Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1911 — JOE HORDEMAN ALSO ON MEXICAN BORDER. [ARTICLE]

JOE HORDEMAN ALSO ON MEXICAN BORDER.

Soldier for Many Years Writes Good Letter That Will Be Read With Pleasure In His Old Home. Shelby Grant is in receipt of the following letter from Joe Hordeman, son of Peter Hordeman, Sr., who has been in the United States army for ,a number of years. Joe is now at Fort Bayard, N. Mex., he having been hustled to the Mexican border along with other U. S. troops when the government decided to mobolize its troops there. The letter reads: “I just received a letter from Frank Hemphill, who said you wanted more news. It is a great pleasure for me to write to old friends who show the slightest indication that they care to hear from me. I arrived in San Francisco on the U. S. A. Transport Sheridan from Manila, Philippine Islands on Jan. 14, 1911. You see the army, has seven transports or troopships on the Pacific side running monthly between San Francisco and Manila, leaving Frisco on the sth of every month and arriving in Manila on the 2nd of the next month, taking twentyeight days for the trip across the Pacific; if the weather is bad it takes longer. I have made three trips to Manila. I got seasick on my first two trips, but don’t get sick any more, so am quite an old sea dog now. In Bailing from Frisco to Manila we go In a southwesterly direction. In three hours we are out of sight qt land and don’t see any more for seven days, when we come in sight of the beautiful Hawaii Islands, of which Honolulu the capital. We stop there one day and go ashore. Then we go to sea again and don’t see land for sixteen days, arriving at Gaum, the capital of Ladrone Island. Here we only stop long enough to unload provisions for two companies of marines who are stationed there, then we preceeded to Manila, where we arrive in five days. The men pass the 'time in different ways; some walk up and down the deck, some read, some gamble and Some tell lies. There is an ice plant on the ship; a bakery, laundry, electric light plant, kitchen, dining room, parlor and piano—simply a floating hotel, that’s all, but you; can’t imagine how glad one is to get on land again. “Altogether I’ve been in the Philippines eight years and a half. Have about eight years more to serve in the army to retire, and if my health will permit I will finish it, but I would nqt advise a young man to enter the army. At present I am in the U. 8. A. Hospital Corps, or in other words, an army nurse. The army has women nurses also. They do the hospital work, while the men do the field work. This place here is a hospital for consumptive soldiers. There are 200 sick soldiers here; 125 men nurses and 25 women. Consumptives live to an old age here, but could live but a short time away from this climate. It is surely the right place for that disease. On the way here on the train I had the honor to meet and shake hands with Buffalo Bill. I and three other soldiers were stttiift in the observation car while passing through Yuma, when I spied Buffalo Bill. I was the only one that knew him, as I had seen him before. I spoke to him and he at once got up and gave me his hand and said that he was always glad to meet the soldiers, as he used to be an Indian scout himself. We had quite a talk between Yuma and Deming, N. Mex. Next time I will give you my opinion of our 'Little. Brown Brothers.’ Give my regards to all. Yours, Joseph F. Hordeman, Fort Bayard, N. Mex.”