1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
5o5 
The War. 
BRIEF NOTES FOR BUSY PEOPLE. 
DIARY OF THE WAR. 
Later reports of the battle of Santiago confirm 
the heavy Spanish loss. A large number of Span¬ 
ish wounded have been removed to the American 
ships. Santiago refuses to surrender, and will 
be bombarded after 24 hours’ notice. Report that 
Dewey will bombard Manila to-day, Monday, 
July 4. 
Bombardmentof Santiago postponed at request 
of foreign consuls, to permit the departure of 
large numbers of foreigners from the city. The 
city is in terrible condition, with little food or 
water. Further details of the great naval fight 
record our loss as one dead and two wounded. 
Extent of Spanish loss not known, but very heavy. 
Many Spanish wounded are being cared for on 
our ships. Cervera’s fleet is a total loss, the Cris¬ 
tobal Colon being sunk by the Spanish when cap¬ 
ture was inevitable. Reinforcements are being 
sent to Gen. Shafter. Commodore Watson is to 
follow and destroy Camara’s fleet, Tuesday, 
July 5. 
Santiago lias not yet been bombarded; Gen. 
Shafter is awaiting reinforcements. Camara’s 
fleet has passed through the Suez Canal; rumor 
that it has been recalled to Spain. President 
McKinley issued a proclamation to the people of 
the United States, recommending thanksgiving 
services for victory, and prayers for peace. Span¬ 
ish prisoners attempt to escape from the Har¬ 
vard, but are overpowered. Hawaiian resolution 
passes the Senate by a vote of 42 to 21. The St. 
Paul sailed from New York with the “ President’s 
Own ” regiment of over 1,300 Ohio troops, and an 
immense assorted cargo of clothing, implements 
and supplies, Wednesday, July 6. 
Hawaiian resolution signed by the President. 
A Spanish schooner with su pplies of various 
kinds for the Spanish in Cuba, was brought into 
Key West by the auxiliary gunboat Eagle. Major- 
General Miles, commanding the United States 
army, left Washington with the entire headquar¬ 
ters staff, for Charleston, where he will embark 
for Santiago. The auxiliary cruiser Osceola cap¬ 
tured a Spanish lighter loaded with provisions 
and valued at $50,000. Orders issued for the im¬ 
mediate departure for Tampa of four heavy bat¬ 
teries for transportation to Santiago. The War 
Department announces the charter of five vessels 
on the Pacific coast for the next Philippines ex¬ 
pedition. The Spanish vessel, Reina Mercedes, 
came out of Santiago Harbor, and was sunk by 
the Massachusetts and Texas. Lieut. Hobson 
and his men exchanged for Spanish prisoners. 
Reports that Admiral Camara has been ordered 
to return to Spain. His fleet rumored to be in a 
deplorable condition, some of the machinery 
having been ruined by the engineers. One hun¬ 
dred and two recruits from New Mexico for 
Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, arrived at Savannah. 
Wrecking tug started for Santiago to examine 
the Cristobal Colon with a view to saving her if 
feasible, Thursday, Julv 7. 
Santiago is ready to surrender, but official 
notice is not yet received. Report that Spain is 
makiug overtures for peace through the British 
ambassador at Madrid. Our losses at Santiago, 
according to latest list, are 1,252 wounded and 
355 killed. Thousands of refugees from Santiago 
are entering the American lines. Gen. Miles has 
sailed for Cuba, Friday, July 8. 
Army officers appear to be greatly dis¬ 
appointed at the work done by the Cuban 
insurgents. The Cubans make good 
scouts that are of little value, apparently, 
in regular fighting. They attack Uncle 
Sam’s rations, however, with full vigor. 
Statements are made, and denied, that 
the Cubans slaughter the Spanish prison¬ 
ers without mercy. 
Reports are made without denial that 
the Spanish sharpshooters made a prac¬ 
tice of firing upon our wounded, and 
upon the surgeons in charge. Such out¬ 
rageous work was not expected from the 
Spaniards. It merely shows how low 
they have sunk in the scale of civiliza¬ 
tion. Later reports give the names of 
two surgeons killed by these murderous 
villains, and say that a number of them 
have been captured. It is expected that 
they will be tried and executed. 
