Middletown transcript., 1898-05-07
AT CAMP TUNNELL.

AT CAMP TUNNELL.
The first week Of the encampment of the
Stale Militia brought all kinds ofweather-
rain, SNOW. hail. sunshine. Sunday las
was an ideal May lst and thousands of vis-
iiors came 10 Middletown and to the en-
cumpment to visit the boys. they were
found bright ard cheerful. and enjoying
their experience and the prospect of getting
at the Spaniards. The baskets and boxes
of delicacies and home baking brought tc
camp in one day would feed the entire reg
iment. The estimates of the visitors OIL
Sunday have been as high as ten Thousand,
when three or four thousand would proba'
biy number them. The two hotels fed
about 500 persons for dinner between them
many eaiingat restaurants.
Chaplain Munson held service at 1880
which was attended by many civilians. He
attended St. Anne's in the evening i'll com
pany with others Of the camp. listening to
sermon by the Bishop. Co. F. known as
the''Irish Brigsde." attended at st. Josepli's
r. {. Church: Others attended the Metho-
dist and Presbyterian Churches.
As predicted by the TEANscRIPr the ma
jority of the officers and men who left the
encampment ON the third day when the
proposition was made to re-enlist in the
o. s. Volunieeis, have returned, and re-
cruits have been added each day since. A
detail was sent home from each company
to'enroll men 10 fill up ranks The regi-
ment will be composed of ten companies,
probably of twelve. of 81 men each with
three company oficers; captain, first and
second lieutenants.
Governor Tunnel and staff held con-
suItation with Col Wici ersbam and other
Rcgimental officers, Lieutenant Gordon
and Surgeon Wyeth of regular army on
Tuesday, and on Wednesday the physical
examination of the men began at rooms at
the National Hctel. The work has been
completed. except of The recruits daily re-
porting, and Of $50 men but 49 failed to
pass, defective vision being the chief cause
Of failure to qualify. On Thursday liz re-
cruits reported, chiefly from Wilmington
though Newark and Bridgeville were
largely represented. Yes erday The num-
Der was some less making to date about
$50 men in camp.
The order of the soldiers in town has
been remarkably good. At first the per
mits from camp into town extended to y
o'clock in the evening but after three or
four days they were made to expire al q
o'clock. A few Of "the boys" not under
standing that dicipline would be kind yet
strict overstayed the time, and the guard
house has consequently had few dodgers.
At the shirt factory several of the men
from the Camp have given some trouble,
but they too have been dealt with. Il is
said one or two of the factory girls have
been inclined to "flirt," 10 attract the at
tention of the militiamen. These will re-
ceive their discharge if they persist in this
matter.
The ministers of the town united in a
letter to Gen. Holiday, first of thanks that
excursion trains were not run last Sunday,
and second of petition that no Sunday
trains be run 10 town for the encampment.
The powers that be have decreed otherwise
and the following announcement has been
made:
"For the accommodation of persons de-
string, to visit Camp Tunnel at Middle
town, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
railroad), will run special train on Sun
day, May, 8, to Middletown and return,
leaving Wilmington at 1890 a. M, and re-
turning. leaving Middletown at $50 p. m.
same day Excursion tickes, good only
on that day on special train, will be sold
from Wilmington to Middletown, DEL,
and return at rate of rs cents"
The pay roll for the first week of The en-
campment was made up for payment by
the State. 1t amounted 10 SIS, $685. 81, but
since that time advice has been received
from the general government that "Uncle
Sam will pay the.rnen from the date of their
0ApiSSotHs tHSii WiiluShOoS ~ iS-SHAiSseu,
This will be good news 10 The tax payers
and should save the greater pa t of the $30,
600 voted by the General Assembly.
Every Middletown- man takes his hat off
to Sergeant Holten, the towns only SOL
dier. The fellows who talked enlistment
before the war. single and double, now hint
that it is not such thing after all "to go
to a war that must end before it is fairly
begun. They secretly admire Sergeant
Holten but are not brave enough 10 ap-
plaud his act as being more than they can
do. They are the talking, tin soldier kind.