The North Platte Semi Weekly Tribune

A Letter from Lieut. Grau.

Camp Alvin Saunders, May 7th.

EDITOR TRIBUNE: We are better fixed to-day than we were at last writing. The weather has changed for the better; we have had two days of sunshine and the boys are in better spirits.

We had company examination to-day and had fourteen men thrown out on account of physical disqualification, short weight, poor eye sight and other ailments. Those disqualified were Will Finney, J. E. Canright, David Scott, Ray Douglas, L. B. Tarkington, of our old company, and Burgess, Johnson, King, A. L. and E. Brooks, Harding, Miller, Greenwood and Kennedy, new recruits, all out of a total of seventy-five men, which we think is doing well, as some of the companies lost as high as forty per cent of their men.

This has been a gala day in camp.
Several excursions were run into camp, and several thousand people were here to see us at dress parade this evening. Among those who visited our company were Mr. and Miss Grau, Mr. and Miss Zeller, Mrs. Ferris, Miss Alexander, Mr. Cook, Mr. Dorham, Mrs. Ross, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. McGee, all of Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. Keith and Miss Buckworth, of Lincoln. Most of them brought good things for the boys. We are indebted to our friends Mr. and Mrs. John Weisman for a case of fresh eggs sent the boys for Sunday breakfast.

We are drilling hard and fast, and also learning fast. It is understood to-night that Fred Brooks, Ed Barraclough and Robert Weeks were going home and would not volunteer. They may change their mind before morning. The weather last week was a regular heart breaker for the boys. We had but little sickness among our boys and everybody but DeMott is satisfied.

He says he does not like the idea of going without his regular ration of pie; he's a great boy for pie.

The boys who passed the examination are in high glee. The officers were examined Friday afternoon at the Lindell Hotel, and have not heard their fate as yet, but I understand there were only two who failed to pass; but don't know who they are, as the surgeons have not given in their verdict yet.

The boys unite with me in sending their regards to the people of North Platte.

Yours truly,
Fred J. Grau,
2d Lieut. Co. E. 2d Regt.