The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-12
CAMP COLUMBUS.
What the Soldier Boys Are Doing at
the City by the Sea.
The First Provisional Brigade Under
goes Rigid Inspection-Work
of the Signal Corps.
Especial Correspondence REcoRD-UsIos.l


Cruz, residents and citizens alike, the
weather yesterday and to-day turned out
splendid. The people of Santa Cruz have
been apologizing for the heavy fog, chilly
wind and general disagreeableness for
the past few days, and in order that the
reputation of their charming little sea-
side city as a summer resort might not
suffer, have been in a fever of anxiety for
change. The cheerful rays of old Sol
were welcomed by the visitors, too, and
they docked to the beach, rode out to the
natural bridges, went fishing, visited
Camp Capitola. to the big trees, and doz-
ems of other places of interest. The
muggy weather had prevented the enjoy
ment of these pleasures heretofore.
There is little of interest to recount re-
garding the doings of the encampment OF
the militia during tho past twenty-four
hours. The arrival of Governor Mark
ham in camp last evening is the only i'm
portant event that has happened.
The Governor is delighted with the ap-
pearance of the camp, and he has reason
TO be, for it is pronounced by all the
veterans to be the best in every particu-
lar that has been held in the State.
The Governors arrival gave the Signal
Corps another chance to distinguish itself.
These vigilant officers We're on the look
out in the hilltops, and when the Cover
nor's train was sighted immediately
signaled to camp. and General Dimond
was notified. The cavalry was imme
diately to the depot to act as the Cover
nor's escort. When the Governor
alighted from the train and entered the
carriage which was waiting for him, a
signal man who was stationed there gave
the word with his flag to another who
40 sNf no
house on the hill, just above the depot.
From here the flags forwarded the
message to the signal men in the hills,
and from there to camp-all In few Sec
ondS-and General Dimond knew just
what was going Oh at the depot and when
to expect the Governor at camp. 1t was
a pretty piece of work, and demonstrated
forcibly what valuable adjunct TO the
military service this Signal Corps is.
The Governor was saluted at camp, and
otherwise appropriately received.
The Signal Corps of the three brigades
Joined forces yesterday morning and
practiced together from 1880 A. NJ. until
noon. So far they have used nothing but
their flags. They intend, however, now
aIhat the weather is favorable, to do some
s5york with the photographs with which
they are equipped.
General Dickinson's brigade-the Sec
Ond Provisional Brigade-drilled as
s body yesterday and acquitted itself well.
The General keptthe men at work sew
eral hours, and they were very tired
when he sent them back to their quar-
ters. Brigade drilling under the new
tactics entails great deal of lively ma
neuvering, which causes the soldiers to
puff and perspire freely.
Captain L. IL. Barry of the regular
army, who is making a thorough in
spection of the encampment by
order of the War Department,
put in yesterday with the First Provis-
ional Brigade, General T. w. Sheehan's
command. He is about the first man in
camp to get out of bed in the morning,
and goes about his inspection even be-
fore the reYeIlle is sounded. So il was
yesterday. He observed that the men
were little slow about responding to
the get-out-of- bed call, and noted it on
his book. Then he went through all the
tents, observed the way the men kept
things, the way they slept, how they
marched to the breakfast table-every-
thing in fact. After the various regi-
ments making up the brigade were
through with their drill Captain Barry
called the officers of the brigade to-
gether and talked with them for some
time about what he had seen. He had
found the camp clean and orderly,
he said. 1t was nearer like the
camp of Colonel Skaters regular army
men, than any other in the division,
D6iuS GnIlT6ly WITHOUT DECORATIONS or
nonsense of any kind, and typical mill
tary encampment. This was as it should
be, and he was very much pleased with
that part of his inspection. Regarding
the movements of the men, he called at
tention TO the dilatory manner in which
reveille was answered. This was the
only complaint of any consequence he
could make. The drilling of the men
was good, very good, compared with the
progress the other brigades had made
but at the same time he advised the
officers to work even harder with the
men than they had if they desired to be-
come perfect in the tactics He suggested
various things that could be renedied
and cid 1t In most pleasant and kind
way.
General Sheehan also talked to his
officers in support OF what the Captain
had said. He cautioned them that their
time was short and that great deal of
work would have to be accomplished be-
fore the breaking of camp. lie asked
them to get their men to bed early, so
that they would be ready for hard work
In the morning, and announced that from
now on everybody should be in camp at
1880 O'Clock. Passes will not be issued
Tor later than 1880 O'Clock, and these
only when required on urgent business.
Lieutenant-C Colonel Gray of Chico made
brief address in the same strain.
Last evening was given over again to
FESTIVITIES IN camp. Nearly all the bands
gave concerts in front of the various regi-
mental and brigade headquarters. The
tents and streets of the Second Provis-
ional Brigade were gayly decorated
with Chinese lanterns, flags. bunt-
ing. etc. There was music, thea
trlcals, fireworks and paper hot-air bal
loon ascensions. The Nationals of the
First Infantry Regiment OF San Fran
cisco particularly distinguished them
selves in the amusement line
The Third Brigade decorated some, but
the boys devoted most of their attention
to the dancing platform which they had
erected, and on which they whirled with
charming young ladies in the may waltz
To the strains OF an excellent band.
At the headquarters of the San Fran
cisco battery Captain Costas tent was oc-
cupied by the Palace Hotel orchestra
from San francisco, which gave an ex-
cellent concert. There was very large
attendance, and the music was pro-
nounced treat.
During the evening the various brigade
commanders and their stats called at
General Dimond's tent, and paid their re-
spects to Governor Markham.
General Montgomery of Chico, COM
mandlng the Fifth Brigade, arrived in
camp yesterday and was appropriately
received. He, too, was caught by the
Sacramento Signal Corps and his arrival
announced in camp before he got there.
! Lieutenant Ormsby of Sacramento also
arrived yesterday. He got in about the
same time the Governor did-and swelled
up pompously when he heard the BOOM
ing of the cannon as he approached. He
felt quite bad when somebody told him
the noise was for the Governor
Colonel Murray cut wide swath dur
ing the first two days of camp. The
..'agony" he put on fairly paralyzed his
comrades. Why, he insisted upon hay-
rrf1a 1N-a y, hoa1