Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-01
Proposed Adoption Of Unmilitary
Methods at Sea Girt.
MASSACHUSETTS, SPECIALLY MADEGUN
Georgia Wants to Use a Special
Barrel.
DANGER IN THE PRECEDENT
Staff Correspondence of The Evening Star.
CAMP RIGGS, Sea Girt, N. j..


CAMP RIGGS, Sea Girt. N. j..
August &c. 1896.
Wholly uneventful was the ride from
Washington to Sea Girt. The two special
carloads of rinemen were permitted to
journey across Maryland. Delaware. Penn
sylvania and New Jersey without Interior
ence. There was no evidence Of popular
enthusiasm at any stage Of the journey.
so those members Of the detachment who
held themselves in readiness to address
any kind of multitude from the rear plat
form of the last car had no opportunity to
achieve oratorlcal distinction. At Whining
ton there developed marvellous display OF
appetite. which for a few minutes threaten
ed the life of young man who had no
idea of the fearful risk he was taking
when he boarded the train. Not that can
nibalism was contemplated by the hungry
ones: what they wanted was something to
eat, and the young man was loaded down
to the guards wit sandwiches and fried
oysters and fruit Ten he recovered con-
seriousness the train was at Chester and
the edibles were truly "out Of sight" But
If the pressure on the Wilmington lunch
vendor was terrific for awhile 1t was also
profitable.
At Philadelphia there were notable ad-
ditions to the trainload- One of them was
Col. George FELTON,, an assistant quarter
master general Of Jersey and never
wearying friend to the District National
Guard. The other addition was in the
shape of about thirty Pennsylvania sharp
shooters. commanded by Col Asher Miner
the Keystone general inspector of rifle prac-
t1ce. There were mutually warm greet
ings and lots of good-natured chaff as to
the probabilities concealed in the week Of
competition. which opens tomorrow.
Sea Girt was reached at $40 and the de-
tachment was in camp within fifteen min
utes. Captain Parmenter's forethought
made things much easier for the District
contingent than they were for other teams
tEat came into camp at the same time
cots We're In the tents and there was in
readiness for issue supply OF blankets
and overcoats. Later there were candles
and buckets and washbasins and camp
stools until everybody was comfortable
IEese things were essential, but for awhile
they were simply insignificant when COM
pared with supper It is to be presumed
that before the close of the meeting the
caterer will make some profit out Of his
dealings with those who patronize him, but
that he lost money on last nights sumner
must have been painfully evident to him
The caterer has sand. though, for he smil-
ed at the multitude while 1t destroyed his
viands as rapidly was compa tibIe with
the regulations common in good society.
Two Blankets Not Enough.
Anybody in Washington would say that
at this season Of the year two blankets
ought to afford sufficient nighttime
warmth for the average man. 1t probably
would be overmuch in Washington Just
now. but it was insufficient here last night.
This evening additional blankets will be
issued 80 as to render 1t unnecessary. for
the chilly rihemen to pile overcoats and
gun covers and camp stools and leggins on
TOP or the customary covering.
AT this hour the delegations in camp rep
setts. New Jersey and the District. New
york Is expected tomorrow. Canada and
Iowa and Maine will stay away. although it
was beheyed a week or two ago that they
be unrepresented. This means that the
Hilton trophy and the Soldier of Marathon
VIII be shot for by practically the same
teams that competed for them year ago,
Special Make of Gun.
Perhaps there may not be friction of a
serious sort over guns and ammunition,
but as things now appear there is likeli-
mood OF argument and probably protest.
massachusetts, has. it is understood, come
armed with specially made Winchester
sngle-shot rifle of high grade, which the
Massachusetts team proposes to use in the
Hilton and Marathon matches. If permits
sion to do this Is granted by the Sea Girt
authorities then Georgia will Use q sDecfal
Remington barrel. And then there will he
music by the entire band. New York wants
that chance. for its men here are loaded
down with many interesting methods of
doing those rif1emen who use the govern
ment arm. Pennsylvania is not inclined to
be imposed upon. and 1t Is not likely that
the District will attempt to initiate a door
mat. Jersey. however, will not be much
concerned anyway. for Jersey does not cal
culate upon cutting much of figure in the
competitions besides this is Jerseys range
ana Jersey stands In the position Of a host
admitted. there will be protests direct and
vigorous. The protests may not avail. and
should that be so this will be the beginning
of the end of Sea Gfrt as an annual meeting
place of any consequence to rihemen gen
orally. Creedmoor died of unmilitary
methods. and Sea Girt may die of the same
complaint.
If that should come to pass there would
be real reason for grief among believers in
the virtues Of military craftsmanship, for
the Sea Girt authorities are Of the salt of
the earth: more popular gentlemen than
Gen. Spencer and his associates cannot
cannot be run long on nothing more sub
stantial than personal popularity.
Pennsylvania was defeated in its first
contest with the District Of Columbia. It
was walking match. Both teams were
marching from the railroad station to
camp. Pennsylvania took a short cut and
was well In the lead when the capitalians
started IN pursuit. For awhile it was nip
and tuck'-whatever that may Debut an
increase of cadence and a lengthening of
step backed by logged pertinacty, put the
District of Columbia detachment in camp
ahead.
1t is among the probabilities that New
Jersey will have the governor Of the state
on Its big team. Gov. Griggs is a ye-v
skillful marksman. Gen. Spencer is anx-
ious that the governor should put his skill
to some practical use. When the governor
arrives-as he probably will tomorrow-.he
general will try to persuade the governor
to do the state service before the targets
in the Hilton and Marathon matches
A number of New Jersey officers have
called at the Districts headquarters tent,
among them being Quartermaster General
Donnelly, Gen. B. w. Spencer. Gen. G. E.
p. Howard. Lieut. Col. Myers. Capt. DeLan-
cey Walker and Capt. Graft.
The ladies of the party are Mrs. Geo. H.
Harries, Mrs. and Miss Parmenter Mrs.
James E. Bell, Miss Vale and Mrs Bush.
They are all quartered at Asbury Park.
Very little bathing was done along shore
near Sea Girt today. The surf was high
and the currents were strong.
More than two score of the local men
went to Long Branch and Asbury Park
today.