a child again just for
night"
is no longer sung in camp, for all are boys
again, and boyhOOd sports have been re-
sumed. Men who have not thrown base
bail OF kicked a football for years are
now INDUCING in those sports with their
old-time ardor. but they do not seem 70
care much for the rock" battles, as these
SAVIOR too much of work.
The principal method Of punishment for
appearing AT reveilie with only one leggin
on, or for being tardy at assembly, Is the
sentencing of the offender 20 the rock
pile. and as a general thing the offence
is not repeated.
II is great pity that the Hobo cup
in Richmond can't have show at TINS
"cinch" of throwing rocks" II would
either be a paradise for them, or they
would have such loathng for the sight
OF a rock as would insure the safety OF
the windows on Third street for the re-
mander of the hobo reign In that Flcl-
nifty.
We have filed up the bitches around
camp. made a big pyramid IN when 10
stand our colors IN front Of the coloneIS
tent. and build walls, and still our camp
is full of "rocks." IL is related that one
Of the majors in the corps complained
that the men didn't seem 10 be uolhS
their duty in removing the rocks, anu
so watched the progress Of their WORK.
but wound up by ordering them 10 STOP
becausa he said instead Of abat'ng the
nuisance il was augmented, as FOR every
rock" moved three took its place
The men of the l6lst Indiana have lala
off their whole camp in rock ana coI"i,
besides making some beautiful designs
around their tents. Near Colonel bur
bins headquar ters they nave erecIeu
monument which will no doubt marx the
place of their encampment Tor ages 70
come. IL is in the shape of a smart ABOUT
So feet high. built of coral from the
reefs on the seacOast. The smart IesIs on
a base OF stone. on each corner OF "hlch
rests a pyramid Of cannon-baIs. Ol Tue
faces of the slabs are carved the huihpeI
and name of the regiment, with lne ud1e;
This work exhibits fire conception anu
attention to detail which would do credlt
to an artist Whlch WAS al "O"0 ~ ~
enlisted men. nj.
tirst North Carolina. was accidentally
shot and very seriously injured by stray
buuet from a Krag-Jorgensen. Ihree OF
the North Carolinians were engaged IN
~ brawI while under the influence of
Iouor and one of them picked up krag-
Toreensen rifle and fired it ar one OF the
other two The ball failed OF its marx
but passed through nineteen thicknesses
of tent canvas, severing guy-rope, ana
also cutting one of the rings on the guy
rome in two. after which il struck the
leg of Private Bliss, who was sitting IN
q tent l2j yards away. 1t passed through
his leg. leaving the jacket Of the ball.
The limb. which was badly shattered,
WAS operated upon last night. and the
surgeons think that they Will be able 10
save il. The three men engaged in the
row were placed under arrest and will be
summarily dealt with.
The health Of the corps remains in
fair condition. There are 23S cases Of
sickness in the Second Division Hospital,
most of these being malaria. OF these,
thirty are from the Fourth Virginia.
To-day the Fourth Virginia has been
enjoying its second payday in Cuba, and
the boys are racldng their brains specu-
lating as to how many more they will
spend here. From the manner in which
So and SlO-bills are passed around camp,
and the difficulty experienced in finding
small change. any one might take even
the high priyates" for bankers.
Private Walter CAN'T. OF Company T.
has been appointed regmental quarter
master, TO succeed Sergeant III. II. Henry,
who has been transferred 10 his COM
pany 90 by his own request.
Private w. J.. Smith has been appointed
cook of Company +, with the rank and
pay OF corporal.
First-Serseant II. II. Hinton and Ser
geant William Bum. OF Company X. who
have been under treatment AZ the division
hospital for the past week, are improving.
and they are expected 20 be ont In a few
days.
Privates w. A. Gibson and G. NJ Roach.
OF Company X, who are receiving atten-
ton at the division hospital for malaria.