Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-14
SOLDIERS RETURN.
Two Augusta Boys Back from
the Philippine Islands.
Joseph FerIaad and Edward Chadbourn
Had Two Years Of Soldier Life.
Met Sharkey on the Train and Had Interesting
Conversation.

-
bourn returned from the Philippines
on yesterday mornings Pullman a.
was announced in Mondays Journal
"A large number of friends were O,
hand ut the depot to greet them Il.
they stepped of the train after q two
years absence in the tropics with
Howe's band of the seth Voluntee,
regiment They are glad to again be
! at home and are thoroughly tired OF
! army life. MIR. Fcrland was well for
the greater part of the time although
he suffered slight attacks of malaria
now and then. but Mr.. Chadbourn had
a long and severe illness with typhoid
lever and other troubles that EearI.
| resulted in his death.
They are tired of the Philippines.
It's no place for n white man to live. =
they say. OF the regiment that went
with them two years ago but half re-
turned on the transport Lcwton The
remainder had been discharged or sent
home on account of illness or wounds
and others had been killed.
The regiment was stationed for the
most part in southern Luzon and saw
some fighting. The band men are not
/
battle but the Augusta boys obtained
permission and went on several excur-
sions against the enemy with the regi-
ment. The Eiiipinos are no fighters :"
said Mr. Ferland to journal man.
They will fire two or three shots and
then run. They like best TO fight from
behind trees or in trenches. In an open
hight they are nothing at all
When the regiment reached San
Francisco the first place the soldier
boys made for was first class restau-
rant where they ate things they had
not even seen for many n day. How
often l have thought l would like to
sit down TO good square meal" said
Mr.. Ferland. Day after day the same
old bacon and hard bread and some
times not enough of that. | tell you it
gets tiresome. That was the first
things | did: get something to cat"
The regiment was in San Francisco.
two weeks. before being mustered out
and there was not much work for the
men so they simply enjoyed them
selves. took in the sights etc.
While the train that was bearing
them home was east of Detroit an
athletic looking man entered the car
and seated himself besides Mr.. Fer
land and began asking him questions
about the Philippines. An interesting
conversation lasting about two hours
followed. Mr.. Ferland noticed that the
man had a bad looking cheek: it look
ed as though il had been struck
hard blow. but he did not imagine with
whom he was talking until the stran-
ger pulled out a card case and handed
him card. He read Tom Sharkey"
and knew he had been talking with the
sailor fighter" who was returning
from a victory at Detroit. He received
a cordial invitation to visit Sharkey at
his New York saloon any time he hap
pened to be in the city. He treated
the fighter to some Filipino cigars and
cigarettes and they seemed to please
the recipient very much. Sharlley told
some interesting incidents connected
with his eight years experience at sea
and said it was his intention to retire
from the ring.
The boys had intended to stop off
and visit the Pan-American EXPOSE
ton at Buffalo but Sharkey told them
and they heard from other sources,
that men in army uniforms would be
the object of numberless thugs and
pickpockets and as they had some
money they came right through and
! may visit the Exposition later.
For the present they are satisfied to
remain az home and the souvenirs
from the Philippines are of great In
terest to their friends. Mr.. Ferland
has a Filipino violin and they have
pieces of money. cigars and cigarettes
and other things of interest.