Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-06-19
The Cadet Encampmen,
Correspondence of the Alexandria Ga,e

NE 90ueL EnclmDment
Correspondence of the Alexandria Ga,e,ol
COLCHESTER BEACH, June 17th.-Tbo
cadets of st. Johns Academy arrived ba,s
from Baltimore about half past four m
Thursday evening, just after thunder.clona
had passed over. The field in which tbar
were to encamp was covered with b,ob
grass, which, OF course, was wet and tho
straw for the beds had not arrived. How.
ever, where there's will there's Wav :,
Capt Sweeney set about laying of Tho
camp, while Capt. Carne went to see NH
could be done about beds. The necesss,r
tents were pitched by dark and the mapsos,
kindly loaned hay for the beds and offsnss
quarters in case the ground should ha
thought too wet but the evening sun dried
off the grass and before ten O'Clock sumo,
was served and the boys, tired with hard
days work, retired to their tents. thouOh
few were able to sleep until far into tho
night, owing to the excitement, and IN
many of them, the novelty of the situation
Before reveile On Friday, almost all wers
up prospecting. We found a beantiinl
grove, diversified by hill and dale and
Astounding IL dancing payilions and urcb
tables. Various animals in cages. srcb
as kangsroos, prairie dogs, foxes, laGcoons
etc, with cockatoos, horned owls and msnr
other birjs, all in cages, are ranged round
the walks, while merry -go-rounds elsya.
swings, n bowling alley, riding horses goat,
carts, etc, provide varied amusements,
lunch house and restaurant, as well as an
excellent bote provide material refresh.
ments, and the bathing is very fiue. There
is also boating on the bay and on little
lake and excellent fishing.
No guard YVES Get in camp the first night
as Mr.. Carne thought the boys were Toe
tired, but since that we have had guard
mounting every morning at o'clock
Guard duty has been, in general, well pei
| formed, though we have sergeant, co.,
poral, and two cadets now in the GUARD
| house expisting stolen maps which were in.
terrupted by the officers last night Yes.
| terday we had fearful storm. 1t came
across and down The bay about 3 O'Clock
| and for fifteen or twenty minutes, We ex.
| pected to be shelterless, but only the guard
| tent blew down, several others being saved
though with great difficulty. 10 an hour
the sun was shining brightly out, and though
we had two little showers before dark, the
moon shone brightly upon our sleeping camp
and to-day we have breeze from he north.
| west and somewhat cooler weather. Dur.
ing the storm, light wooden structure de
signed to be some two hundred or more feet
high, from which q Frenchman was to
| jump hesdforemost into net below, and
which had already been built hundred or
more feet, was completely destroyed, and
we shall not witness the petilous feat :;
though in compensation, on Tuesday and
Thursday, a man is to descend in para.
chute from balloon at the height of a
thousand feet.
As there is no church hereabou;s, we had
brief services Of our own at 10 o'clock this d.
o., and everything looks quite Sabbath like
around us now, the clatter of the railroads
being hushed, and but few people having
come over in the mornings boat.
| Liquor Is pever TO be had here at all,
which effec.ually prevents drunkenness, but
all sorts OF temperance drinks are or sale
To day, however, though god can buy all
the ice cream and lemonade you will, gin
ger beer, soda water, sarsaparilla aud be-
nanas are tabooed, and there are several
other curious regulations Distinguishing the
necessary from the unnecessary, which seem
to ordinary minds formed rather upon ca
price than upon any sound reason. How
ever, as the result is highly enjoyable day
for quiet people, fault finding would be
hypercritica.
The cadets have been visited by number
of old Alexandriaus, among them Mr.. Nor.
val Foard. Of the Baltimore SIN, with bis
wife and family, Mr.. Edward H. Delahay,
Rev. Mr. Tredway, of the NJ. p Church,
NOW stationed in this vicinity and wife,
and MIR. James L. Norris FDGLls.