The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-10-21

clerks occupied tents in the rear. The
second night after NY return to camp q
regular southern tornado came up,
Rain fell in torrents and the wind blew
great guns, catching the tents and flies
and carrying those not we'll guyed off
like balloons at the first blast. The
two clerks and | were still writing when
the storm began, and dropping every
thing, we sprang to the heavy tent poles
and grasping them with tenacity born
of previous experience, held ON for dear
life.
In the other tents around us We could
hear many observations, more fervent
than elegant, in regard to the damage
done by the storm. From Col Mikes
tent, Immediately in rear of Headquar-
tiers, we could at first hear nothing but
SHORES; but sudden gust of wind
struck the tents, and in the midst of our
struggles with the wavering poles We
heard the swapping of cords and flap
ping OF canvas against the end Of our
tent, that surely indicated disaster Of
some sort to the ColonePs sleeping ar.
rangements. Before we could deter
mine the nature of the damage We
heard well-known voice shout:
John Myersl John Myers con-
found you, John Myers come and
catch my tent"
John Myers was the ColonePs facto-
tum, and had charge Of his body and
creature comforts. He slept in wedge
tent near the Coloneps, which, being
small and we'll anchored to the ground,
had not budged, and John was still in
it sleeping like tired angel. As the
fury of the wind had abated after this
sudden burst, / surrendered my hold on
the tent pole and fastened to see what
was the matter with the Colonel.
found him standing, bareheaded,
beside his cot, ON which he had deter
minedly placed one foot, to prevent it
also from taking flight. He was clad
only in his hickory shirt, with which the
wind was dallying in playful, fantastic
way, and, with the rain beating wantonly
on his devoted head, was still calling on
John Myers for aid, and matchmaking
bis slowness in getting to the front.
Just as | had succeeded In getting
hold of one corner of his truant tent
John Myers stuck his head out of his
little "dog tent" and, taking in the
situation at glance, with the excla-
nation, "Lawd a masseyI" darted
back into his tent and returned in a
jify to the aid of his Colonel, with a
cake of soap in one hand and towel In
the other.
"Blood and booty man, what's the
matter with your" reared Col. Mike.
Why, Colonel" said John, II
thought it would be a good time to take
that bath you was talking about last
night"
Bath b-a-a-a-t-h !" shrieked Col.
Mike frantically; "you grinning idiot !
can't you see Pm nearly drowned al
ready? Fetch me something to cover
me, and be quick about it."
The factotum hurried off and returned
in moment with a rubber poncho with
slit for the head in the center of it.
Col. Mike thrust his head through the
slit, and allowed the ample folds of the
poncho to droop about his rather heroic
proportions.
When John Myers had found his felt
hat and put that upon his head, Lawler
smiled complacently, and remarked that
he felt as if he "was once more sur
rounded with the comforts Of civiliza-
tion."
1t was some time before the storm
ceased and it was safe to retire, but far
into the night we could hear John Myers
chuckling and telling the Headquarters
sentry about Col Mixes bath.