The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-09-16
FORCED TO BAY0NET
A "SP|KE."
MARK PECK WRITES MOTHER
INTERESTING LETTER FROM
PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI,
WHERE HE is ONE OF THE Pa
trolls,

Mark Peck, whose mother resides in
this city and whose brother, Willard
Peck, is secretary to the Great North
ern superintendent at this point
writes an interesting letter from
Haiti, where he is seeing service with
the marines. He is petty officer and
as such has been assisting in patroling
the streets of Port au Prince, where
considerable fighting ensued before
the rebels were conquered. Since
writing the letter to his mother, it has
been learned that he was compelled
to kill one of the "Spicks" he tells
about, by use of the bayonet. The
young man, dressed in sailors uni
form, visited in this city last summer,
many of our citizens remembering
injecting him. The letter follows
U. S. S. CASTINE,
Port au Prince, Haiti,
| August IS, 1915.
Dear Mother:
Am very tired tonight, but will
write few lines, as the mail will
leave tomorrow. Excuse all mistakes
as my fingers feel like Jumps of wood.
l wanted you to know that I am all
card telling about us landing and that
I was detailed to take charge of one
patrol. Every petty officer on the ship
was given a patrol to be in charge of,
that is, all petty officers that could be-
spared, of course I was spared. Not
that didn't want to go, but 7 knew
you always worried about me. I al
ways wanted to see some actual ser
vice.
Wednesday morning at 1870 ION the
11th) we got under way for here. as
they need our help very much The
Washington had sent all their crew,
the Connecticut had landed the five
hundred marines and sailed away the
Eagle (gunboat) had their crew shore,
but still that wasn't enough, so they
asked for the Castine. We arrived at
HOO a. m. lit is only rs miles from
here to St. Mark, no more than drop
ped the hook and the CAPTAIN left the
ship for talk with the Rear Admiral
on the Washington. When he return
ed we got under way and went right
alongside the dock, every one was
ready to land, heavy marching order.
We put the 3-inch field piece over the
side and on the dock and marched
straight for the headquarters of the
forces ashore. We were then given a
certain section of the city to patrol.
Just remember that Port au Prince is
100000 population and covers quite an
area. In order to patrol the city and
patrol it right they gave two blocks to
every eight men and as I had charge
of eight I men got two blocks. Never
had so much property under my
charge before. Hall We started four
hours on and eight hours off and have
continued night and day ever since, no
hopes of knocking off until that 900
marines on the Tennessee arrive. My,
these night watches are awful-to be
broken out of a sound sleep, get out
of my hammock and walk for four
hours. 1 do more walking than my
patrol for I have to keep going from
one half of the patrol to the other
half. No less than four men can walk
on the street at once because of the
snipers, which they have to keep an
Eagles eye out for. The snipers are
not as bad now as they were for most
of the civilians have been disarmed.
So don't worry about Peck getting
sniped for he don't give them chance.
Rules that we follow for patroling:
During the day no more than five per-
sons can be on a corner of block or
elsewhere, at once. This is to keep
(Spicks) from discussing politics and
getting into quarrels, also to keep
mobs from gathering. To enforce this
the men use the bayonets and use.
them freely. The marines have killed
27 already with the bayonets, this
number also includes injured, should
say. Men on patrol have the right to
enter houses where there is thought
to be firearms and get same. After
sun down no one is to be on the streets
unless he has pass from the COM
mander, forces ashore, then all that
is necessary is to keep them off.
The first day the Washington took
the railroad station and hospital -
converted them into barracks which
they live in. When the marines came
off the Connecticut they made camp
at the city plaza. The Castine's crew
live aboard the ship, as it is handy.
Since the start we have taken the
two forts which are at the outskirts
of town, one gave up without any
trouble, the other they had little
skirmish over. All that remains to be
taken is the main fort and cathedral
which is occupied by the rebels.
Everything that is of any impor-
lance has guard over it. The softest
Job for a stH petty officer (the job ]
would like to have) is in charge Of
the trains. Every train in the city
has a petty officer who is in direct
charge of it until it leaves the city
limits. The railroad is of the narrow
guage type but does big business
between here and the smaller towns
around. The man in charge rides
around in the cab or any place where
he can observe everything that is 60
ing on. It looks funny to see sailor
riding around and overlooking things
on the train-with a pair Of leggins
on and Colts on his hip.
Yesterday they had an election. You
IL. law, ~ +L;c 1ond aro. 0h0u1d