The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-22
SUNDAY WITH THE SOLDIERS
a SACRED CONCERT AND DIVISION
REVIEW AT CAMP CULBERSON
IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE POPULAR GOVERNORS GUARD
General Favorites and Are BENG
Backed by some for First Place.
Soldiers Long for the Breeze
of Camp Mabry.

To-day was Sunday in the calendar
week and. in accordance with all USAGE
was supposed 10 be duly observed 10y
civil and military authorities. Such is
generally the case in all state encanp-
ments. but the San Antonio drill manage
ment have long since footed up their
ledger and found their balance at the
wrong side of the page. In view of that
fact. and in further view of the fact that
they are daily growing fearful that they
are going to draw to a financial windy
on this encampmcnt project, caused the
management today to ease their con
science by having a sacred concert an
nounced by the bands and then proceed
ing with the division review as usual and
charging at the gate admission as on
week days.
True. during the morning hours all the
regiments were supposed to have dev0-
tional exercises. but in this, as III many
eases in life. the suppOSitiOn failed 10 re-
suit in any naturalization.
As early as u o'clock this morning
some Of the companies were out for prac-
tice drill. awaiting themselves of the
cool morning air 10 get IN some good
practice work. Along about O'Clock a
great many of the privates were paroled
for the day to see the city. and flocked
To town in drovcs. In the meantime
quite n number of young ladies who had
bravpd the excessive heat of the morn
ing 10 visit the camp. wandered around
through the tented field to find nothing
hut n few officers lolling around their
tents and the scntncls performing their
moDotonOus duty of parOlling and guard
ing camp that is not likely tn he in
yadcd by any enemies. unless Jake VOL
tiers, in his desire 10 stamp out the NOlun
tcer Guard entirely should mass the
members of the Twcnty-tifth Legislature
and storm the camp. Along about IL
o'clock however. the visiting ladies had
an opportunity of seeing about twenty
five officers attend religious services at
the headquarters of Gen. Cooke. The
services were brief but interesting and
gave evidence To the fact that even on
the tented field of war there were those
who had the time and inclination to pay
that respect and consideration due to the
Great Commander of all Hosts.
With the innovation of these divine
services. however nothing interrupted
the monotony of camp life until the di-
vision review of this afternoon. when
quite q large attendance of spectators
interested one another and the soldiers.
While today was necessarily rather II
quiet one the competitive drilling opens
up with force tomorrow and will con
tinlp all during the week. The following
companies have been ordered In drill to-
morrow morning in their respective
classes, and their drills will formally
open the matter of contesting:
The Shaw Rifles. MeXia Minnie Men
and the Dallas Xouavcs.
These companies drill tomorrow morn
ing and from four to six companies
every day thereafter.
The camp is now rapidly getting down
to business The boys have become
somewhat accustomed to camp life and
are entering into the duties of the same
with a great deal more zeal than former
~. Every indication is that the present
camp will he II most instructive and in
teresting one. even though the weather
is so hot that it makes living almost nm
bearablc.
Referring to this hot weather. which
seems TO have settled like n blanket over
the camp grounds. it is well to state that
while il is most undeniably no fault of
the drill management. il is still n mat
ter of regret that the camp grounds are
not cooler.
The drill management are doing all in
their power To help the condition of
things, but their efforts do not avail
much. The camp is. unfortunately. sit
uatcd on the river bank in the hollow.
where what breeze that is blowing has
small show to pcculate through the trees.
and the result is that the camp. while
some cooler at night. is n vcritablr bake
oven in the day time.
The companies sigh away down in
their hearts as they remember the clc-
waited and cool cncampmcnt grounds ut
Austin. where every company was well
shaded and had the most delightful
breezes blowing all the time. They re-
member all that hut they realize that
the geography of the country is against
the drill manag cement here. and. hopping
their fevercd browS. they say: Let il
20 ut that" and proceed To face the sit
uation and enjoy themselves To the best
of their ability.
The drill management are doing all in
their power to help matters out and they
have certainly demonstrated that they
propose To run the encampmpnt for the
convenience of the soldiers. If it can he
done. and they are therefore entitled to
all praise and no "cuSSing."
During the coming week the drill
management expect the companies Ia re-
ciprocate 10y drawing big crowds to ill
the homogeneous depleted treasury. hut
whether they do that or not the manage
ment will look after them.
Up Ia the present time the attendance
has been diStrcSSingly small Ii is
Thought that by Tuesday or Wednesday
something like u flood of visitors will set
IN. hut in ease they do not the manage
ment will be swampcd on dry land. \
Hood of the kind mentioned is about the
only thing that will save them.
ihey are putting up n great drill hero
ana should he encouraged