Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-02

Capt. A. A. Franzheim, of company G,
Fourth United States volunteer i'm
munes, has written very interesting
letter to a friend in this city, in which
he says, among other things:
Ever since we have been here have
been quite busy, and | have written to
no one at home but my own family.
Yes, l have been trying, to the best of
my ability, to hold down the soup
house business, and if no complaints
from headquarters may be regarded as
an indication, have been successful in
this line of duty. Ny duties in that
line have ceased, however, and have
been assigned as Provost Marshal and
Captain of the Port.
I'm the former, am having my hands
full Just received message that
there is gang of bandits, ten in num-
Der, short distance from here. l
have ordered the Rural Guard (Cubans)
to be ready in an hour to accompany
me after them Will leave this letter
open until my return to give you the
result. 1t cannot go until Thursday
anyhow.
II have no fault to find with the ser
vice, and if | could have my family
with me, would be perfectly contented.
l infer from the Army Bill that all the
volunteers will be mustered out. The
boys, Of course, are all anxious to get
home. My company certainly has been
fortunate in every respect. We have
not had very serious case of sickness
in the company, less men in the guard
house, and less fines than any other
company in the regiment AS for drill
and other duties, appearance, etc, they
cannot be excelled by any company IN
the volunteer service. In fact, both the
West Virginia company, and coA paAs
NJ, Capt Hugh PresLon's, mostly West
Virginians, but credited to Virginia,
are considered the cream OF the Fourth
United States volunteer infantry, SO
you see the Little Mountain State IS
holding her own"
Under date OF March 23d, three days
later. Capt Franzheim adds:
After a ride OF about 10 miles, ar
rived back safely and very tired, last
night. We were unsuccessful in eaten
ing the crowd we went after. We were
only five or six hours behind them.
They were but five in number, and des-
nerate characters. / found their object
was to capture a rich Cuban, take MIN
to the mountains and hold him Tor ran
som. While we were unsuccessful IN
capturing them, we were successful IN
blocking their game. | was compelled
to get back here, or would have gone On.
| sent a portion of the Rural Guard,
however, who may run them down yet.
This Guard is composed of some OF
the best Cuban soldiers, and was estab-
lished by us. So far as Cubals go, they
make a rather good police force. They
are about fifty in number, and are in my
charge.
Much might be written about these
people and their utter unfitness to gov
ern themselves, at least for several gen
erations, and then only if the school
system is kept up that has been started
fere We compel all youngsters to go
to school, | took a census OF this town,
and enclose you copy.
Capt. Franzheim's census af Manzan-
lilo, Cuba, is published in Spanish. 1t
shows a total population of 14,144, of
which number 9,676 are whites, and
4,468 colored. Cubans number 1928,
Spaniards 1853, and other nationalities
81 Only CLIO can read and write.
There are 1000 more females than
males.