The Spanish naval prisoners have been 
sent to the North for safe keeping. They 
will, probably, be quartered at Ports¬ 
mouth, N. 11. The Government intends 
to parole all captured officers that are 
brought to this country. The captives 
will not be permitted to leave the United 
States without permission, but may travel 
within certain limits, and be obliged to 
report at stated times. It is stated that 
special favors will be shown Admiral 
Cervera, chiefly on account of his offer 
to exchange Ilobson and the crew of the 
Merrimac. 
It is asserted that, on the Pacific 
coast, shoddy army contractors supplied 
worthless uniforms to Kansas, Nebraska 
and Tennessee regiments ; the material 
of the shirts was so poor as to dissolve 
into mere rags after a single wetting. 
Consequently the troops were delayed 
until the garments were replaced. It 
was, also, asserted by men at Tampa, 
fhat cartridge belts were served out to 
them that were so rotten as to be torn 
apart readily with the fingers ! Think 
what that might cause in battle ! It re¬ 
minds one of Kipling's Private Mulvaney, 
remonstrating with the man who was 
about to stir the camp-fire with the point 
of a bayonet. The heat would destroy 
the temper of the steel, and some day, 
in mortal struggle, the snapping of the 
bayonet would cause death to the man 
who trusted in it. In dealing with army 
supplies, no punishment seems too severe 
for cheating contractors or inspectors. 
It is reported that, before the Spanish 
sailors left Santiago, liquor was served 
to them in unlimited quantities. After 
the Spanish boats were driven on the 
beach, the Americans went to their res¬ 
cue, and found many of the sailors so 
drunk that they had to be lowered in 
slings over the sides of the vessel. On the 
other hand, when liquors were captured 
by Shafter’s army, the men were ordered 
at once to pour them on the ground. Gen. 
Miles has issued definite orders against 
the use of intoxicating liquors by the 
army. He says that the history of other 
armies has demonstrated that, in a hot 
climate, abstinence from intoxicating 
drinks is essential to continued health 
and efficiency. 
Now that the battleships Iowa and 
Oregon are needed for rapid work, it is 
necessary that they should be dry-docked 
and cleaned before starting for Spain. 
Rut we have no dry dock that can accom¬ 
modate these vessels, and they must be 
cleaned by divers, which is a slow and 
costly operation. Before the war broke 
out, we had one of our big battleships 
dry-docked and cleaned at Halifax, where 
there is every facility for such work, but 
now that would be a breach of neutral¬ 
ity. All these vessels must be scraped 
at intervals, or the growth of barnacles 
materially lessens the speed. It seems 
a trifle short-sighted to build the ships 
without building the necessary dry docks. 
New York is growing used to the sight 
of soldiers; they march through our 
streets in companies, or wander along 
the pavements in twos and threes. They 
are all burnt to a deep uniform brown, 
and are muscular and healthy ; but the 
point that strikes most of us is the ex¬ 
treme youthfulness of their appearance. 
Perhaps this impression is heightened 
by their smoothly-shaven faces, but most 
of them suggest big, brown, serious boys. 
One day recently we saw one of these 
sunburnt, blue-coated boys walking down 
the busiest part of Broadway, hand-in- 
hand with a young girl, whose face was 
reddened and disfigured by much crying, 
and who was sobbing unrestrainedly. At 
any ordinary time, this spectacle would 
have collected a crowd, but during the 
past two months, New York has become 
accustomed to weeping women with de¬ 
parting soldiers, and no one gave this 
youthful pair a second look. 
The great sea fight off Santiago will 
rank as one of the greatest naval events 
in history. Cervera, the Spanish admiral, 
had been bottled for weeks in this nar¬ 
row bay. At last, he received orders 
from Havana to escape if possible. With 
seven vessels, he rushed out of the har¬ 
bor at an unexpected time on Sunday 
forenoon. He expected to find the Ameri¬ 
can fleet at church service, and unpre¬ 
pared to resist him. Turning rapidly to 
the west, the Spanish vessels put on full 
steam and darted away. The American 
ships were not taken by surprise. Hastily 
manning their guns, they attacked the 
Spaniards with such vigor that, in half 
an hour, all but one of the ships had 
been practically destroyed. The last 
ship was chased for miles along the 
coast, and finally that, too, was driven 
ashore. The Spaniards seemed utterly 
unable to hit anything. They fired 
wildly, and practically wasted their am¬ 
munition. The American loss was one 
killed and two wounded. The Spanish 
loss in killed and wounded was over (500, 
with nearly 1,800 prisoners. This battle 
shows the immense vigor of the Ameri¬ 
can seamen. Attacked at an unfavorable 
time, and when a fight was least expect¬ 
ed, they rallied at once, and gave the 
enemy the worst beating that ever was 
known in the history of naval warfare. 
