The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-18
Wind-up Of the GARDENERS
Island Camp.
Rhode Island Naval Reserves
Are Now at Home.
The Boys Have a Sunset Complexion
as a Mement0.

Yesterday morning the Rhode Island
Battalion of Naval Reserves struck
camp on Gardiners' Island and after day
fraught with hard work and tedious sail
ing arrived home, browner, harder
set of men by far than they were q
weeF ago.
Little Rhody's men were the last to ar
rive in camp and the last to leave and
the week they have spent on the island,
isolated from intercourse with the out
side world has done them an immeasur-
able amount of good. In brief it has de-
veloped the esprit de corps long lacking
in the organization, taught them the
true importance Of the naval reserves and
rounded them into O better set OF "sol-
diers and sailors too"
There was plenty of hard work and
but few hours OF recreation, but as the
men were out with the intention of
"cramming' all the knowledge they
could in the few days away, no COM
plants we're heard. But in those few
leisure hours there were pleasures long
to be remembered, "reminiscences that
withstand retelling in the winter nights
before the wide open fire place and the
cementlng OF a friendship between New
York, Connecticut and Rhode Island
that will be extremely hard to strain.
The baby company OF the State, the
Providence Naval Reserve Artillery Com
pany, went into camp with fear and
trent bling.
They were green and they knew II, but
the intercourse with the half hundred
other men rubbed off their nervousness
and as a result they marched through
the streets of Providence last night In
their dirty white walking suits, pea
haa Al ~ xstff
confidence and swing that elected con-
siderable applause from the gathered by
ISLANDERS on the urbstones.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Me-
Adoo, took a deep interest in the work.
ing of the camp, and with Lieutenant
Niblack, u. 5. NJ, visited the island
daily, giving instructions and doing
everything in their power to help the re-
serves.
During the whole week the water and
food was below the standard of what II
should have been. Tehune. the New
York caterer, proved TO be hat OF
a failure. The dishes he set before the
men were of poor quality, and not III
the least appetising. This could have been
stood, however, had good wholesome
water been provided, but even this was
denied the men. Nothing but brackish
dirty liquid could be obtained. There
was one well from which clear, sparkling
water could be procured, out II had
to be used sparingly, Test 1t should run
dry, as 1t gave indications OF doing on
several occasions
Paymaster Lippitt's steam yacht, the
Velthar, known as the X. ]. N. NJ. Gag
ship, proved to be q great acquisition to
the command and showed how essential q
steam launch or yacht is to the welfare
of the organization.
There Is now some talk OF prudence Is
land being used during the summer
Saturdays and Sundays as a camping
ground for volunteer crews OF the K. j.
Reserves. The New York's use Sands
Point for a similar purpose, and the sug-
gestion is likely TO meet with considers
BILE favor.
GARDENERS Island will hereafter be OF
considerable importance to the govern
ment. AS a result of the work done by
the reserves, the island. which Is OF great
importance from a stragetic standpoint
will be used as a signal station. An elab-
crate signal tower will be built on one OF
the prominent promontorles, from which
signals can re flashed with the heliograph
TO the mainland.
While the L.. s. 8. Cincinnati was In
Cherry cove for the instruction Of the
reserves there, she went aground on Sew
en- Foot bang,a nd it is expected that she
will ne dry.docked on her return to. New
York.