The times., 1897-06-10

The National Guard Brigade of the Dis
trict will embark on the steamer River
Queen this morning at $3.50 O'Clock, and
be transported to Fort Washington foi
its ten days camp of instruction.
Upon its arrival, the brigade will find
the tents all in place for erection on
proposed company streets, and the men
will spend the remainder OF the day in
making their temporary home as com
Portable as possible The first military
ceremony to be performed will lie the
mounting of provost guard by Company
ID, First Battalion.
The advance guard, consisting of the
commissary department., quartermasters
quarteunaster sergeants, small detail
from each company, cooks, waters and
laborers, took possession OF the camp
grounds yesterday. This working branch
OF the service left the city on the steamer
River Queen at 10:15 O'Clock yesterday
and took with them steamerload of
cots, chairs, trunks, boxes and bundles.
In fact, they took with them everything
in the shape of baggage which Will be
allowed on the trip, and when the soldiers
embark this morning they will carry moth
ing but the uniform and equipment which
they wear.
The trip of the advance guard to the
fort yesterday was quiet one. Some
amusenent was caused, however, when
the steamer Pentz passed the transport
boat and the band aboard played Say
Au Revoir but Not Good-by'
Upon arriving at the fort the det all and
worknens proceeded to land the baggage,
and queer looking pileit made. One we'll
known young captain had sent handsome
cheval glass with antique oak frauue and
stand. A dapper lieutenant felt that he
could hardly sleep for ten nights on an
ordinary cot, aud consequently sent down
a dainty little iron bedstead painted white
and with brass trimmings, while mixed
up IN d chaotic mass between the two We're
boxes OF cheese, meats, canned goods,
blocks of ice satchels, trunks, rugs. and a
thousand and one other articles of fancietl
or absolute necessity in camp life The
wharf locked for all the world as though
"Oid Hoss" had been using it for dump
ing ground for the results of his colec-
tions for the auction house.
Finally, however, order was brought out
OF chaos. aud the goods and chattels were
placed In battalion piles, and a wagon
and team was signed to each battalion
to haul the baggage to the camp ground
This was not all accomplished, however,
without number OF conflicting claims as
to ownership Some OF these controversies
were cUod-natured, some otherwise. There
was ore particularly Jealous acting quar-
ternaSter sergeant present. He was en-
gagged in AN effort to keep his weather eye
al his Var,puS f,tods WHEN he
ioE.lger, who wore campaign hat and
citizens clothes, and presumably Il nom
her of the First Separate Battalion. NOV
ing from his pile a large package OF nap
kins, which had been taken Down as a
special luxury for the mess OF Company C.
Second Battalion. The sergeant protested
with the man with the campaign hat aad
notwithstanding the name Of the sereeana's
company was on the package in lett RS
six inches long, the man OF the campaign
hat declined TO yield the package After
a further useless argument, the sergeant
vigorously welded billet of wood, with
the man of the campaign hat as a target
At this point ih the argument Capt. / ar
mepter arrived on the scene and arbi
trated the first battle OF he carnpai ~ IN
favor OF the jealous sergeant, aad his com-
pany Will use napkins at dinner today
At clock the detail vas given dinner
and Il good camp dinner it proved to be
The menu included: Corned beer, potted
ham, tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, bread
butter, and coffee. The food was well
prepared. and if the food and service is
as good during the camp, no complaint can
be made by the troops.
The camp preparations are now in
satisfactory style, and the boys should
find themselves comfortably fixed shortly
after their arrival today.
Dress parade at 6 each evening win
he the attractive feature for visitors, and
the Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall
Steamboat Company is arranging a sched
Ule of boats for the convenience of citizens
during the camp.