Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-08
time to break him of his bad habits after

time to break him of his bad habits after
joining his company. The old system
should be revived on larger scale.
Thirty-fve recruits Joined my company
from this camp at Preside. without a
| change of Undertaking, and they have not
mad chance to get any to date. One OF
these men was discovered to be covered
| With Vermin when he had to remove his
| clothes for a bath and fumigation
| There is such a demand for recruits
| these days that the recruiting officers do
| not appear to be very particular. Out of
| 800 soldiers on this boat there are over a
| hundred eighteen years of age or less. and
| fully 200 of them are totally worthless as
| soldiers for several years to come. The
majority OF them are farmer boys from
| Kansas, Missouri and Indian territory
COaling Under Difficulties.
The crew has been coaling the ship, as
| the board Of health with not allow the reg
ular coalers to board a pest ship They
bring out huge barges, full of coal, which
they leave alongside, and then return to
| the city. The men are having excellent
pastime diving from these barges They
do not swim far on account of sharks
which are quite plentiful in this harbor A
few days ago one Of the men Owed and
when he arose out of the water a huge
shark made for him. but the yels of the
onlookers frightened him away.
The men are compelled to battle daily
generally without soap, as the salt water
III anu IL given odt SO SfaF1nSly that the
men spirit 1t away within d short time
after it is placed on the stands
Stealing is being done board by the
wholesale, and the men are guarding
their small possessions continually The
recruits are mainly to blame for this, as
l have invariably found old soldiers hon
est. Before the late war a soldier could
leave anything of value around the bar
racks without fear of theft.
Some recruits unfortunately get bad adj
vice at the outset / was a witness to q
discussion the other day between a recruit
and his first sergeant, which officer is as
father to the men.
The recruit, with a number of others
had never been issued mess kit, and he
had been compelled to borrow for ten
days. and he rightly thought that he had
very respectful manner, but the first
sergeant was in a bad humor and an
swered the poor recruit in language not
choice.
Queer Advice.
How in h can I give you any dishes?'
he replied. Il haven't got any and don't
know where 1 can get any. There are
plenty Of dishes laying around here; why
don't you steal yourself a set If you in |
tend to stay in the army you've got to |
learn to steal. Why, 1 never turn around
but what I steal something. When l !
first Joined the army" he continued. ..the
government never issued me any rations |
Once In ten days they would give me |
small bag of salt, and l was compelled to
rustic for my food" |
II didn't come in to be made a fool !
off, answered the crestfallen recruit as he /
backed out the door.
The sergeant did not mean all he said, |
although he Is said to be sharper His
advice to the recruit will not produce any /
good results. This sergeant has several |
men of his company who are working in
the different pantries on the boat They
keep him well supplied with delicacies. in
consideration Of his excusing them from
company duties.
There are a half-dozen negro Porto Ri
cans, servants OF the officers, on board |
and they are having a hard time of it.
They are not allowed on the cabin deck,
and the men will not allow them to mingle
in their midst. The officers compel them
to sleep with the men. which causes some
hard feeling. The officers will no doubt
turn them adrift in Manila, as they will
find that F'ilipinos are far superior as SER
wants, and cheaper.
There is among the crew q handsome
sailor boy, about fourteen years of age |
He always dresses neat and looks like a
character out Of a fairy book. There is a |
young girl passenger about his age, who is |
apparently badly smitten with the youth, |
as she is at his side at every opportunity.
The ladies all have smile for him.
The men are now thoroughly diseusted |
and they sit around in a listless manner.
Reading matter is scarce. as the maya
zines, ETC., were thrown overheard during
the fumigating process.
The latest report is that unless a new
case Of smallpox breaks out we will leave
for Manila on the 22d. II there is new
case we will return to San Francisco. and
If such comes to pass the 18th Infantry
boys would not mind still further move
to their old quarters at Washington bar
racks.