Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-29
NAVAL RESERVES At WORK
Accomplishing Much Good at
the Enoampment.
EXAMINING THE WATER WAYS
Valuable Information is Being
Complied.
The Signal Corps. too. is Practicing Daily
and is Reaching Toward a High Degree of
frofciency-The Camp Visited Thursday
by 5000 People, Many of Whom We're
Philadelphians.


fhladelphiHns.
Special Correspondent OF Gazette and Journal
Augustine Pier, Aug. %. Upwards
OF 3, 600 people visited the encampment
of the Pennsylvania Naval Reserves
here to-day; in fact, in point Of interest
manifested by visitors this was the
great day Of the camp. 1t was an
nounced-but nobody seems to know by
what authority--that there would be a
sham battle during the afternoon. The
announcement was not merely local,
from mouth to mouth, but was pub,
lished and posted on the bill-bosrds
and fences. But the battle failed to
materialize.
"We cannot spare any men" Lieu
tenant Commander George Breed in
formed the reporter of EVERY Even
ing. ~ eve never thought of having
sham battle or any other kind of a
battle. Our men are too numerous to
kill any of them" The commander
evidently meant that he would take no
risks at sham warfare or anything that
would endanger or imperil the lives of
his men. His'tone, however, was rather
in the manner of joke than other
wise, for his marine guardsmen are as
well able and quite as competent to
engage in a sham battle as any other
set of soldiers-either regulars or
guardsmen.
However, the report drew many
people who evidently wendell their way
to the pier for no other purpose than
to see the sham battle. In reality,
there was less OF interest at the en-
campment, in the eyes Of a casual
observer, to-day than on several other
days; but the men were down to
genuine hard work, they accomplish
ing more good results than on any
previous day. The visitors-that is
the great majority of them-did not
know what was going on, and what
they did see was Greek, metaphorically
speaking.
But the fact that the people did not
understand what was being done did
not prevent them from having an en-
joyable time, and it is safe to say that
pleased. They saw big crowd OF
pier were in full bloom all day; Sc
there was nothing but enjoyment all
the time, and those on the grounds got
The crowd was probably the most
diversified that ever gathered together
in this commonwealth. 1t was indeed
an interesting lot Of people, one that
would attract the attention of the mind
reader or the student of humanity.
Early in the day the farmers began
dearborn, cart and on foot, and before
| @ho - tho G,,e+ ~
city people it partook considerably of a
rural campmeeting. The fences fol
some distance in every direction were
lined with teams of divers shapes and
stages of usefulness. There were good,
bad and Indifferent vehicles, and some
Of the horses were interesting subjects
in themselves. The great majority,
however, were fine, hearty looking
animals, nearly every visitor who came
by team having pressed into service his
best rig, The rural Lothario was in
evidence everywhere, and he had with
him his best girl, to whom he would
invariably cling very tight. He woulc
clasp her hand with one of his, and it
| the other he would brandish the car
riage whip, which, Of course, he hac
to keep close eye on to prevent il
| Del1R bIOleu. COunlES p6Oplc vert
coming to the pier all day, but the
majority came in the morning. Mos
Of them brought their dinners and in
tended to put in a full day. The
country for at least 20 miles around
was well represented, and everybody
had an opportunity of seeing and con
versing with friends he had not seer
since the last circus showed in thu
rural end of the county.
| Before noon there was good con
tingent of city people, Wilmington ant
Philadelphia contributing largely Il
the gathering. There were between
l, 600 and 1,500 Wilmingtonians on thu
grounds during the afternoon, and fully
| 2, 000-if not more-came down from
Philadelphia on the Richard Stockton
So it can be imagined, the park,
being rather limited in area, was some
what crowded.
1t was generally expected that Act
ing Gov. Watson and his staff would
be present to-day, but they were no
here, and it is not known when they
will come, if at all. The only mar
here to-day who could hold up the
dignity of the State was Senator Pylt
OF Wilmington. He was on decl
| anu CAlCuldlCQ dillOnS the uldFilt
soldiers considerably. The officeri
made his acquaintance and seemed a
once to take fancy to him.
Capt Rutter Of Philadelphia, mem
Der of the Second Pennsylvania Regi
ment, was the only military visitor
during the day. He came down from
the Quaker City on his yacht, and wal
highly pleased with the general appear
ance Of the encampment, and compli
mented the officers of the success at
tending ii.
On the camp-ground there was moth
ing unusual to-day; in fact, there wal
less observance of camp routine thar
on any previous day of the encamp-
ment. But the reason was the men were
otherwise engaged on special detail
The most interesting event to tht
spectators was the dress parade, which
took place at 6. 30 O'Clock this evening.
The citizen soldiers acquitted them
selves remarkably well and merited the
admiration which was bestowed or
them. The music of the State Fen
cible's Band of Philadelphia, which il
with the marines, is excellent, anc
those who heard it tonight were enter.
tanned.
Many people are not aware that great
good is being accomplished by the mer
now in camp at the pier They are moi
a lot of worthless fellows whose sole
aim is to lounge about and live like
lords ON the fat of the land. They are