The record-union., 1898-05-21
CAMP LIFE At THE PRESIDE.
HOW THE SACRAMENTo MEN
ARE MAKING OUT.
Things Are Not as They Were at
Home-But the Soldiers Do
Not Complain.

Camp life at the Presidio, as expert
enced by the citizen soldiery, is by no
means a picnic" and among the
thousands of blue coated lads who nave
volunteered to uphold their country
flag none are experiencing the hard-
ships of regular service to greater eX-
tent than the representatives from the
Capital City, yet in all that White-tent-
ed city by the sea there are none VINO
utter fewer complaints, or VINO are
displaying more of those qualities which
enable American citizens to be trans
formed into trained soldiers, ready TO
lay down their lives at any moment 10
uphold the honor of their country and
his country's flag.
Aside from the continuous round OF
everyday camp duties, with their seven
hours Of drill in field evolutions ana
manual Of arms, the lads have been
called from comfortable homes TO
subsist on strict army TatlonS, Whlch
consist of bacon, beans, potatoes, SAT-
pork. bread, tea and coffee. rms com
prises their full bill Of fare, ana win
the exception Of two rations OF 1resh
beef purchased with the money 10
mated by the Elks of Sacramento, one
mess Of cabbage procured from the
same fund, and one meal OF 1resh
salmon Crowded by San FRANCISCO
hrru). the lads Of Sacramento nave re-
ceived no other contribution Whlch
would lead them to believe that they
were not utterly forgotten oy those
whom they left behind.
To be sure there are indiVdual cases
where the boys provided with Iuhus
have purchased for themselves butter
and a few other luxuries Of life, out III
the main they have been obliged TO sat
isfy their appetites with the plalL
gatians provided by Uncle Sam and
they have done so without InurILlur'
despite the fact that on every side they
have heard tales of Sacramento's hos
pitalitv so Iavishly displayed to their
fellow soldiers from the far East Wheh
passing through the city.
Company F formerly Company E OF
sacranento) possesses the proud dis
4inction Of being one of the best compa-
MES of the volunteer army of the United
States in camp at the Preside, and It's
members are being constantly detalleo
10 take charge of squads of other com
NAMES in.order that the duties Of camp
life may be satisfactorily performed.
In an interview accorded a Record
T7nion'' representative the other day,
CaDtain. I,ucey said: During the severe
rains of the past week, realizing that
the condemned tents of my company
were leaking like sleeves, and rearing
that a large percentage Of my men
would be reported on the sick list, op-
4aineds permission to quarter my com
nand in a building, but When III
formed them Of the arrangements L mao
made for their comfort they petltloned
me- TO be allowed to remain IN their
tents. as they feared to be designated
as tin soldiers afraid Of the rlgors Oh
camp life. Indeed, so earnest were they
in their petition that I found 1t neces-
sary to order the company into RANKS
and was compelled to march them to
their new quarters"
ARMY life begins early and ends late,
and is a continuous round or Constant
duties. Under the efficient manage
ment Of Captain Lucey and his ofhcers
the quarters Of Company + are the
show of the quarters Of the entlre
battalion. and it is rare occasion
when a wisp of hay or any other rup-
bish can be found on the company
street. The food, as before stated, Is
the pIainest of the plain, but owing TO
the foresight displayed by Captain Lu-
cey in enlisting a soldier VINO hao
formerly served his term in the reg
uIar army as cook, the food is thor
oughly prepared, and with the excep-
ton of the clouds of dirt which is
precipitated upon it by the strong
breezes from the Golden Gate II IS
fairly palatable.
When meal call is sounded the laos
fall into single file and march by the
cooks quarters, each bearing his ind1-
vidual tin pan. AS he arrives at the
cooking place he is served with his
ration of bacon, a potato, a spoonful
Of beans. and his ration of bread and
tea or coffee. He then goes to his tent,
sits down on the ground and eats his
meal, washing his own tinware later
and storing 1t away. When detailed
for the monotonous duties of the
guard line he acts as guard for period
Of twenty-four hours, and for two
hours he slowly PAGES his beat, after
which he is relieved for a period Of
four hours, subject to call at any mo-
ment. The next twenty-four hours
are his own to do as he pleases, al
ways provided it be not against army
rules and regulations.
When retiring at taps each soldier
simply throws himself on a bunch Of
hay strewn on the ground within his