Milford chronicle., 1908-07-31
Snippings From a Delaware Blue
Jackets Letters Home.
Written on board the Battleship Idaho in Jul
Of 1905

~A-NN - ANNACAo MVlMCs
written on board the Battleship Idaho in Ju
Of l9Os)
The heat and these flies are abou
matched in the bothering business
We are going to clear ship for ac
ton, today Gust a drill you know
The Captain thinks it will take al
day to do it. 1t is hard work
everything movable has to b,
taken down and either stored be
low, or lashed to the deck in some
out of the way place. Look al
your picture Of the ship and imagine
everything gone from the decks
the stanchions and boats stored out
OF sight. In battle everything that
is wood, that will float, is thrown
overheard chests, benches and tab
les everything is taken off the bulk
heads and goes the same way,
there must be nothing that will
splinter from a chance shot that
may go through the ship. The
splinters flying, would do more
damage to the men than a dozen
shot would.
No fire is allowed about the decks
when cleared for action because
there will be more or less powder
around the decks, and we might
have an explosion.
It is a wonder I have not been
sick in some Of the countries I have
visited Diseases peculiar to the
situation are here referred to-. In
Brazil, for instance, where the mall
arial fever is as deadly as the bite
of a rattle snake. A railroad runs
from Rio de Janerio to Canton
The ground is along side of which !
is strewn with nameless graves. fl
they could give up their dead and |
have them speak, they could tell |
far better than l can, about the
strength of the fever of Brazil.
And on the west coast of Africa
the gold coast, they call it it has
gold Of course but those that hunt
it, seldom ever return to enjoy the
fruit of their labor. There are
many such places. In India the
black forest has never been explor-
ed by man they have tried but
never came back to tell the tale.
The Island Of Maritons was once
called the white man $ grave many
British soldiers were sent there
never to return. Jack served there
and can tell you more about it.
India has its share Of death dealing
diseases. The cholera is a most
deadly desease. One night in Um-
balla, within half a mile of our
own camp, the 18th Lancers were
stationed. They were a fine body
IF men. But one morning II told
he exact number of their troop
killed during the night, but from
whence, no one knows Those II
Lancers were as well as ever on re-
firing. The victim is generally be-
,ond all help in an hour after being !
aken. Here is an instance of two !
men who drank to much. They ,
we're coming back to barricks after
spree when but a short way {
rom home, one said he could go q
10 farther. so lodged in a ditch and /
vent to sleep; the other went on, {
he following morning hewas found
cad Just outside the gate, died from Y
holera, the doctor said. The
ther one still lives. Cholera gen :
rally moves through the air a sort
f white mist. Have 1 ever told 7
on how they are able to tell when :
be cholera is in the air ? 7
In Quota lin India) the camp 7
,as in the valley between Ca oul "
ass and the foot hills of the Him a
layas, the largest mountains in g
le world. On four sides of the a
amp, hills were selected for the /
sting of the purify Of the air. W
hey set flag staff in the ground :
ay and night an open lamp is kept T
1rning there. The wind cannot
low it out. But with the least =.
On Of the desease in the air, the L,
ght burns blue and goes out. In s,
antly there is gun fired by the
alive stationed there, and the
edical officers in camp have time &
protect their brood of soldier
hicks. "a a
Well there is no news to tell, of 6
" interest, always the same old yyee
ing. For dinner today Sunday 81 81
e had, mashed potatoes, gravy,