The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-20
Iatos as Seen From the Hill Overlooking Camp City Guard

10 the woods and the picnic grounds near
Congress Springs, about five miles west of
Los Gatos; hence the name Congress
day
They started about 10 O'Clock in the
morning and drove out in more than half
dozen three and four-sezted surTeys and
other vehicles One surrey carried four
men in seat, and there were not less
than three in 3 seat in the entire process
sion They also carried cold solid and
liquid provisions, and plenty OF them,
sandwiches. hard boiled eggs. lemons TO
make lemonade with, pie. etc, and for
fruit-welI, If the plain truth must be told
OF soldiers outing, they got plenty OF
plumz and peaches by the roadside.
The drive was along 3 beautiful road
through orchards heavily laden with
fruit The odors of flowers and pines and
ripe fruit filed the air. OF to the left the
vineyards, orchards and wheat fields eE-
tended high up the mountaid sides The
com pzny bugIer sat on the front seat OF the
front wagon and trumpeted merrily his
lay, which awoke TIE echoes In the hills.
Il was delightful drive
The day under the trees was none the
less pleasant. Lunch was served by Quar-
termsster Clifford soon after the company
reached the grounds. Il was spread on
the broad tables under the trees The con-
versation was merry and the laughter ire
quent IS the eaEsbies passed rapidly from
the scene TO the unseen. When the rem
nants were cleared away the plcnickers
either repaired to the dancing platform,
where the company string band was al
f. Tra
strolIed in couples down the valley OF the
little creek. which puried gently BY the
side of the picnic grounds There was over
an hour OF dancing and then all followed
8 shady lane 10 the springs up
on the hill side The maximum
OF mineral water was consumed by DR..
Sieberst, QGsrtermaster-Generai Clifford
and Guardsman Osthof, but the minimum
was plenty for every body else. On the re-
turn to the picnic grounds the stroll had
its romantic as well as its sylvan side.
The entire company returned TO camp
about 5 O'Clock delighted with the days
outing. But before the start was made in
the morning the boy 5 had their usual early
morning work ST company and extended
order drill from TO $50 o'clock The
drilling IS done in the early morning so as
to eScaue the heat OF the day. Dress
parade was held at $50 o'clock on Rail-
road square, with the usual large crowd
OF Los Gatos spectators. For these pzrades
the guardsmen put on their swell dress
coats and their helmets They are a
handsome body OF young men, The large
number of Los Gstos young ladies who
look on is mute and beautiful evidence of
that fact. In regard to the way the COM
pany Is drilling Captain FiImer said to-
day:
isThe drill this morning was almost en-
tfrelv extended order the boys are doing
finely When they came of the field they
were perspiring freely, and still they
wanted more. They advance and retreat
they rush down the field yelling like q
hand OF Indians. At the command fire.
they have been merely swapping their
guns Tomorrow morning / snail give
Them few rounds OF blank cartridges and
let them do little firing. They are al
willing and hard workers in the drill.
am entirely satisfied
Either in The forenoon or afternoon OF
FRIDAY the sham battle will take place.
Company D tSkes as much interest in this
event as do the people OF Los Gatos, ard
their curiosity : far from small. The bat
tie will follow the same general Plan as
the sham battle had By the company .
few weeks ago st Inglss1de. The COM
pany will be divided into two plStoons-
O1e Will DS A1QN .. AA4r -@c--. I'LL &@-C
other as the Blues, though there viii be
nothing on the uniform 70 distinguish
them. Each man will have all the blank
cartridges his belt will carry. and II goes
without saying that there Will be plenty
OF noise, smoke ana large crowd OF spec
tators- II the battle gets too warm at
close quarters and there IS danger OF pow
der-burns on the faces OF the opposing
troops they viii be com PEELED 10 draw
back If Captain Filmer wants the Reds
70 draw back he will have red nag waved
and II the Blues must go back the blue Tag
will be waved The battle Will probably
take place in . large heid near the Ell