The times., 1898-05-18
STORIES OF THE CAMP.

STORIES OF THE CAMP.
Myriad geysers of soggy steam curling
skyward yesterday morning from half
thousand wet blue blankets spread out
in the sun to dry. bore aloft many
strange. true tales of life at the camp
of the District volunteers. They we're
picked up by the winds of the Potomac.
waited across the summit Of Washing
ton Monument and came whispering
through the open windows OF The Times
editorial department in time to catch the
particular staff artist who writes this
sort of stuff" What the tattiing
nymphs of the breezes told him he wrote
as follows:
I'VE are carrying from tent TO tent a
funny story about Private Albert NJ. Bill
lings of Company l., Well tell IL TO you.
Private Billings was detailed for guard
duty Sunday night. 1t was dark. IL was
lonesome, IL was hot. and the monotouy
of it all weighed on the soul of Private
Billings like four days of hard tack We
whispered in his ear and he followed us
to-weIl. never mind where, and when he
got there we left him in the woods alone
He lost his way-think of it-not 200 yards
from camp. He whistIed and swore and
said unkind things about us for bringing
him there until nearly daylight, when
We sent farmer after him. Billings
gave the farmer 10 cents TO lead him
back to camp. We told the boys about
il and now they call Billings Lost
strayed or stolen. "
tle.' sang the windy imps; "and it's a
mascot for the boys in Company G. The
turtles name IS Yoder and It's owner,
Private Yoder, has a harness for his pet,
which Is a funny thing 10 see: With a
tin pie plate on its back Ii goes waddling
down the street and frightens all the
ladies Its perambulations meet.
THAT will do for you" interrupted the
reporter. Next.
"Ah, there are more of us. We heard
some singing while lowering over the
tents of Company l.. last night. We
heard Get Your Moneys Worth Good
Night My Love The Warmest Baby In
the Bunch Dixie and new song about
river called the Wabash The singers
were ]. Z. Holmes, Frank Bergman. AL
bert Billings. who was not lost this time,
and Dennis Burns.
Henry Williams insists upon bringing
his cornet TO camp. and IL he does the
breeZes won't linger longer over the tents
of Company L.
'Oh, yes, we nearly forgot to tell you.
Company L has a cross old duck named
Admiral Dewey for mascot. So far this
is the only company in the camp that
can rush the duck without fear of a
court-martial.
But we are grieved at Private John
Rogerson in Company L. He Is the star
kicker of the camp. At home he lived
on terrapin stew and lobster. orange
cockades, silver fizzes. and dematasse,
and his health Is sorefy grieved with a
diet of salt peter. hard tack. bacon and
beans three times q day. Private Roger
son hath grievance against the war
Yes, and this morning we heard
Quartermaster Hendrickson declare him.
self with great soldierly vigor. He issued
from his tent about sunrise and found
half his company lying in ambush for
him. We want soma SHOES, Q. NJ i
say, you haven't a. cocktail about your
person, have your 'Quartarmaster. my
blanket has the agle: want new one.'
Presently Quartermaster Hendrickson
stood himself upon a large bunch CT dirt
and shouted: What do yoa Indians think
l am? Do look like a Walking barroom,
shoe store, clothing house and general
supply store? Some of you will want me
to get up in the morling and push money
IN your races before DT69kt9St. 4 too
busy to talk to any of you
But Company y hasn't a monopoly On
the singing. Company g has a cpartet
that worries us with its regular evening
symDosiuNS of discord. The singers are
d. S. Bliss. j. Hamilton, l.. G. Heinline
and Private Kimmel. They sing every
thing ina ginable, from the anvil chorus
of II Trovatore to In the Evening by the
Moonlight
'sCamn names did Won sav2 oh vac
we've got lots of em. Clarence Langley
is known as Kid o. tn Camp Private
Stewart. of Company L. is called Free
Lunch Hooker and William Mcdonald,
of Company L. has been dubbed the
'Ghambermaid' and also Capt. Sigsbee'
the first because of his fussy ways and
the other on account of huge mustache
which is a source of great annoyance to
US. Then they have a row called .Ho-
bo's Rest, wherein dwell number of
itinerant gentlemen, famous for their
thorough knowledge of freight yards and
train functions.
I'VE hear 1t whispered about camp that
Eddie Burke, of Company E, and Frank
Hagan, of Company l., are responsible for
daily visitations of beautiful feminine vis-
itors, that leave behind sundry baskets of
nice things to eat. We the breezes, take
advantage of numerous occasions to give
TO the envious ones glimpses of dainty.
well-turned ankles, visible beneath silken.
frau-frauing spirits. Those are Just our
little pranks.
I'VE have lately overheard the details
of deep laid plot, conceived by Al Hay
den. of Company l.. 10 abduct the rooster
mascot of Company B. named 'Fitz Lee
More anon of this. II the plot succeeds,
Wen have a merry tale to tell you some
night