The National tribune., 1896-09-10
LIFE AT CAMP MASON.
Thousands Of Comrades Passed the Time
Comfortably Oh, the Great Field.


Comfortably Oh the Great Field.
We'll, this looks natural. 1t takes me right
back to the days when : marched with Sher-
stood in front Of the Headquarters tent at Camp
Mason Monday and looked south and over the
stirring scene. But say, boys" he continued,
"there's more comfort to tire square inch here
visible ut glance than We saw In q month in
the Co.'S"
The great camp covered an area Of six city
blocks near Shelby and igiehart streets. The
commanding officers tent, occupied by Gen.
Nuremberg and Capt. Hart, stood at the juno
ton of Day ton avenue and Milton street. In
front of the tent was tie fagpoe. from which
Old Glory hoated. The Adjutants and the
Officer of the Guards tents. with the two hos
pItal tents, under the supervision Of Lieut.
Robert A. Wheaton, were near by. The parade
ground was just across tho street, and occupied
about half block.
The big restaurant marques and eight addi-
tional tents for the Citizens Committee were
pitched farther across the space. There was
plenty of room. A number of the W.R.C. were
also in the camp. Plenty of water was fur-
nishcd from the street bydranis and large
barrel Of leo water located on every street sur
rounding the camp. The cable cars made it
easily reached from the city, and thousands oil
people were daily on the ground to see the Eli
campment. Adjt- Gen. Herman Nuremberg and
Capt. w. II. Hart. the Quartermaster. were
hard at work making everything comfortable.
Alexander Welcome Post 10. Mansato,
Mimi, $50 strong. were the first TO register at
the Adjuiants office. Following came Sam
Loden Post, "a. MapletoD. MINI; 117, of River
Falls Wis; 149, of Huron Lake. Mimi; John
f. Reynolds 81, Of Alexandria, Mimi; Joseph
Mower Ill, of Pine Island, Mimi.
| The arrangements for feeding the men was
| well considered, and a very good meal was
| served at a reasonable price. The mess tents
were capable of seating 400 men, and it was
i possible to prepare food for 1000 or 5000 men
| per day. There had also been prepared quick
| lunch counter for those who did not care to sit
at the regular table, aud for those who visited
| the camp.
The following were the hours of routine
! through the week: Reveille, first call, 5:4a
a. M; gun FIRE, 5:55; reveille. g.; breakfast
| call, 6:l5; guard mounting, first call, 100
| sick call, g, assembly, $40; band concert
10; dinner call. 12 M; band concert. P. No..
supper, &; retreat first call, $50: assembly, Z
band concert, g.; tattoo, 8; taps, 10.
! The veterans soon fell into the old ways
| again, and answered the calls with great display
| of discipline. To show how strong are the
memories OF camp life during the war, and how
| we'll and truly they have become perpe.uated
| in the heart of the old soldier, they were ou
OF their cots on the instant the crack OF INT
sunrise gun was heard, and at mess call at
| every mothers son of them, however old, wa!
| in line. 1t was really remarkable to see scores
of silvery- haired and tottering men climbin:
into their clothes in haste in order to escap,
| the eager and nipping air" of the early
| morning and to be on the line at roll-call
Eventually the lines of Camp Mason surround
ed territory embracing 10 squares for ths
| veterans came by the thousands, and hundred
brought their own tents. Some of the vet
said they would not have been anywhere els
at the Encampment. 1t made things seem rea
without the discom forts of war time.