The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-08-22

shade The river Is not pure enough Tor
bathing, as it contains so much Chicago sew
age, and the area Of the rock is not large
enough by half.-Editor Joliet Republican in
his sanctum, clipping ,cithoW credit from ChL
cago Tribune.
Our quarters are very pleasant; we are
camped on Buffalo Rock. The boys in gen.
eral are very well pleased with this years
camp. -"Sergeant," same day IN same paper,
pritins from the camp.
From its elevated position Buffalo Rock
would be easily drained and made beauti.
full camping ground, and very desirable. 1t
is easy of access either by rail, water or car
riage-Sredtor Monitor.
A writer in the Joliet Nems likens Camp
Weller to the battle ground of Shiloh. Sew
eral others "who were there, says the Rock
and the country surrounding has wonder.
full likeness to the battle ground of Mission
Ridge.
Camp Welter," says the Chicago Herald,
Sunday, "will long be remembered by the
boys as one of the finest, as well as one in
which the hardest work has been don" in
the matter of battalion drill. Taken as q
whole, Camp Welter has been successful.
The citizens of Ottawa have done everything
that could reasonably be expected to make
life in camp pleasant and comfortable"
Inter- ocean: Sunday:-Gen. Fitz-Simons
and Adj Gen Dehl took last survey OF
the Rock. They find that great improve
| l. 10 ho 81, ctto nf
stairways leading from the camp down the
bluff to the river when bathing facilities
could be thus established.
Inter- Ocean: sickness in camp has been
notably inconsiderable, and the boys are
bronzed by the sun that beats on the Rock
Undoubtedly the Rock has more friends to-
day friday than it had when the COM
mands went into wet quarters the first day
of occupation. Staff officers here I'M
derstand that there is a desire to establish
the permanent camp near Springfield, The
idea meets with no encouragement from Chi
cago men, and would probably find little
favor among the officers of the Third and
Fourth Infantry. The question of cost of
transportation of supplies thrusts itself for
ward for consideration, as well as the ques-
ton of the distance from Chicago where, it
is naturally claimed, troops at any given
time would be most needed and in largest
numbers"
| MILK IN CoCoANUT.
The ground itself would be susceptible of
the necessary degree of improvement to
make it good drill ground, but aside from
that the character Of the soil is unfavorable
to the conditions of dry, from turf (sic!!0
Buffalo Rock is impregnable and all that,
but many officers would prefer to hold
position nearer Chicago to the key of the
heart of Illinois. However, it is a grand
and picturesque formation to look at, and its
no mean advantages, crude as they naturally
would be on the first occupation of the Rock,
are being utilized to the FULL
Aurora Herald-'Several of the Freeport
company, who had been excused on the plea
of sickness, stopped off here, yesterday, on
their way home. They expressed themselves
as heartily disguised with camp-life, and de-
clared that they had been treated like dogs
They had evidently expected good time
sort of 'go-as.youp please picnic. They
did not seem to take very kindly to the rigid
military discipline of the camp
Aurora Blade: "Co. D is nicely located at
the grand encampment at Ottawa. The boys
would be happy if the butter was not quite
so strong and if they had pillows"
The Peoria Democrat mixes em up in this
style: "Sham battles, as displayed by two
opposing armies, or portions Of armies are
very interesting and instructive. They are
interesting because exciting, and instructive
as they will give the onlooker an excellent
opportunity of seeing how battle is fought
without his being compelled to participate or
endangered by running foul of a stray shot.
There has been an encampment Of artillery
at Starved Rock short distance up the
river from this place, and for the edifcation
Ol pcOplc NJ VIM pihOc thcy hau ou0Lh
battle All the arrangements were carefully
made, and it commenced in the regular order,
but when the opposing parties met, little
scene was enacted which was not down on
the bills. One man happened to charge too
strong upon an opponent-perhaps the fire
Of battle waged within him-and he struck
him severe blow. This was returned with
interest, AMI in few moments all thought
of sham was forgotten, as fully half the
'shams were beating one another for all
they were worth. The result was that quite
number of the combatants came out with
very sore heads and went home in disgust.
1t was picnic for the onlookers, but hard
ON those who furnished the entertainment"
VOTE OF THANKS.
At meeting of the officers of the staff Of
the LIST Brigade, 1. N. G., held at Brigade
Headquarters on the evening of August 18th,
1885, the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That our hearty thanks be given