Omaha daily bee., 1889-09-19
Battling the sand tsurs.

bEATRiCE, Sept. lo,-lopeClal 10 lHE
BEE. Little Of interest transpires in Camp
Grant worthy of special mention. The suit
Ter and his minus watermelons is still the
all-absorbing theme of that dignitary and
the utter adjustment of the whole militia
establishment of Nebraska is now the only
thing that will pacify him.
The sick list this morning brought out
three or four cases OF gripes, and the vic
Tins have already fled an application for
pension in order to lose no arrearage when
the final adjustment of their claim is made.
Colonel Charley Bates, while carrying a
very important order to the right of the line
yesterday, undertook to clear q post hole
mounted, and dire disaster Immediately fol-
lowed. The horse went into the hole and
tried to take the vsaiant adjutant general in
with him. The colonel kicked, and took a
flying leap over the animals head and lit
about ten feet distant. The horse aud the
colonel are unhurt, but the latter has cor.
rallied o sufficient number of witnesses to
put his pension application in indisputable
shape
An interesting feature Of Yesterdays par
ade was the governors effort to ride Lin
den Tree" The governor mounted the
horse all right enough in town. and rode out
to camp on him. Upon reaching camp he
rode up to General Colby to shake hands
with the field commander OF AL the Nebraska
troops but somehow or other Linden Tree
didn't like the appearance of General Colby
or the horse he was riding and began to act
rambunXious. The result being that the
governor had to dismount or be tumbled off
in manner wholly unbecoming the chief eX
iecutive of the great state of Nebraska. The
governor handled the spirited horse coura-
geously for awhile but wisely concluded that
u younger and more active man had better
ride him and turned him over to one of his
staff while he rode horse of more plebean
blood. W
The cavalry company has been doing picket
duty for night or two and as a result the
boys are having rocky time getting through
the lines TO visit town. This is especially
hard on number OF soldiers who have made
some very effective mashes in the suburbs.
There was lively sensation in camp for a
few moments yesterday through the grass
catching fire from one of the cook tents. 1t
was fortunately eXtinguished before gaining
much headway.
The most serious trouble the national
guardsmen have to contend with is the abom-
Unable sand burrs. The grass is literally
filled with them and they are of the most
villainouS character, too. They have insn
uated themselves into the blankets TO that
extent that some of the boys are thinking Sc
riously of going up town to sleep if they can
bribe the guards to let them through the
lines. -'0
Company E. second regiment, has mas
cot in the shape Of brlndle cat, that volun-
tarily took up ITS quarters with the company.
The boys think Of making it corporal.
Company A, first regiment, enjoys the dis
tnction of having the most qriet soldier in
the brigade. He is a mute and bears the
name of Henry w. Funk. He acts in the
capacity of company cook.
ID. L. Davis. of the First regiment, has
been appointed encampment postmaster
G. F.. Collins, of company I. First regi-
ment, has been appointed brigade bugler,
with the rank Of sergeant.
The second regiment officers met last even
ing and elected Colonel Bills and -de-camp to
the governor lieutenant colonel of the regi-
ment. Colonel Bills IS one of the most pop
ular officers of the brigade, and his promo
ton is in every way deserving. @ .,.. ..
The competition drill for the governors
challenge cup has been narrowed down to
the Farbury and Fremont companies. The
drill took place this afternoon, but the result
is withheld