Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-21

oN lhb WHARF al IhE fo-si.
Foremost among today's arrivals in camp
were the fourth battalion and the ambulance
company. They arrived on the Manchester at
i o'clock. The Red Cross boys marched at
once to their tents. which, with the hospital
tents, are shut off from the public by stout
wire fence. The fourth battalion seated itself
on the hillside just above the wharf
| and waited the coming Ct the remainder
of the brigade on the Excelsior. Before
that happened however, there was the sound
of trnmpets and the chatter of horses hoofs
Down tho hill, headed by Capt. Barbour rode
the cavalry troop. Their duty was to act rs es-
cort to the general this courtesy taking the
place Of the customary artillery salute. Last
year the battery came to camp by the road on
Sunday and did the salute in tip-top style: this
year the drivers md gunners went down by
river--went late this afternoon, 80 the cavalry
took their places and mt de a very fine showing
in the clear sunlight
ARRIVAL OF THE EXCELSIOR.
Crowded with dark something's topped by
snow white helmets the steamer Excelsior
steamed majest'cahy up to the fort wharf at
ll:15 There was no endof trouble in making
a landing. aud lad it not been for the omni-
present Capt Parmenter and Mr. Lawson the
boat load of military mi ht have been in mid
stream yet. The troops landed as best they
could and, BY battalions, marched to quarters.
Pitching tents may, under certain cir
cumstapces e regarded amusement. but
it was no such thing today. Old Sol seemed to
be bent on roasting the boys. and he succeeded
! admirably. Blistered hands and necks were us
common as fried chicken at q Harpcr's Ferry
picnic of the Sons and Daughters of Shem,
Ham and Japhet. A good dinner helped things
very considerably and the camp was put in per-
feet order throughout.
TIE BRIDGE GAVE WAY.
Tho only accident that has taken place since
the preparations for Camp Washington COM
menced happened Yesterday afternoon. For
days past loaded wagons have been hauled in
and out of the fort without: the bridge at the
entrance displaying any structural weak
ness. Yesterday afternoon things went
to pieces with crash and there
might easily have been two or three deaths in
consequence thereof. When Paris Busev col
ored, and a driver by profession, hitched his
mules to water wagon he was as happy as the
proverbial clam a: high tide. Five minutes
later Dir. Busey. accompanied by William jack
son, also colorcd, was IN the ditch, surrounded
by the debris of the old drawbrdge,
wrecked wagon and span OF shaven-
tailed animals. II was good deal
Of shock, but the live stock survived. Quito
number OF people witnessed the collapse and
there was unanimous opinion that the
catastrophe was n fatal one. Immediate in.
restigation. showed that the mules were unhurt,
although one Of them was pinned down by
couple of beams. while the other reposing
OH top of the mashed water barrel with his
Egile heels in the mir. The drivers extricated
themselves as best they could, while popular at
tenton was directed TO the mules. The fac.
that Busey Was considerably damaged attracted
but little attention. In little while the mule
OH the cask placed right side up; his part
ner was lying on one side and whiled
away the time by chewing all the
grass within reach. Both animals acted
falling through bridges. There vas much
solicitudo As to the animals condition, but
nobody cared for tho driver. A Wild rush WAS
made for the post dispensary and there was a
the luckisss driver stood around on one leg.
the other one being temporarily disabled
crushed and bruised to considerable
extent, the tendons OF q big toe being consid-
! erably strained. When the mules had been re-
| moved 10 their stable the driver was taken mp
to the post dspe asary, where his foot was at
tended to. Later 1t was developed that jack
son was bruised considerably.
REPAIRING DAMAGES.
The accident brought out very clearly the
value of some of the workers in camp Post
Quartermaster Parmcnter had heavy timbers
on the ground within fifteen minutes from the
breakdown (Which occurred at 2:45). J. b.
Halliday, who ia in charge of the carpenters,
had ms force around almost Instantly. More
&C tive than any one else was Alonzo Lawson, and
that the bridge'was rebuilt by o'clock was due
undoubtedly to his efforts. He took command
| because nc uEOeCStoOu TIE puSsAeSs ana WORKED
/ like beaver. As u job of bridge building il
was the most hastily successful Oh record. Ex-
! animation Of the cracked tmbers showed that
the cause of their giving way dry rot.
They were first used IN the construction OF raft
| made IN 1882 to obstruct the Potomac at Fort
Foote, so that rebel cruisers might be prevented
| from too nearly approaching the capital. The
beams we're put in the bridge seven years ago
and the dry rot was severely aggravated by the
| application OF ccal-tar; that took out what Lit.
, tie sap was left by time and exposure. The
| load that Bnsey was driving, with the wagon
and team, weighed all of 6,000 pounds
Fifty or sixty walters loaded down with
straw stuff bed sacks crawled over the only
stringer that was saved from the wreck. They
were an odl-looking crowd
TOOK THE ORIGINAL PAcEAoEs
II IL no: often that cavalry has An oppor-
tunity to capture boat, but Capt. Barbcur's
boys did that very thing this morning. Ever
since yesterday thrso fairly large sailing boats
have been cruising around in the vicinity Of
the fort, and il was soon no!sed abroad that
TCoukiu,,ed ON Fifth Ploe