Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-08-12

i Y % :.,; s:.''' q a.
they awoke to hear the rain pattering
on the canvas roof overhead The first
four days Of the encampment had been
perfect weather, but it had been too
good to last, and during the night hours
the rain clouds stole a march on the
camp.
Thera came, soaked and conquered
IL had things all its own way from
reveille TO taps and not even the Gov
ernor, or the adjutant general or the
camp commander had any authority
over It, 1t broke up all the plans fof
what had promised to be one Of the
best days of the week II prevented
the proposed mock battle. and the
heroes who We're thlrsting for gore had
to satiate their thirst on rain water.
Ii sounded recall when an attempt
was made to drill the troops, both IA
the morning and afternoon, and uttered
an emphatic Mo- when any thought
was entertained of a dress parade. The
music of its steady drizzle and drip hai
to serve as substitute for noon
concert. To make matters more ag-
gravating. the rain would occasionally
cease the clouds tighten up and break
| away, and then the hearts of all would
beat lighter, the flag would attempt 4
faint iiutter and the boys would lifr
the tent flaps and gaze out hopefully
But when the rain thus let up it was
ways made up for such lost time Yes
it was rainy day of the regulation
muster style, and it gave the Guard an
excellent opportunity to experience the
unpleasant, uncomfortable and seamy
side of camp life.
The prophets of evil had a chance to
say Il told you you so" and they inn
proved the opportunity. For ii always
does seem to rain on muster week.
times only on the special days But
this year everything had begun in such
perfect manner. Gen. Richards had ar
ranged everything so nicely in advance,
and officers and men were all doing
such grand work that we hoped the
old hoodoo was broken, and that the
magnificent weather of the opening
days would continue to the end NJ
such luck. Jupiter Pluvius felt himself
bigger than any man who wears gold
braid and buttons. and so he came 10
Camp Powers and upset the best laid
he Us making a record in this line. this
year. But we will forgive and forget
all. If the clouds will only clear away
and give the blue skies chance 10
smile on the camp today, Governors
day, the great day of all the week
Yes. the rain spoiled almost every
thing on the programme at Camp
Powers, yesterday. 1t began early and
continued late with an occasional spell
of letting up. The commissioned Off.
GERS rifle match was worked off be-
tween showers, as is described below
but the sham battle. drills, parades
and concerts were all broken up The
guard mount at s o'clock was of d
hurried and informal character in both
regiments and was performed with
field music only, the services of the
band being dispensed with. 1t was a
bad day for the men on guard duty, but
not SO bad as it might have been, for
during the periods when the rain came
down the hardest about noontime and
late in the afternoon, the guards were
ordered in and allowed to remain in the
shelter of their tents. Thus for mum
Der of hours Camp Powers was without
sentinels and Spanish or Japanese
force might have advanced within fir
ing distance without being discovered |
NO Zoe appeared, however, and when |
the storm was less violent the guards
resumed their beats. The guards In
front of general and regmental head
quarters We're not relieved.
The duty of policing the camp, yes
terday morning. and giving it is daily
clearing and cleaning up, was per-
formed by squads made up of those
who had tried to run the guard the |
made very effective this year through |
work of those in charge of this depart
ment and it is a very foxy boy who can
slip out Of camp or back into it after
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