LIFE IN THE ARMY. 
THE DAY’S ROUTINE. 
(concluded.) 
The time between the mess call and 
the stable and water call at 4:45 o’clock, 
is devoted by the boys to writing letters, 
washing clothes, and other personal re¬ 
quirements. There are no artillery 
horses in camp yet, however ; this time 
will be occupied with the care of horses 
as soon as they are forwarded. The im¬ 
pression that soldiering is an easy thing 
seems to have obtained a pretty wide 
circulation, but a visit to the artillery 
brigade at any time in the day, after its 
equipment is complete, will demonstrate 
to those who entertain that opinion that 
they are very much mistaken. 
The evening supper call is sounded at 
5:15, and the evening roll call at 6. The 
soldiers must “ fall in ” for evening roll 
call, with their blouses buttoned up and 
leggings on and laced properly. The or¬ 
ders about wearing uniforms have not 
been enforced in order to favor the 
northern troops who are not used to so 
warm a climate. At drill hours, the 
soldier may fall in for practice with his 
blue shirt on without his blouse, but in 
doing police duty, he may wear his white 
undershirt. Police duty is made up of 
hauling water, cleaning the company 
streets, carrying water and provisions, 
cleaning stables, etc. It is considered 
the most menial of any military duty, 
and is usually performed as a punishment 
by those soldiers who have failed to obey 
orders. For instance, if a soldier is not 
on a detail, and fails to answer retreat 
roll call, he will be assigned to police 
duty the next day. If he is guilty of any 
misdemeanor such as fighting or gam¬ 
bling, he may be sentenced to the guard 
house on bread and water and hard labor 
for 48 hours. There has been some gam¬ 
bling in camp, but a judicious applica¬ 
tion of military law seems to be doing 
away with it. Poker and other gambling 
games are not permitted in camp, but 
those who wish to indulge sneak off to 
the woods, and pursue the sport unmo¬ 
lested. 
I do not think many of the boys who 
had good training will get spoiled in the 
army. One of the evils which resulted 
from the Civil War was the large number 
of soldiers who contracted the habit of 
laziness in the army, and who were never 
worth anything after they left it; but 
the artillery department of the army, as 
it is now, is a capital place for a boy to 
cultivate thrift and energy. I know of 
two or three who did not amount to 
much at home, and others whose wealthy 
parents kept between them and work, 
who now take hold and do their share of 
the work without grumbling There is 
no doubt that a two or three-years’ course 
in the school of artillery discipline will 
make industrious, level-headed men of 
them. 
Immediately after the retreat roll call 
at six o’clock, comes the guard mount. 
The guard in the infantry is armed with 
a musket, in the cavalry with a carbine, 
and in the artillery with a saber or a 
dirk about 18 inches long, and a Colt re¬ 
volver. The guard mounting by the ar¬ 
tillery brigade is done by the batteries 
from each State represented guarding 
their own quarters. The two batteries 
from Indiana guard their own camp, 
those from Pennsylvania guard theirs, 
the four from Ohio guard theirs, etc. ; 
but the provost guard is separate and 
distinct from this. It is a picket line of 
infantrymen stationed about the entire 
camp. In an enemy’s country, there 
would be three lines of guards to pass 
before a visitor would be admitted to 
camp. But two lines are maintained 
here, the provost, and those detailed by 
each regiment to guard its own camp. 
The duties of a sentinel are to halt all 
suspicious persons, and to guard United 
States property in the vicinity of his 
post. The posts are numbered, and each 
sentinel walks his post two hours, when 
he is relieved by the second relief. The 
second relief is on two hours, and he in 
turn is relieved by the third relief ; the 
third is relieved at the end of two hours 
by the first. By this arrangement, each 
sentinel is on his post two hours, and 
has four hours’ rest in every six. He 
may not leave the guard house, except 
to go to his post, in 24 hours, without 
permission from the officer of the guard. 
