West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-04-03
PRESTON COUNTY SOLDIER ROY
Writes from Porto Rico-NiIl soon
be Back 10 God'S Country.

Special correspondent, OF the Argus
PoNcE. poETo RICO,
March rs, 1909
EDroR or The ARCUs;
Iwlil pen you few lines from this
country as /, will be the last time you will
hear from me while on this island, as the
four companies Of the nth L. $ Infantry
Stationed now iu Ponce and Maysgucz have
been ordered TO the Philippine Island. We
will sail from Mayaguez on the third day of
April to Fort Monroe. Va. and will 20 bv
rail TO For Preside, Cal and stay there iin
the companies are fully recruited aud then
sail for the Philippine Islands An a., en-
listed except few non commissioned
officers will be discharged here 10 the con
venience of the Government. The reason
for this is tha, the time of about 60 men cont,
of each company expires in April, aud 81,
would be very inconvenient TO discharge so
many men on the way. will be discharged
on the goth Of March This will let me 5ui
Of the army nearly month earlier than my
time Of enlistment. Men who declare their
intention TO re enlist will be taken through
to California.
We Just finished up target practice with
good record for the two companies at this
post Il takes nearly month for one COM
pany to complete It's target practice Men
shoot from two hundred yards back TO six
hundred yards at four different ranges
between these Two points and cll men with
an average OF % points at each range go
back to 500 yards and if they make ,heir OK
points he is marksman, which entities him
to marksman pm and if he has an average
of u points al all these ranges he goes back
to 1000 yards and If he still makes "a
points he makes a sharp shooter. These
men get an additional badge and are used
as scouts in time of war Company "H''
has about IS marksmen and about II men
that wen; back TO a thousand yards, but none
made sharpshooiers. a man has TO shots
to shoot for and 20 for record a man
can make in one shot AT ,, Z. 3, or is
liable TO miss The bes, shooting is done
at 500 and 600 yards range and his shooting
is al three figures the size Of a man, stand.
ing, knecling and lying down.
Well, cannot see that Porto Rico Is in
any better condition than il was when first
came 70 the Island. The people do not
seem 10 be in any better condition. There
is just as many beggars as ever Seven ship
loads 700 or 500 each load) have emigrated
to the Hawaiian Islands, but they cannot DE
missed. To give you an example Of what
Porto Rican labor is worth, the street rail
way that was commenced here about a year
ago, did not even get their track started. \
new company took hold Of 10 about two
months ago and have the work almost com
pleted. They pay Americans and number
of Italians that they brought over from the
Staies,sI.5o per day,while they pay the Porto
Ricans so cents and do not want them at
that price. Several discharged soldiers are
working for the company.
There is good crop of cane aud tobacco
AM fair crop of coffee This is all the
news that can 6nd to write for your paper.
wish to inform you that viii not be in
Porto Rico TO receive THE ARGUS after the
first Of April VIII be in Preston county
soon after arriving back in God's country
and will come to Kingwood to see yoI.
THANKING you for THE ARGUS while
in Porto Rico, and wishing Oh, editor lnd
his many readers success, ! remain
Very respectfully,
HUGH WArsON.
Co II. nth Infty.