Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-26

blankets on the part of every man
who ventured to poke his nose outside his tent
door. At o'clock the outlook was very
sloppy one. The main road from the wharf
through the camp was two or three inches deep
in mud, except where there had been much
traffic, and there it was anything from six
inches to foot and as slippery as q waxed
floor.
Sentinels tramped up and down their weari-
| some round while rain rolled off the rear OF
their forage caps down the backs Of their necks
1t pelted in their faces and trickled in steady
streams from the ends OF noses that in some
instances were really blue from the chilly
morning air.
sPIRITLEss MARCH TO BnEAKFAsr.
Breakfast-in which Goldfish balls were intro
duced for the first time in the history of the
camp-was served at the regular hour, but the
troops did not go down to the fort in the
spirited manner which has hitherto character
lied their march down to meals. There was an
entire entire s absence of the an marching
coat buttons went unrattled by tin cups.
The hot coffee was especially grateful to the
chilled men and they felt very much better
when their appetites were appeased. With the
fantry remained where the storm-for it had
continually increased in violence-could do
them any damage; they retreated to the
tents and whiled away the time with
song and story. Troopers and drivers were
not quite as fortunate, for their horses had to
mud they splashed and slid, and when the ami
mails were watered there was little cleaning
up to be done. The mounted men have a good
deal more work to do than the foot soldiery,
and they do it untomplainingly and well.
THE VISIT OF THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS.
Commissioners Douglass and Hine did not
know yesterday afternoon when they listened
to the roar of welcoming artillery-the first
salute ever fired in honor Of either Of them
that the powder which caused the sounds was
older than they were. But it was.
When it was made no one knows, but the
records show that it was stored away in q gov
eminent magazine for the first time in the
year 1922. The seventeen guns doomed out
their hoarse greeting at about $50 yesterday
afternoon, when Gen. Ordway welcomed the
Commissioners to the camp which affectionate
subordinates insisted on giving his name to- The
ambulance was in waiting and the honored and
honorable guests were at once taken up to the
camp and to the parade ground, where the
dress parade was under way. In a rather hur-
ried manner, for time was short, the camp was
inspected and then a few minutes were spent
at the generals headquarters, where lemonade
and other notwithstanding beverages were dis
posed Of.
The next point Of interest was the head
quarters mess. and there dinner was served.
which were drunk in soda water, were of the
least elaborate but most truly personal char
acter. Both Commissioners expressed them
selves as very much pleased with what they
had seen and what they had to eat. Both were
satisfied that the national guard of the Dis
trct OF Columbia has come TO stay and to be
model for the militia of the various states. They
congratulated Gen. Ordway upon the magnif-
cent showing made by the guard, and then con-
graduated the guard upon having such O COM
nIa ca tha fr,n 10,
missioners can do anything to help the home
militia they will do it and esteem it a pleasure
that they have it in their power to render aid
to such a worthy organization.
THE SANITARY CONDITION OF THE CAMP GOOD.
Surgeons II. E. Leach, R. A. Foster, and 8.
A. H. McKim, of the first second, and third
battalions, held their regular morning consul
tation as to the sanitary condition Of the camp
of the first regiment and they are sat-
isfed that everything Is in first-class
oTdsT the Re said IpS tser. work ,i is
and no symptoms of any. A few slight cases
of the regular and to be expected camp diar-
rhoea, and one or two sore threats are all the
Affections of any moment. The only burials
have been those of iiggers, and they have
buried themselves--right beneath the hide of
great many. Some few cases of indigestion
have resulted in attacks of hives, but they
were trivial. The doctors propose to return
the men to the bosom Of their families in a
better physical condition than that which they
took with them into camp. For this General
Ordway will be held responsible. He selected
the camp, and if wives, mothers and boarding
house mistresses grumble at the increased con-
sumption OF victuals they must charge it up to
the general and to the ozone-laden air.
THE coLoREp TROOPS.
Too much commentator cannot be given to
the colored troops-the seventh and eighth
battalions. From the moment of their en-
barkation down to the present time they have
never given anyone, not even the most critical,
the shadow of u reason for doubling that they
were perfect gentlemen. They have been prompt
on duty of all kinds and at all times. They
march to the mess-sheds silently and unob-
trusively and eat their meals without disorder
among themselves or annoyance to their neigh
bors. On parade they do remarkably well and
their guard duty is always up to the mark.
Their camp, which is separated from that of
the remainder OF the second regiment by the
road, is beyond question the cleanest on the
reservation. In the tents and out is nothing
but soldierly neatness most creditable to the
battalions.
The privates Of the seventh battalion amused
themselves on Thursday night by having a
friendly mill in one of the company streets,
much to the delight of their fellow soldiers.
There were several aspirants for fstic honors,
but as all Of them failed to come to the scratch,
after a few rounds of futile wind punching the
contest was called draw. There is not much
probability that the Boston slugger will receive
challenge from any Of them for the cham
pionship of the world.
THE MOST AMUSING CONTEST OF THE CAMP
has been the stomach contest between the men;
for the first two days Of the camp the BOYS
were unable to get q square meal, but since
that time the food having become more plenti-
ful the men have been trying to make up for
what they lost the first two davs bv seeing bow
much they could eat, and as the contest is still
going on with precision and regularity it win
be hard to tell whether the commissary win be
able to satisfy their growing appetites.
The physical well-being OF the colored troops
has been in the hands Of Drs. Upshav and
Sumby. The two medicos are enjoying them
selves very much and they say that the officers
and men have been enjoying themselves very
mnch. They sanitary condition Of the camp was
excellent and the appearance Of the men
showed most conclusively that the strict reRi-
men was doing them good. Plenty Of good
food, said the doctors, any quantity Of fresh
air, and the best of water, are preventatives
against disease. There have beens few minor
ailments thus far: nothing more. DR.. Sumby
was in charge Of the hospital on Tuesday and
Wednesday and DR.. Upshsw controlled ysster.
day and to-day.
Quartermaster Coolidge ID an expert per-
former on the autoharp, and he frequently
gives his friends an exhibition Of his skin.
Major Fleetwood has . neat tent, and 70 has
Major Revells. There h nothing gorgeous
about them but they are prettily furnished.