The guard house is simply a tent to 
shelter prisoners. It contains nothing 
but straw for prisoners to lie on, and is 
not even ditched to prevent water from 
running through it in a rainstorm. The 
guardhouse of our battalion is located in 
about the most dismal place imaginable ; 
a picket rope to which are tied about 20 
mules runs directly in front of it. Sen¬ 
tinel No. 1 is stationed here ; his busi¬ 
ness is to keep order among the mules 
and prisoners. Just adjacent, on the 
right, is an immense manure pile that 
has been burning, or smoking rather, 
ever since we have been here. The 
sickening odor of this smoke is in the 
nostrils of both guard and prisoners all 
night and day. It is a wonder that the 
hospital authorities do not order it ex¬ 
tinguished. 
The tattoo is sounded at 9 o’clock ; it 
is the warning to prepare for bed. Six 
soldiers occupy one tent, and sleep on 
two ticks filled with coarse wheat straw ; 
it is not the most luxurious bedding ma¬ 
terial a soldier could be provided with, 
still we manage to worry along with it. 
The taps are sounded at 9:15, and all 
lights must be out when the last note of 
the bugle ceases. It is a very pretty 
piece of music, but it is rendered horri¬ 
ble by all the bugles in camp starting in 
at about the same time, and no bugler 
paying the slightest attention to any 
other bugler. It is enough to give a 
musician the toothache to hear it. Silence 
deep and unbroken follows the unearthly 
din until the first call for reveille the 
next morning. j. h. d. 
Chickamauga National Park. 
It is a painful 
sight to see an 
otherwise robust 
man limping 
along on a crutch 
or cane, a sufferer 
from rheumatism. 
Rheumatism is a 
disease that will 
never attack a 
man who keeps 
his blood pure 
and rich. There 
is just one way to 
do this. That is, 
to keep the diges¬ 
tion and assimila¬ 
tion perfect and 
the liver and 
bowels active. 
All cases of 
rheumatism are 
promptly cured 
by Dr. Pierce’s 
Golden Medical 
Discovery. It 
creates a keen, 
hearty appetite, 
corrects all dis- 
orders of the digestion, and all weakness 
of the stomach. It makes the assimilation 
perfect, the liver active, the blood pure and 
rich with the life-giving elements of the 
food, the nerves strong and steady, and it 
drives all impurities and abnormal acids 
from the blood. It allays inflammation and 
dispels pain. It is the great blood-maker 
and flesh-builder. It does not make cor¬ 
pulent people more corpulent. Unlike cod 
liver oil, it does not build flabby flesh, but 
tears down the unhealthy, half-dead tis¬ 
sues that constitute corpulency, carries 
them away and excretes them, replacing 
them with the firm tissues of health. 
Thousands have testified to its merits. 
Sold at all medicine stores. 
“X have been afflicted with rheumatism and 
kidney trouble,’’ writes Mr. C. B. White, of 
Grove, Geauga Co., Ohio. “X suffered untold 
pain. I was afraid I would lose my mind. At 
times was almost entirely helpless. There had 
not been a night for three years that I could rest 
in any position. I tried Dr. Pierce’s Golden 
Medical Discovery. I used three bottles of It 
and am well of both diseases.” 
Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Pellet3 cure con¬ 
stipation. Constipation is the cause of 
many diseases. Cure the cause and you 
cure the disease. One “Pellet” is a 
gentle laxative, and two a mild cathar¬ 
tic. Druggists sell them and there’s 
nothing else “just as good.” 
TOHTXY HAY FEVE^ 
CURED. Dr. HAYES, Buffalo, !».Y. 
Plant Breeding. 
By L. H. Bailey. (Cross-breeding and Hybrid¬ 
izing, revised and enlarged.) Contains the 
Facts and Philosophy of Variation; the 
Philosophy of Crossing Plants; Specific 
Means by which Garden Varieties Originate; 
Detailed Directions for Crossing Plants. 
Cloth.. 
The Rural New-Yorker, New York- 
Permanently cured by ukiuk DR. W111TEH ALL’S RHEUMATIC CURE. The enrest and the best. Sample 
sent free on mention of this publication. THE DR. WHITE JJ,ALL MKGIilMINK CO., South Bend Indiana. 
