Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-23
THE ENGINEERS RETURN
After Ten Days d Camp Life on the Sea
Shdfe.
A Summary of the 12esults Achieved
Engineering Work Amidst Sandy
Surroundings Not Easy.

camp Gilbert Thompson Is no more, and
the members of company c, engineer corps,
are home again af4er a season of valuable
experience.
The entire Mount Pleasant Bugle and
Drum Corps turned out to escort the COM
pany and their own returned members to the
engineer corps armory on d street Tuesday.
The musical escort rather outnumbered the
company. but all the men in camp were not
In line, some being in Baltimore and some
faving returned to Washington before the
camp broke up. The members of the drum
corps who were in lamp marched in a lire
behind the rest of the musicians, and were
otherwise easily to be distinguished by the
dusty appearance of their uniforms How
ever, their step was springy and their music
lively. and they even wished they might
have remained at Ocean City longer.
Arrived at the armorv. Capt. Averill made
little talk to the company, and then, gave
Capt. Horton Of the general staff an oppOr-
tunity to say to the company what he had
been telling. unofficially. the officers and
men in camp. 1t was an expression of his
appreciation of the courtesy of the COM
pany to him, and his realization of the fact
that company c. engineer corps had done
n Gre work In this camp than any other
company whose camp ne had ever attended.
He complimented Capt. Averill, and mod
estly claimed credit only for getting the
men to show respect for the flag. But the
company remembers his instruction In
guard duty and many occasional suggest
ions which tended to improve the COM
pany's military tone. AT the conclusion of
mis- remarks the boys gave him three rous-
ing cheers.
Mr.. Fava did rot return with the COM
parry, but left on an earlier train for Brook
Ign, where he will stay for week or ten
days.
A Case of Larceny.
A colored fellow went with the boys as
general factotum, and made himself very
useful. but he did not seem to be satisfied
with the pay he got, and he selected Private
Love as a suitable one to levy on, but for
got to mention the matter to him, and when
Private Love missed his pocket book and a
crisp so bill he was highly incensed at such
a free-and-easy way of doing things. So
he and Capt Averill laid their plans. and
about o'clock on Monday evening the
colored gentleman was called on to explain
where he got twenty-dollar note which he
had had changed that day. He said he had
borrowed 1t from another colored fellow,
but when this other fellow was brought in
he swore he hadn't seen a twenty dollar bill
since he didn't know when. The camp fell
low then said he had picked the note up
in the sand near one of the tents, and was
waiting for 1t to be called for. He is now
living on the county there until the court
meets In October. He is certainly well
stocked with assurance, for he was at the
train this morning. ain charge of a police
man. and took up "a collection from the
boys.
The life-saving st2tfon at Ocean City was
an object of a grextt deal of interest, and
several of the boys took advantage of Capt
Duntons kind invitation to inspect 1t, and
went through it with him on Monday after
supper. They were very much pleased with
all the appointments and arrangements for
the saving Of life.
Sumntng Up.
The second encampment of company C
has not been as much Of an all-round sue
cess as the first. The seashore is a fine
place to play. but 1t is not suitable for much
military work, and Is not at all adapted for
engineering work. The loose. yielding sand
prevents any satisfactory drill practice. as
1t is too heavy work to get around at all to
do it with much regard to the way 1t is
done. And the same thing made all engin-
eering work douby difficult and wearisome.
Signaling practice could be had only at
short distances; good gabion material was
not to be had, ard such as could be gotten
the only speciality of the company which did
not suffer. Mr.. Fava was especially OBJ
lSing In going out with details for all kinds
OF work to get instantaneous pictures of the
men as they were actually at work. Other
cameras also assisted in getting this per-
manent ard truthful record Of the doings
OF the company. Quartermaster Sergt
Freeman deserves special mention. But in
spite Of all obstacles, the company has done
very well. and has profited much from its
ten days in camp.