The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-25
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CAMP NORTHEN OPENED.
THE FOURTH REGIMENT GREET5
THE FIRST WITH a CHEER.

melly Presented to the state.
GRIFFIN, Ga. May 24-Grifin Is the
cynosure of all eyes to-day, and proudly
does she wear her bonors
1t is a red letter day in her history, and
her people are making it one long TO be re~
membered.
Business 10 suspended, the weary routine
Of everyday life is forgotten, cares and strug~
glee laid aside and only smiling faces aud
hearty welcomes greet Georgia's soldiers.
Flags aud bright-oolored buntings fiaunt
gayly in the breeze from the business houses
and principal residences. and flowers and
evergreens decorate the line OF march.
Martial music adds geyety to tho scene and
stirs with patriotic sentiment every heart.
To-day the young soldiers of Georgia,
her pride and her chivHlry, went into camp
at "Camp Northen."
And a beautiful spot 10 is; made charm
ing by nature and art, and interesting
from its historical memories.
The first thing that strikes the visitor as
he approaches the camp is the large flag
waving proudly in the breeze and indicate
ing the place where the soldier boys are
tentinR.
As you go out from the city, out Hill
street, out Poplar and down Niuth street,
grounds is the beautiful pavilion with its
bold spring, which flows out from q bluff
parked and Bodded with grass. This will be
"A famous resort for the loungers during the
day and a charming place for the young
people to gather at night, as it is outside OF
the restricted lines, and probably Will be
the scene of many a tender "passage at
arms" Leaving the spring, the next view
shows the boulevard leading to the camp
grounds. This boulevard is two miles long
and thirty feet in width, perfectly graded
and makes one OF the prettlest drives that
can be found around any city. From IL you
can see the famous Pine mountains In all
their verdant glory and obtain sat-
isfaotory view Of all the surrounding coun-
try. The grow, 10 which the drives lead
are cool aud iuvislng, and 1t is here that the
tents OF the soldiers are pitched.
THE PARADE GROUND.
The parade ground in front OF the grove
contains fifty acres, and has been dug
down, filled up, plowed over, and rolled
until 1t is level and hard, making one OF the
finest places for military maneuvers that
could be wished. This ground faces the
tents OF the troops, which are back In ths
grove just behind, aud commands a fine
view.
There are twenty rows OF tents, twenty
IN each row, capable OF accommodating
each two men, and supplying comfortable
quarters for the hundreds of soldiers who
are here to-day just back of the tents are
the twenty mess halls, nicely finished,
whitewashed aud supplied with water,
lights and all the conveniences. The officers
have comfortable quarters just above the
soldiers tents. A large, airy hospital has
been built for the Accommodation of tho
sick and those who may succumb to the un-
accustomed heat Of the arduous duties.
All these buildings are situated in the large
grove. This grove consists mostly OF pine,
with hickory poplar oak aud ask mixed
in, and we're every soldier an artist this
would prove TO him a modern Arcadia.
AT the extreme southern limit OF the en-
campment ground is the swimming pool.
1t has been built with ample dimensions for
those who wish to disport in running water
aud will be great attraction to the soldier
boys. The water which supplies it comes
direct from the spring that feeds the water
works, and is pure and clear as the foupt-
aims Of nature can supply. This pool clears
itself continuously, and is SO arranged that
in eight minutes after you have gotten out
OF it not a drop of water in which you
bathed remains. but Is entirely reflled with
water fresh from the spring.
There ia a rifle range OF $40 yards, with a
5O-foot catch as straight as an arrow, pros
nounced by those competent to Judge to be
as fine as any In the south.
The Griffin water works lie just south OF
the camp, with its freehold spring and two
ISSoINpiEs VI LTb5Hs pure WhteF. LUG W0Olo
encampment grounds, mess halls kitchens
and bath houses are abundantly supplied
with this water.
A HISTORICAL SITE.
From an historical point of view Camp
Northen Is equally interesting. IL was
once the camping grounds of one of Georgia's
most gallant regiments. the Second Georgia.
one or the finest bodies of men Ia the late
war. Time has wrought many changes
a fnn fhaO hfrf MAJ uNsI Loft
who can wildly recall the historic places
and point out the scenes of peculiarly iu-
teresting incident that happened while this
spot was dotted with the white tents of the
confederate soldiers. In 1864, as the noble
Fifth Georgia reserves under Capt
Payne OF Millsdgevlile were march,
ing from Macon TO the famous
battle Of Atlanta, they encamped at this
same spot The contractors, John s. Vests
brook and A. o. Bennett, who have just
completed the buildings where the volun>
teers go into camp o.day, were members Of
these regiments. They give many Interest,"
ing "reminiscences OF the camp life here
twenty-eight years ago.
Like all aristocrotic historical spots.
Camp Northen has its ghost. In 1867 a man,
mad with jealousy, slew his wife aud hanged
her body TO a crab apple tree just south Of
the tenting grounds, He himself was after
ward hanged for this crime nnd his death is
memorable as being the last execution for
murder in Spalding county. TIE residents
near the camp say the murdered woman
frequently wanders up the swamp in the
direction Of the camp, her form enveloped
in flame of fire and uttering piercing
shrieks. No need to enforce the military
law that all the soldiers must be IN camp
after dark, as this ghostly guard will effect
ually keep the men around camp fires. 1t
may be, however, that since ghosts cannot
bear too much light this luminous visitor
from another world will fade away before
the brilliant electric lights stationed every
where throughout the camp grounds. 1t is
to beautiful Camp Northen that tho soldiers
have come to-day, and Griffin has opened
her heart aud homes aud is making tbs ans
kin ring with her walGone. H.
FLATTERING AUSPICES.
GRIFFIN. GA. May "a, P. M-Camp
Northen was opened to-day under flatters
ing auspicies. The weather is delightful,
neither too warm nor too cool, and the SOL
diers in camp are enthusiastic. Nearly 600
men are In the camp. Everything Indi-
Gates that the encampment of 1892 will be
the most successful yet held in Georgia.
Fifty~eight members of the Fourth artillery
from Atlanta, under Capt. Fields, are in
camp with the First and Fourth regiments,
and they will remain during the entire en-