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Boys of the 71st: 1898

Circa 1898. "Boys of the 71st N.Y. at Montauk Point after returning from Cuba." Young veterans of the Spanish-American War. Next stop: The Klondike! 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Circa 1898. "Boys of the 71st N.Y. at Montauk Point after returning from Cuba." Young veterans of the Spanish-American War. Next stop: The Klondike! 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

 

On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5

Hard men

These are some hard looking troops. Some 1000-yard stares here. Reality of the combat they had faced.

Bad Conditions at Camp Wikoff

Quarantined for a reason.... http://www.spanamwar.com/campwikoff.html
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Major General Wheeler, Commander of Camp Wikoff, said: "In the space of less than three weeks, twenty thousand soldiers, fully half of whom were suffering from diseases contracted in Cuba, were landed upon the barren fields of Montauk Point." During its operation one hundred twenty-six men died at Camp Wikoff. Needless to say, the conditions at the camp and the resulting deaths caused a national scandal. Dr. Walker was at Camp Wikoff when he wrote a letter to the editor of the Schulenburg Sticker (September 8, 1898 edition) stating that: "This is a terrible place and time, it makes my heart bleed to see so many of my countrymen and comrades dying for wan't [sic] of proper medicine and treatment and the gross negligence and heartlessness of the medical staff. Right here in 100 miles of New York I cannot get medicines for typhoid fever, or chlorinated soda to wash out the bowels in typhoid fever and dysentery [cases], the two principal diseases killing our boys. . . . There is gross mismanagement somewhere and it is costing many lives. Too many politicians and rich men’s sons are appointed to office. It is 10 a.m. and some of the doctors have not yet visited their wards to prescribe for the sick. I was at work at 5:30 a.m. I can't tolerate this kind of work."

Re: zombies

I know Dave has already dealt with the commenter who objected to Mal Fuller calling these lads zombies, but it bears emphasizing the extent of the horror that these young men have just experienced. Considering all the killing and dying, they may be excused for their opaque or sleepless gazes, their hardened looks, their blank stares.

Why Me?

"OK, I know you guys wanna eat, but just because I have an axe doesn't mean I do all the work while you guys just sit and pose!"

Quarantine

This base, known as Camp Wicoff, was actually a quarantine station for soldiers returning from Cuba. At the time there was a common fear that tropical diseases were rampant in places like Cuba and could lead to epidemics if proper precautions weren't taken. Camp Wicoff's location was ideal for quarantining soldiers because the prevailing winds blew offshore.

Cargo shirts

from before when tablet sized pockets got moved down to our pants/shorts.

Newest fad

The fellow in back, third from the left, seems to be working on his newest invention, the Hula-Hoop, he's only half done though.

Pssst

your fly's open.

Big swing

Careful with that axe, Eugene!

Stupid comments

I do wish you would stick to posting serious comments so I don't have to weed through the STUPID ones like the zombie one you posted.......................

[When do you think we should start? - Dave]

Young Veterans?

I think maybe they're zombies.

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