The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-07-19 00:00:00

A WET DAY, AND A STORM, AT THE
WIMBLEDON CAMP.

The special correspondent of the Daily News, writing from
the Camp on Sunday evening, gives the following sketch of
a wet day in the Camp

A wet Sunday in Camp dimielled, once for all, sny
amticipai ions of agree dide vieits from friend. in town,
and of pleasant raruhles through the Camp tud the
adjment fields and glerm. Mid Sunday, as it is milled,
tort rot, r been the one period for relstives and friends
of Volunteers to pay them a visit in their canvas
houses on the common; and there can he no doubt
that to-day, but for the rein, would hare been
one of the most sociable days of the meet-
ing. Lowering clouds and sombre sky, bow,

ever, effectually put an end to hopes of
this kind. From half-past ten when the rain
began, the downpour became gradually faster and
heavier, untillbe whole ground was thorolghly soaked
and all the hollows flooded. The woods of Coombe,
which form the dark boundary of the landscape on the
right, were bathed in the thick mist of the falling rain ;
the smaller Glen Albyn looked more verdant
than ever under the grateful it fluences of refreshil g
showers ; hut over the whole wide run of the bleak
open otinnion the scene was one of desertion and deso-
lation. The few vivitors who had arrived toil, refuge
under the verandahs of the refreshment hall, within the
open doorways of other wooden buildings, or sought
whatever of ehelter was to be obtelued at church
in the wide Umbrella Tent. Here the various corps
in Camp had come after regimental parade, and here
had assembled a congregation of not less than two
thousand pereors, who not only filled the tent, but
overflowed under umbrellas around the exterior.
Divine service was conducted by the Right Rev. Dr.
McDougall, now Vicar of Godmanchester, formerly
libihop of Labuan, assisted by another clergyman.
The choral portion of the service was aided and sup-
ported by the band of the Victoria Rifles, and the en-
tire c.-lebration was one of a highly impressive charac-
ter. Dr. McDougall preachedfrom the words—" Fight
the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life—so fight
I, not as one that beateth the air; but I keep under
my body and bring it into subjection." The right rev.
preacher spoke first of the joy it gave him, after years of
absence in a foreign country, to meet an assemblage of
men who were banded together to defend this realm
from invasion, and to aid in maintaining the position
which Great Britain was destined to hold among the
nations of the world. Their sacrifice of time, labour,
and expense would not only protect the soil from the
hands of the invader, but would draw tegether all
sorts and conditions of men. His duty sat s rather to
draw their attention to that spiritual warfare in which
every man was engaged against evil inclinations
and desires. St. Paul's illustration in the text
was drawn from the ancient practice of boxing,
and on this the bishop urged his hearers, in fighting
against em, not to beat the air, but to get well home at
every blow, and so to fight that they might obtain
everlasting reward. At the conclusion of the sermon a
collection was made amounting to upwards of £27, to
be distributed among the local charities. Throughout
the program of the service rain fell heavily, and near
the edges of the in .rquee the wet dripped down fart
enough to render the protection of umbrellas necessary.
At the close the Volunteers marched off to their re-
spective quarters, and the general congregation die-
opened as rapidly as might be. Waterproof tents
proved to be cosy places of shelter, and, under all the
circumstances, the day promised to be one of rest
and retirement.

Early in the afternoon, however, a strong gale
sprung up from the gouth-weat with a degree of
suddenness and rapidity that must have astoniehed
all the inmates of the camp. Within a few mo•
meets the men in several of the most exposed
encampments were called out from dinner to look
to the moorings of their mess tents and regimental
tents. The London Me Brigade, by very prompt
and well-directeo action, saved their excellent
mess-room from being swept completely away. At
the adjoining camp of the London Scotthh a good
deal of consternation prevailed, and for a few momenta
the wreck of their chief tent, with all the ornaments
tion of antlers and horns, seemed imminent. The
Scots set to work with a will, and by the use of addi-
tional pegs and cords soon placed their heaiquarters in
firm order again, with no mere inconvenience to them
selves than is inseparable from the wearing of kilts in
a strong wind.

From the effects of the gale on the more safely-
secured tents, it wee patent enough that the large
Umbrella marquee, which stands exposed and open
to the wind in the midst of the plain, must run
still higher risks. A dozen people were taking shelter
in it, when at ten minutes past three a tremen-
dously strong gust got full and complete hold of the
canvas, and in a moment with one loud flap, the
whole circular tent, of not lees than sixty feet in
diameter, and containing fully three tons of can-
ens, collapsed and fell. The tall centre pole, and
with it the shrunken mass of the roof, heeled/over to.
wanin the club room, and full flat. The tent hod been
filled with chain for the Church service, and these proved
to be the means of saving the people inside frnm serious
in)tory. A ru.h WM made to the place, and in a few
minutes all who were inside at the time of the occur-
enc.- were extricated. One elderly lady had fainted
and was slightly it jured, an-I a soldier was found
jammed among the chairs, tont with three exception. no
Instance, of t,erson al damage ccur re d Had the accident
happened during the service the effect mast hove been
ten Pile. At the moment of the overthrow if the great
tent the wind seized the canvas roof coil the nfters of
Jennison's refreshment booth, and threatened to carry
off both into the air. Ilea iy helpers were at hand to
hang on, and with s-me trouble, and by the use of
strong chains, the people in charge were able to hold
the roof over their he odii. Very few visitor., were
down during the day. The gale continued the whole
evening, and seemed to threaten damage during the
night.