The record-union., 1891-08-12
By THE SAD SEA WAVES.
What the First Regiment is Doing at
Santa Cruz.
The City of Tents, and How It is Laid
Out-Gay Times In Camp-The
Lady Visitors Quarters.
SANTA CRUz, August 10, 1891.


EDS. RECORD UNION: "Camp Murray"
painted in big red and black letters on q
wide strip Of canvas at the entrance gate
to the immense camp field northwest of
Santa Cruz, tells the stranger the name
chosen for the cosy little camp in which
the First Artillery Regiment is located.
Away in the corner of a cove formed by
an imposing range of high wooded hills,
the tents are pitched, and it is by far the
prettiest site that could have been selected
in the field for a camp. Immense oak
trees grow far down the slope Of the hills,
and the dining tables and kitchen having
been set among the trees, are protected
from the rays of the sun, which, in the
afternoon, beat down fiercely and make
the inside OF the tent a veritable oven.
But nobody suffers discomfort, because
this is just the time when the camp is al
most abandoned, and the bold soldier
boys and their lady friends have left for
the beach to watch the bathers, or to take
plunge themselves in the foaming surf.
To correctly describe in a letter the
situation and the manner in which the
camp is laid out is rather difficult task.
Let the reader imagine, in the first place,
that the camp faces in SOutheasterly di-
little more to the south than east. APP
preaching the camp one will imagine
there are at least there hundred tents
pitched, when in reality there are only
one hundred and thirty-two. First you
pass the guard-houSe-twO tents placed
on the guard-ine to your left as you APP
proach. Then come the rows of white
tents for the several companies, set up
and aligned correctly. The row on the
extreme left Of you is occupied by Com
pany @, Captain Hall. Across the COM
pany's street is Captain Seymour's gallant
Company E, and adjoining his tents, but
fronting on the main avenue, are the
quarters Of Company A. Com pany C's
row of tents is on the opposite side OF the
avenue, and Company ES tents adj
join those of Company c, but front on
the next company street. The battery,
Captain Cook, is quartered in the eX-
treme right-hand row.
The Captains and Lieutenants' tents are
pitched across a tifty-foot avenue beyond
the rows, and still farther back are the
wall tents occupied by the ColoneFs
Staff. In the center is Colonel Guthrie s
immense tent, commanding a view OF
the main avenue and company streets
1t is nicely fitted up and the reception
room in front is nearly always occupied
by some of his staff, or visitors from
Santa Cruz. In rear of the Colonel's tent
y
the musicians and members of the Bri.
gade Commanders staff.
The aforementioned tents constitute
the camp proper, but Just outside of the
rear guard line, and apart from the main
body of tents, are the quarters of the
ladies. And what number of them
there are. Never before at an encamp.
ment of the regiment did so many ladies
and children attend, and, as was ex.
pected, their little camp is the center o.
all interest. There are twenty-four tents
in all, pitched in two rows. and made Is
comfortable as can be. The ladies have
been working indefatigably in arranging
matters in a tidy manner, and certainly
have the most pleasant quarters in camp
Canvas awnings shade the fronts of theil
tents, and underneath an immense
canopy in the center of the avenue the
ladies and children congregate and have
a delightful time telling visitors the ins
and outs of camp life and the elegant
time they are having. They desired il
stated that a gallon of ice cream sent out
by some thoughtful person III Santa Cruz
was the first extra treat they had enjoyed
since camp opened.
There is no complaint at all this year ir
regard to the quality of the edibles or the
manner in which they are served. From
all appearances the men are all satisfied
and if they were not, it would not j
be long before the entire camp would fine
it out. Ham and eggs, beef, roast NUT
ton, lamb and veal, steak, mutton chop
corn, beans and potatoes, served in al
styles, have been on the bill of fare 81
far, and the steward promises some sur
prises in the way of dainty dishes before
the camp is over.
Lieutenant MaydwelI, Quartermastel
on Colonel Guthrie's staff, has proven
himself to be as skilled an officer in his
business as is found in the regular army
and the way in which Captain 0'COnnell
u. S. A., praises him for the excellen
manner in which he laid out the camp is
certainly a compliment Of which the
Lieutenant is justly entitled TO fee
proud. He is looking after every detail
from day to day, and one cannot help bu
notice his anxiety for the welfare of th
men, and the success Of the camp.
The men are conducting themselves il
manner that will not admit of the leas
censure, even from the few disgruntleC
Santa CruZans, who several years ag'
complained of the conduct Of two o
three, and caused an uninitiated reporte
on a "liven sheet here to brand the entir
regiment as rowdies. Everybody j
having a jolly time, and the boys will
the brass buttons are certainly 'in tn
swim"
Many and more particularly th
young folks think the most importan
matter that Lieutenant Maydwell has at
tended to was the erection of good
sized dancing platform in the main ave