Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-11-18
SOLDIER p
WRITES A LETTER

" tNttNho
was uneventful save the Inconvenience
consequent upon the movement OF such q
body Of men. The regiment was moved
In three sections In tourists sleepers,
each section comprising fourteen cars.
The trip enroute was not heralded with
that enthusiasm we had read 30 much
about rs regards other similar organizs-
tions. owing 10 the fact that we had been
preceded BY q regiment, which, by their
acts Of vandalism, had impressed upon
the minds Of the people that the volun.
teer army was u lot Of Bowery toughs.
Upon our arrival at Presidio we went
into camp and prepared to settle down
for q few months stay as Was the general
impression. In this, however, we were
disappointed, for on the 9Th OF septem.
Der We got orders 10 be ready to embark
for Manila on the sth. There was a
hustle and Jostle that kept q fellow
guessing where he was at. Every on 9
was eager for the move and entered into
the preparations with Q vim born OF old
campaigners.
CLOTHING.
BY this time we were literally loaded
down with clothes, and heavy marching
order meant q pretty good load. In I'D
dition 10 mess Kit, h~ayersack, knapsack
belt, bayonet and gun, our wardrobe
itemized n follows; BLANKET, poncho,
calf skin and tan shoes, two flannel
top shirts, two WOODEN u~ndershirts, one
pair blue pants, one blouse. m fatigue
cap campaign hat, one karkha suit. two
white summer shirts, two shsnibre
shirts, two nsnkeen undershirts, two
suits cotton underwear. six pair Of hose,
two abdominal supporters and shoe pol
ish. To those Of rs who had never had
rs many changes before IL wa q puzzle
what 10 do with 30 much paraphernalia
10 suddenly acquired. We managed after
several attempts 10 get all In u KNAPP.
sack and ready for the trip.
THE START.
We boarded tile transport Columbia al
4:3o .. III. on Friday the sth and by 5:3C
were afioat upon the broad Pacific with
companies X, n. g, II. q portion OF l.,
the band hospital corps and seventeen
line officers, making In all about 6oC
men. The ship seamen we're all China
men, but officers and mates are Of differ
emit nationalitles, mostly English. The
transport Is owned by the Northern Pa.
cifc steamship company. She Is steel
lined. about 300 feet long, single screw
and will make about IL knots an hour,
The holds aft, center and forward are
arranged In four rows of hunks, three
tiers high, for the accommodation Of the
men. Ii has been newly lifted up, con.
seQuently clean n her 1rst trip as a
transport. Besides her cargo Of men
and rstions for thirty days, she carries
six months ratiOns for the regiment,
which will be delivered at Manila. Thus
We began u journey. Our nrst night
at SEQ was enjoyed greatly, for to tn,
major portion Of those aboard, II was
new experience and all were laughing
and chatting merrily and drinking In tn
delightful sea air. BY Saturday oven
ing, however. there was q transforms
ton scene In which all Of US were actors
That happy contented look was replaced
by q Of agony and pain. Sea sickness,
had set In and there was no time fol
joshing. 1t required no provocation u
get q scrap" In an instant provided yoI
were not too busy looking after your owl
interests. The mess call had q kind o
hollow. graveyard sound, and 1t wen
entirely neglected. The brushes" to tn,
side rail were fast and furious and re.
sllted In q dietary for the fishes. In thi,
regard the "private" was not alone
The man Of the straps" had troubles O
the same nature, and the saloon decl
had the appearance Of q party doing al
old time Virginia reel, 30 constant wa
the movement. To the enlisted mar
this scene was something Of q revengefu
consolation that was balm for the tiret
being. BY Tuesday the spell had wor,
of and'the mess call va once more {
welcome sound. Barring this interrup
ton the voyage TO Honolulu was
pleasant one. Our duties aboard shiI
have not materially changed. We heaI
the same bugle calls ut the same hours
Drill and inspection twice q day. Non
commissioned officers school, theI
school for priyates. Then our guns or,
TO be looked after and numerous otheI
duties that keep US we'll employed. Tn,
officers seem 10 take great interest In tn,
preparation Of our toilet. either from
source Of amusement or from a desire I,
make OF us lightning change artists, 10
it's a different garb we have to don q
every drill or inspection. Seemingly no
satisfied with seeing Is primped up a 1
for parade drill, VI are ordered TO lin,
up In barefoot. shirt sleeves and bare
headed. Every evening the bant
mounts the hurricane deck and render,
q few selections and 10 the music Of th,
''5tar Spangled Banner" old Glory would
be lowered, when we repair to the holt
or remain on deck to smuse our
selves In the best pos
sible, such ss card playing, singing
wrestling. boxing and conversation
There Is considerable talent aboard tina
affords much amusement.
We sighted the Hawaiian island at s a
IN, on the morning Of the 10th. and a
4:30 dropped anchor in the bay about one
fourth OF a mile from the dock. TO avail
the coming OF the tide. On drst going II
II appeared that our arrival was 10 be Oh
Enthusiastically welcomed. for the docks
boat house. and all the vessels anchore,
there, Of which there was q goodly mum
Der, were gaily decorated with buntin,
and banners, and crowds OF peopl
thronged the wharyes. A band at tn
boat house ut our left turned loose OF
"There'n BE u Hot Time etc, and the yel