Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-17
CHANCES WERE EVEN
Contest Between Pluvius and Old. Sol
at Fort Washington.
THE COMMISSIONERS Is VISITORS
The Guards Are Already Anticipat-
ing the Wind-Up.
FINAL ORDERS PREPARED
FINAL ORDERS PREPARED
BY Special Wire.
The Evening Star Headquarters,

BY Special Wire.
The Evening Star Headquarters.
Camp Washington,
FORT WASHINGTON, Nd, June II, 1897.
The outlook at reveille on the day set
apart for the visit of the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia to Camp Wash
ington was hardly propitioUs. During the
morning ominous clouds overcast the sky,
and the chances were evenly divided be-
tween rainfall and a clear-up. Later, how
ever, the sun seemed to be asserting the
master hand and the Indications were that
the camp would be favored with perfect
weather. Nothing out of the ordinary was
noticeable during the day in the way of
preparations for the coming of the distin-
guished visitors. The Commissioners &C
cepted The invitation to visit camp extended
yesterday by General Ordway, through
Capt. Alfred p. Robbins of his staff, and
they were scheduled to leave Washington
at 2:SU o'clock this afternoon on the steam
launch Bartholdi, accompanied by Major
George III. Harr.es, serving as the personal
representative of General Ordway. Upon
reaching Fort " ashlngton, the formal wei
come IL the Commissioners VIII be in the
form of the governors salute of seventeen
guns and the turning out of the exterior
and prov oSt guards.
A:Ier being received by the commanding
general, the Comm SIS oners will witness All
exhibition drill by the "a Battalion, with
Company Il, LIST Battalion, attac heu.
Major Richard 4. O'Bricn VIII BE IN COM
mdnd, with Capt. +. c. Edwards command
ing Company A, Capt. Edgar A. Shilling
commanding Company Il, Capt. Charles ..
Domer commanding Company and Capt
Charles ,. Shreeve commanding the LIST
battalion Company. Company ID, 9TH Bat
talon, Will then be mounted as provost
guard. after which the Comm ssioners will
he escorted to the parade ground to wit
ness dress parade and the ceremony of
passing in review before the colors. They
Viii depart for the city shortly after the
evening ceremony.
Engineer Commissioner Black will wear
the full dress uniform of captain of en-
sineers, L. s. A.
The day was an unusually quiet one in
camp. Company c, 4th Battalion, was
and from till IL o'clock the 1st and I'd
Regiments organized as battalionS, and
also the First Separate Battalion maneuv-
cred In extended order drill. Company
drills, because of the heat, were suspended
this afternoon.
Major Otto q. Simonson of the 9Th Bat
talon. is acting as field officer of the day
with First Lieutenant Degroot of Company
ID, ID Battalion, as officer of the day for
the LIST Regiment. and Capt. J. NJ. Will
liams. Company ID, 4ch Battalion, acting
IN a similar capacity for the I'd Regiment.
A heavy thunder storm passed over camp
r.
This has become daily occurrence. Rain
fell in torrents for some time, and of the
large number of visitors but few escaped
without a wett:ng. The attendance through
out the camp and at dress parade has in
creased steadily from day to day, and yes
terday by far the largest crowd of the out
ing was on the grounds.
That the camp is rapidly drawing to a
close Is plainly felt at Fort Washington.
General orders No. II We're framed this
afternoon providing for the breaking of
camp and the departure for the city The
mcst interesting feature of the orders is
that tn troops will probably reach Wash
irgton about 1920 or IL o'clock Saturday
morning, and that there will be no parade
after reaching the city The troops will
be dismissed at the steamboat wharf and
Will proceed to their respective armories
in any order their commanding officers
may see fit to adopt. 1t will he remember
ed that on reaching the city after the close
of the camp two years ago the ceremony
of dress parade and passing in review he
fore the colors was held on the White
Lot.
The Final Touches.
AT reveille Saturday morning all the
guards will be withdrawn. The officers of
the guard before the dismissal will turn
over all property in use at the guard tents
as well the report books. The exterior
guard is to be. wholly disbanded and re-
lieved from duty, while the provost guard
will be held ready for duty until the troops
disembark at Washington.
Immediately after breakfast Saturday
morning commissaries will collect all mess
furniture, and the BuZzacott ovens will be
cleaned and packed ready 70 he turned over
to the commiss2ry general Immediately
after the departure of the troops.
| The general will be sounded at O'Clock
| III the morning. at which signal all tents
| except those occupied by officers will be
| struck, II they are dry. Having been
| struck, the tents will be folded and tied.
4 ant ,.fy 11-fn 10 wee -, 81
This accomplished the bed sacks are to be
| placed in one pile, 20 be designated by
| the battalion quartermastcrs.
| The assembly is to be sounded st S:45
| full marching order.
They will proceed to the boat and en-
| bark for Washington. Quartermasters
and quartermaster sergeants are directed
| to remain in camp to superintend the turn
| ing in of property and the hauling of bag
| gage TO the wharf. Wagons will begin
| hauling baggage at o'clock in the morn
| iEg. The baggage will reach Washington
| at o clock in the afternoon.
| Planning for the Skirmish.
| Up to a late hour this afternoon no Or
ders of instructions had even been outlined
| providing for the proposed field maneuvers
| tomorrow. 1t is expected, however as
. heretofore stated, that the first and sec
| ond regiments, carrying rations in haver-
| sacks. Will march away from the camp at
| an early hour in the morning. When they
| have proceeded a certain distance, or at a
| certain time to be fixed, the commanding
| officer of each body will receive orders
| one to attack and the other to defend the
| camp. There will be umpires to decide as
| to which organization is the more skill
| fully Unanswered.
| Dr. Harrisburg of the surgeon generals
| office, War Department, a visitor to camp,
| declares the ambulance corps of the d. e.
| n. O. to be the most efficient organization
| of lis kind in the United States
Major George Henderson, surgeon gem
| eral is so well pleased with the work of
| the ambulance boys that he has directed
| Lieut.. Fayles to give an exhibition drill
| before the close of the encamDment
| The dainty creature who was attired In
| blue Sunday visited camp again yesterday,
| This time in white. As usual Capt. c. Sum-
| per Davis-he insists the use of the
| 'Davis'-Domer was the lucky man.
| Col. UreITs Appeal.
| Lieut.. Col. NJ. Emmett Urell of the I'd
regiment visited The Evening Star head
quarters last evening and pleaded that
| the impression which prevailed that he
| was the officer who ordered the corporal of
| the guard 10 extinguish the light of the
| moon few evenings ago be contradicted
| Loud reports as though bloody strife
was in progress resounded throughout the