The record-union., 1894-10-01
UNFIT WEATHER FORt SIGNAL WORK.
Clouds and Rain Interfere With Hello
graphic Operations.
Dull Times In Camp for the Fourth
Brigade Signal Corps in the
Placer Foothills.

The members of the Fourth Brigade
Signal Corps have for some time past an
ticipated with pleasure their projected
trip to Auburn. They were to combine
pleasure with work in the vicinity of the
Placer County town, but the state of the
weather on Saturday and yesterday seri-
ously interfered with the programme of
the signalmen, and nothing could be
done in practicing with the heliograph
I'd flag. So the men had to content
themselves with morning saber drill and
ordinary camp duties.
When the members of the corps left
this city last Friday afternoon for their
three days encampment there were fore
bodings OF storm that would mar their
pleasure and prevent them from further
adding to their knowledge in their par
ticular branch of the service. They ar
rived at Auburn, on horseback, about
O'Clock Saturday morning and proceeded
direct TO Camp futile, which they named
in honor OF the Captain of Company ID.
The tents had been erected beforehand,
ana the cook-hOuSe and other neceSSaries
OF well-regulated camp prepared some
days ahead.
Saturday morning found the men all
ready TO begin the work mapped out, but
the atmosphere was too hazy for hello
graph signaling, and exercise in the saber
driH was taken up in the hope that the
sun would soon emerge from behind the
mountaineering clouds.
The hearts OF the boys were sad indeed
when the clouds began to grow darker
and dar ker, and short time afterward
heavy rainstorm set in, which kept up
the remainder of the day and all of yes
terday.
The members OF the corps, from Lieu
tenant Martin down, and including the
dlgnlhed brigade signal officer, Major
w. ii. Sherburn, were SO discouraged
that they contemplated breaking camp
and coming home by rail. The question
was whether they should stay in camp
and discuss the late strike and the DO
lltical campaign or go into town through
a drenching RAIN and sit by the stove in
the hotel and wait either for the weather
to clear up or starting time for the return
trip to this city.
A social was to have been given on
Saturday evening, under the auspices of
Company ID. and the members of the
corps were to be the guests of Auburn 8
weather caused the affair to be aban-
doned, and this only added to the disap-
polntment OF the visitors. However, the
outcome OF the council was decision to
remain and trust to the weather.
1esterday morning the weather began
clearing up, aud the indications were that
to-day would be clear enough for hello
graphic work and flag signaling.
In the forenoon the camp, which is To-
Gated at the race-track, about mile from
Auburn, was visited by General Shee-
han, Lieutenant w. b. MaydweIl and
Lieutenant l. A. Robie. They pro-
nounced 1t we'll laid out, and commented
iavorably on the manner in which camp
duties were performed
Ii the atmosphere should be clear
enough to-day long-dlstance signaling
with the heliograph will be practiced,
supplemented with communicating to
and from various points with flags.
The corps will break camp tonight and
arrive IN this city tomorrow morning,