Evening star., 1898-09-01
OUT OF DETENTION
The District Regiment to Be To-
gether Tonight.
LIS FLAG And Its HONORABLE HISTORY
Discussing When the Boys viii
Leave for Home.
A BANG UET OPPOS D
Special From a STAFF Correspondent


Special From staff Correspondent
AMAGANSETT, L. l.. September 1.-This
evening the 1st Battalion of the District of
Columbia Regiment will be allowed to leave
the detention camp and to occupy tents ad-
joining those of the I'd and Sd Battafions.
The entire regiment, with the exception of
Company Fl. detained in Porto Rico and
about $50 sick and on furlough, will then
be together, and there will be practically
no restriction on visitors coming to the
camp. People who wish to visit their
friends in the regiment cannot get accom-
mediation in Montauk but they can find
pleasant boarding houses and small hotels
at the many towns along the Long Island
railroad. where they can be accommodated
at night and easily visit the camp. Anna
gansett is but ten miles away, and Sag
HarbOr and Bridgehampton are within a
short distance. The rates for board at
these towns are not high, though Amagan-
sett is now getting to be quite crowded,
many of the families of officers and visit
ors to the camp stopping there.
Montauk itself is more like western
mining town in the height of a boom than
anything else. Prices are high and con-
veyances cost twice or three times what
would be charged in Washington. The
railroad company runs the only lunch room
and store at the depot and they charge
accordingly. and the other few stores that
exist are out in the camp, in frame sheds,
while peddlers dispose of their goods from
wagons.
The Railroad Monopoly.
&c -
monopo1ist of the place. When it agreed
to let the government use Montauk Point
for camping ground it exacted a guaran-
tee that no goods should be shipped to
Montauk except over its line. Boats could
come here front the Connecticut coast with
fresh supplies, and in a very short time,
but they are prohibited from doing so. The
railroad has a schedule, but never lives up
to it. AS conductor lately remarked to a
passenger VINO wanted to know when he
would reacn New York, Il will take your
money, and if you stay in this car long
enough you will eventually be landed in
New York.
The run from New York to Montauk is
made in four hours, according to the sched-
ule, vet those who ship by freight do not
calculate on having it delivered in less than
three days. This delay has at times been
very annoying to the commissary depart
ment, though fresh provisions are broug.
through quite promptly. Those who send
express packages to the soldiers here
should not calculate to have them delivered
promptly.
The District Regiments Flag.
The District regiments new camp is
about two miles from the station on ground
h,-
uous object in front of Col. Harries' tent
here is the handsome silk flag presented t.
the regiment by the patriotic ladies of
Washington just before the soldiers left
Camp AlGer. When Col. Harries received
that flag on behalf of the regiment he said,
after thanking the donors: Where the
flag goes the regiment will so. If the Gag
does not come back. then the regiment will!
rot come back" He has kept his promise
and, though soTnewha: worn, the stars and
stripes carried down Pennsylvania avenue
on May u float over the regiment here;
and there is silver band encircIing the
Flagstaff that Will make it priceless to the
regiment forever. On this silver band is
engraved these words: list District of Co.
lumbia Volunteer Infantry, Santiago Gu
Da, July 1o-lI, lS9S.' The engraving was by
a Spdnaard living in Santiago. This flag is
saiuted by every member of the regiment
Whenever they pass it, The army resula-
tons require the salute, but in no regiment
are the soldiers more careful TO touch their
mats to Old Glory than in the lst District
of Columbia
The flags recall story told by Col. Har-
res, by which it will be seen the Yankees
may become to be known to the Spaniards
as devils, rather than pigs. After the sur
render Col. Harrles talked TO q Spanish
officer. What made you leave the trenches
at San Jusr? ?" he asked. Didn't you see
our men were charging you without hay
cnets?"
All" replied the Spaniard, that was
just 1t. If you had had bayonets we
wouldn't have left; but when mer. will
charge that way without bayone.s, they
are the ones to look out for. Those Yam
kee oeFhs-those deHiis-carne righ. along
and there seemed to be no end to them"
There was one very Sad man in the Dis
trict regiment last evening Dr. Cox an
EouIced that two grains of quinine and
dose of whisky would be given all the men
in the % and Sd Battalions. The men
lined up and the distribution of the pop
rlar and Unpopular medicines began.
One man. after being served, thought he
ky, and took mis- place ia line again When
he came before DR.. Cox he was Piven his
quiEine, which ne only took because he
liked the liquid used TO wash it down
Then the doctor looked in his face, and,
recognizing him. remarked: You've had
your drink-next."
Well, If you knew that, what did you
give me the quinine for" growlcd the SOL
dier.
when to Start for Home
The all-absorbing question being discuss
ed in the 1st D. c. Regiment is the time
when the snldier boys will be able to start
for home. The decision of this question
lies entirely with Colonel Harries. General
Wheeler yesterday said he would order the
District regiment hcme whenever Colonel
Harries said he was ready to go. His own
opinion was that 1t would be better for
them to wait here awhile. The relief COM