Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-07-18


week, created quite sensation among
the officers and the men on guard, but
the facts were not generally known
until Wednesday afternoon. While the
occurrence was by no means pleasant,
1t proved beyond doubt that the mem.
bers Of the Baptist Boys Brigade are
brave set of fellows.
1t was between Ii and 10 o'clock, and
everybody except those who were as
signed to picket duty were supposed TO
be asleep. The lights at Gordon Heights
Park had long disappeared and nobody
except the cadets and officers had any
right to be stirring in the neighborhood
Of the camp ground.
Nothing could be heard save the
measured step Of the guards and the
noise of the insects In the adjoining
wood, when suddenly a report came
from one of the posts that suspicious
characters were seen stirring about
stealthily on the outskirts Of the en-
campment. The corporal OF the guard
was summoned to the post and he in
turn notified Col. Dougherty that some
thing was wrong and an investigation
had better be made. There was hur-
ried conference among the officers, and
It was decided to make careful exami-
nation Of all the territory surrounding
the camp ground. A few of the officers
among the boys had overheard the older
officers discussing the matter and they
asked permission 10 accompany the men
on their search. Permission was granted
and the boy officers donned fatigue uni
forms and weapons aud the reconnoiter-
ing party started out to look for any
miscreants that might be in the vicinity.
The squad of officers had not pro-
ceeded far, when they ran across
dangerous-looking gang of negro men
on the edge OF tue wood near the rail-
way tracks. They were evidently sur
prised by the appearance of the officers,
for they apparently made no effort to
escape.
The negroes were asked what business
they had on the premises at that hour of
the night. One OF the party replied that
they had been to Gordon Heights and
were returning TO Wilmington and had
stopped TO rest. Col. Dougherty told
them they had better move on, for he
felt sure they were there for no good
purpose. Accordingly, the colored men
made a start as if to come toward Will
mington, and the officers returned to the
camp.
AS precautionary measure the guard
was doubled. The officers who had &C.
companied the men in the seach were
detailed on extra guard duty when they
returned to camp, and orders were com
municated to the pickets on each post to
report'at once the appearance Of any
body in the vicinity.
Quiet again reigned for a short time,
but it was whispered among some of the
guards that the negroes were still Turk
ing about and that they simply eluded
the officers when they made move as
If TO come to Wilmington. The report
proved to be true, for n short time after
the investigating party returned, dark
forms were seen prowling about in
another quarter. The alarm was given,
and another search was instituted.
Again the negroes were run down, and
they were told that if they did not leave
the place forthwith they would be ar
rested and locked up in camp. 1t is be-
lieved that the threat and the knowledge
that they were being watched caused
them to leave the place, as nothing more
was seen OF them during the night.
While the accommodating party was
still on the outskirts of the camp they
stumbled across three tents and two
tent flies lying in the road in the vicinity
OF where the negroes had been seen.
The natural conclusion was that the
tents and flies had been stolen by the
negroes from a place where they were
stored on the camp ground. OF course
this is not known, as nobody saw them
carry the tents off, but the find looked
extremely suspicious and led to the
belief that tue negroes, who were a
rough looking set, had invaded the
camp for tue purpose of carrying of
4 whatever they could get their hands on.
A further search failed to reveal any
other evidences of theft or attempted
theft, and the remainder of the night
passed without incident.
The boy officers certainly showed
their bravery when they made the re.
quest that they be allowed TO assist in
the search, and the older commanders
feel very proud of them for it. Some oil
the privates, when they heard OF the
affair, were sorry that they had not had
the same opportunity to show their grit
WEDNESDAY WAS BIG DAY.
Wednesday was the liveliest that hat
yet been experienced at the camp. The
boys were visited by their mothers
fathers, sisters and friends, and it is esti
mated that during the day there wer,
in the neighborhood of 1.C00 guests on
the camp ground. II was styled ladies
day, and the fair sex were there in larg,
numbers. Fully 400 visitors were from
Philadelphia, and the remainder cam,
from this city and the surroundinl
country. Every boat was well filled ane
the trolley line did good business al
the afternoon and evening. Numerous
teams aud bicycles were also seen VI
the ground.
Among the more prominent guests
were noticed Adjutant. General Hart
ex-Mayor Shortlidge, President Walei
of the Board of Health, Preston Lea
Superintendent Heger of the City Rail
way Co., ex.Mayor Austin Harrington
United States Court Clerk Mahalfy
William Lawton, George II. Mccall
Assistant Adjutant-G G. Park,
Postles, State Detective Witsil, all o
this city; Hiram Horter, chief of th
bureau OF public safety of Philadelphia
Rev. b. McMackin, secretary of tn
Philadelphia City Mission; Mrs. d.
Hancock, 0. It. Williams, Edwar,
Erwin, Frank Keller, John Whitworth
William Silence, William Mcclure, al
of Philadelphia; Rev. Madison Hare o
Burlington, N. j., aud others.
National Guardsmen from Philadel
phia aud this city We're also on til
grounds, and they manifested an un
usual interest in the work Of the boyi
They commented very favorably o
what they saw.
1t was the intention of the officers I
have a sham battle in the afternoon, bu
ii was decided to postpone this ever
until later in the week, in order
allow the boys to get little more drill
ing. The entire brigade has never bee
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