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Wednesday, September 28th, 1898

this is a beautifull Mornig after having a good Rain during the Night it hardly ever rains much during the day we had setting up a Exercice in the Morning and 3 drills this day the Captain and other Officer of our Regt credid us with being a well drilled Co and equal to the Regulars and move when ever ther is any fighting to do we are Known by all troops here as the fighting 10th or S.o.B. Lt Colonel Barnet arived in the Morning on the Arizona and gave us the first News about our Recruit wich had being “Side tracked” at Honululu and also told us that the Arizona had 30 tons of Mail on for our Soldier all Boys cherred up now for indeed many of us felt rather down hearted of late but he said he believed the Recruits would come yet the Mail didnt reach our Quarters until 7 pm I recieved 6 Letters and some Pittsburgh indeed ones more all of us feel Happy every one seems to have good News and the papers alltough 4 to 6 Weeks old where very interesting late in the Evening we recieved Word that Mascot No 2 “Searchlight” had died at the Regt Hospital of Malaria fever this Boy was picked up in “Frisco” by Co D. his home is in Oregon and his Vater & Mother are both said to be death a Sister in Frisco survive his death Christopher Baird Jas Hanan Kennedy Miller Twist and Daugherty are on the sick List

This is a beautiful morning. After having a good rain during the night (it hardly ever rains much during the day) we had a setting up exercise in the morning and three drills. Today the Captain [Daniel Bierer] and the other officers of our regiment credited us with being a well drilled company and equal to the regulars and move whenever there is any fighting. We are known by all the troops here as the Fighting Tenth or S.o.B.(?) Lieutenant Colonel [James] Barnett arrived in the morning on the Arizona and gave us the first news about our recruits who had been sidetracked at Honolulu and also told us that the Arizona had 30 tons of mail onboard for our soldiers. All boys cheered up now for indeed many of us felt rather downhearted of late but he said he believed the recruits would come yet. The mail didn’t reach our quarters until 7:00 p.m. I received six letters and some Pittsburgh. Indeed once more all of us feel happy. Everyone seems to have good news and the papers, although four to six weeks old, were very interesting. Late in the evening we received word that Mascot Number Two, “Searchlight,” had died at the Regimental Hospital of malarial fever. This boy was picked up in “frisco” (San Francisco) by Company D. His home is in Oregon and his Father and Mother are both said to be dead. A sister in Frisco survives him. [Frank] Christopher, [James] Baird, [Max] Hannan, [William] Kennedy, [George W.] Miller, [David] Twist and [Homer] Daugherty are on the sick list.