The herald., 1897-08-08
NOTES OF THE ENCAMPMENT
THE MORNING HOURS DEVOTED
TO DRILL
An Accident to the Chaplain-The
Ball Friday Night-Signal
Corps at Work

encampment took place this morning at
ten minutes past five, a detail of two SER
geants and two color guards from the
companies were the primary cause of it.
They received the flag from the senior
officer Of the guard and marched to the
flagstaff where instead of fastening it
to the halyards and running it to the top
of the pole as soon as the gun was fired,
Sergeant r. B. Roe of Company E rolled
it up in ball until 1t looked as though
it never would be unrolled again. But
appearances sometimes are deceptive,
for the flag was run to the top of the pole
rolled tight, and at the moment the
morning gun was fired, one pull on the
halyards loosened the roll and there was
Old Glory flying in the breeze.
After breakfast the different compa-
nies had company drill. These drills
give the men the very best schooling,
for they are put through all the different
movements, skirmish drill being the
main feature as it wouldltake hall hav-
ing several acres of floor space to put a
company through the mareuvers.
The naval battalion, which arrived
yesterday, took part in all Of the drills
but are badly handicapped by the lack
of gums and equipments; nevertheless
they made a fine appearance. The cav
airy and signal corps had. their mounted
drill and judging from the appearance
of men and horses on their return it
must have been lively one, for they
were covered with sweat and dirt, but
at the battalion drill at o'clock no one
would have suspected that the two bod
les were the same, for men and horses
were as clean as possible. and at dress
parade the difference was still more
marked, for the men had on their white
regulation collars, their saddles cleaned
and their buttons and sabers polished
until they shone like FURNISHED gold and
silver.
Immediately after battalion exercises
regimental drill was held This drill
offers the best opportunity possible for
the company commanders to show how
we'll they can handle their commands,
and the majors to show how well they
can handle their battalions and the COL
onel to show how we'll he handles the
whole, for like the keystone in an arch
the colonel is supreme at regimental
drill.
After lunch number of the boys went
to Santa Monica, a great many went to
the ball game between the Seventh reg
iment team and a picked nine of the Of
ficers, and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon
the camp was practically deserted ex-
cept for the guards. There were hardly
enough men left in camp to form re-
spectacle sized company.
Last night was the night for the dance
given by the non-commissioned officers
of the Second battalion. Every man who
purchased ticket was given pass out
of the lines ntil the wee sma' hours" of
the morning. The large hall of Eckert
& Hopf was we'll filled with the boys in
blue and their fair ladies.
Dancing was continued up to the very
last minute that would allow the boys
to escort their ladies home and leave
them time to get into camp without
having to spend the night in the guard
house. AS it was there were few who
did not make it in time, and this morn
ing they were to be seen toiling hard to
get the streets put in order with their
armed guards looking the picture of
sternness, but at heart they were sorry
for them, for they know only too we'll
that tomorrow may see their positions
reversed-they the prisoners and their
prisoners of yesterday standing guard
over them while they police camp.
1t was the correspondents luck to be
on guard at post No. 1 last night be-
tween the hours of IL and 2, just when
the crowd was coming in thickest, and
as No. is the only post where entrance
to the camp can be had after the sun
down gun is fired there was continual
shouting for the corporal of the guard,
challenging of approaching parties, sa
luting of commissioned officers and turn
ing out of the guard for those entitled
to that honor One party, when chal-
lengeG by the customary Halt! Who is
there" was pretty well befuddled, and
in response gave part of joke which is
running in the camp as his answer. His
reply was Friend With a bottle" and
he no doubt expected to receive the
answer, Friend advance and draw the
cork but instead he was ordered to
halt and give the correct answer after
which he was made candidate for
police duty
The detachment of the signal corps in
camp here under the command of
Horace Sabine, succeeded in opening
communication with party under the
command of Capt. Lawrence on Old
Baldy's uppermost peak this morning,
but could not get a message, as the air
was too foggy and soon shut them out.
They will try again tomorrow, and have
great hopes of establishing permanent
communication.
The band gave a short concert a. II
this morning and another at 3 o'clock
The last one drew a large crowd of Off
GERS and their ladies, but very few en-
listed men, Dress parade was held ut
o'clock, with all the officers and men
present. The crowd which gathers to
see this interesting ceremony is steadily
increasing. 1t really is an impressive
sight to see all of the companies drawn
up clear across the field in double ranks,
with their officers posted in the front and
rear, the majors and adjutants on their
chargers, the generals and colonel's
staff drawn up facing the companies, the
band stationed on the right playing mar
tial airs, the cavalry and signal corps on
their mettlesome steeds, and when the
command present arms" is given to see
the long line with an almost mechan~
ical movement bring each gun up ard
to the center of the body.
Just before dress parade there came
near being very serious II not fatal ac-