Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-10
THE oRDwAr RIFLES.

THE ORDwAr RIFLES.
How They Are Eajoyinr rh.n..l,.. /.
Camp at H.rper's Ferry.
Correspondents Of The Evening" star.
CAxr MrLLxR.
HARPER's FERRY. W. Va,
August 9, 1892.
At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon the FIRST
guards were posted and the regular camp
routine was taken up, with the exception that
dress parade was dispensed with. The after
noon was spent in distributing the dress uni
forms, which were packed and forwarded with
the company baggage, and after bed-sacks were
filed the men were at leisure until supper
time, when they responded very quickly to the
mess call.
There being no dress parade the men were at
liberty to enjoy themselves. Most Of them
went down into the town to see Q small circus
which was located there for one day. When
taps sounded at 1880 most Of the members of
the company were in their tents, prepared to
enjoy their nights rest. many being very
much fatigued by the unusual duties Of
setting up tents, DC. And at - o'clock
the last Of the men with passes were in and
nothing was heard except the tread of senti-
nels who paced their beats in the moonlight and
At reveille, 545, this morning, the men reused
fifteen minutes in practicing the
sitting-up exercises, by which time all
were wide awake and prepared to resume camp
duty. No one responded to sick call at 6:l5.
Private Kaiser is reported much improved and
DR.. Caldwell expects to have him out
Of the hospital very shortly. Mess call
was sounded promptly at Z o'clock and COM
pany was formed Immediately preparatory to
going to the hotel for breakfast,
/ vrIn srfo ill.,, -
was delayed for half an hour, and upon receipt
Of this news the whole company nearly col
lapsed. The interim was pleasantly passed,
however, by Prot Branson, who entertained
the company with several fine solos on the
harmonica, for which he received well-merited
applause.
At 8 o'clock the ceremony Of guard mounting
took place, at which time those who were on
duty yesterday were relieved and the following
detail went on duty: Sergt. Orrison, sergeant
Of guard, and Privates Clark, wiler, Evans,
veitenheimer, Richardson and Noble. Imme-
diately after guard mounting the company was
formed for regular morning drill. About one
hour and half was spent in instruction
in the extended order or skirmish drill
both in squad and company. The men seemed
hard to master the maneuvers and execute
them with precision. Between drill and mees
the men were at liberty to enjoy themselves In
the best manner possible, and as q first step
many went bathing in the Shenandoah river,
and, Of course. enjoyed themselves hugely.
Others spent the morning with the ladies
distributing themselves about the spa
cious ground of the hotel and worked hard
| to keep cool, the day being extremely
warm. OF course the members Of the geranium
mess. as in duty bound, placed themselves at
the disposal Of the ladies'. About / o'clock a
| rumor spread over the grounds that dinner
would BIO half hour late, which caused the
Ordways to groan with horror, as it seems that
each man and the guests complain that
the soldiers get everything and nothing
is reserved for them. OF course we
cannot say how true this is, but all We can say
is that every member of the company eats
until there is nothing more near him, and one
man was heard to remark after dinner yester-
day: "Im ready for supper now, captain"
Private Clark says Of the meals that everything
he gets goes to his stomach and spoils his ap-
petite, but the doctor says that he can do moth
ing for him, and simply advises him to make
the best Of it.
1t seems as il there will be no use for the
guard tent this year, unless, indeed. Prof.
Branson cannot let the chickens alone One
little pepper is now hopping around on one leg
and the professor claims that he saw it stumble
over brick. OF course this might be so, but
the professor will have to mind his p's and as
II he wishes to keep out of the guard tent.
Thelweather being SO intensely hot Capt. Will
Jams decided to dispense with afternoon drill
unu the Niel nave spent the a1ternOOn In NAM
mocks or catch ball in the shade. At the pres
emit moment the company Is preparing for dress
parade, and the guests at the hotel are very
anxious to see the new uniforms, as many OF
them supposed that the company was only
equipped with the fatigue uniform, as last sea-
son.
Among the events Of last evening Private
Bethel established a reputation for vigilance
while on guard. Three men, members of the
company. attempted to pass the lines and were
halted. Two Of them withdrew and attempted
to attract the sentinels attention, while the
other made break to get in camp.
to the sergeant of the guard and were
sent to their tents, while Private Bethel, who
had in the meantime tracked the third party to
one OF the tents, brought him to the sergeant.
The prisoner showed a pass and was allowed to
go to histent, but will, in consequence of his
escapade, serve time on extra guard duty.
Privates Manning and Suydam were some
what overcome by their exertions yesterday,
but appear to be all right today, and DR.. Cald-
well says that he has had but one or two cases
to look after where the men we're affected by
the water. He says, however, that some one
tried to enter his tent last night, evidently
under the impression that he could get at the
spirit fermeti, but the doctor refused to pre-
scribe, and the unknown party went away as
dry as he came.
The afternoon has passed very quietly, most
Of the hotel guests having taken siesta and the
men were thrown upon their own resources for
amusement. As evening approaches it grows
much cooler and dress parade will be more
bearable on that account. Supper is now in
order and the men. as usual are ready.
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DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.