The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-08
GOSSIP OF THE CAMP.
Special from Staff Ccrre spondent.


Camp Alger, Va, July THE camp
yesterday was veritable military
Sleepy Hollow. Not a sound was
heard, not a man moved abroad on
the drill ground. An air of perfect
lethargy enveioped the whole place,
and one would have suspected it of
being a summer encampment on
large scale rather than the tent and
drill grounds of the Second corps of
the Volunteer Army of the United
States in time of war This quiet
ness, this reign of a tired military feel.
ms vas caused by a rain storm whicn
entirely prevented the morning drills.
II cleared up Immediately after
II is peculiar coincidence, with a
tinge of irony about it and a mockery
of human calculations, that the same
dag on which heavy drills We're dis.
continued on account of the excessive
heat, by an order from corps heau.
CHARTERS, the weather became milder.
n drop in the temperature To 20 de.
gees is not of usual occurrence
After much delay and hard work on
the part of the quartermaster's de-
lartment, the long desired has at last
occurred. Yesterday afternoon Lieu
tenant ii. b. Cox and Clerk Wormser
were busily occupied in issuing to the
several companies of the Thirteenth
the last acquisitions, consisting of
trousers. blouses leggings and cam
raign hats. This practically finishes
the work of the department in this
respect Thirteen boxes filled with
2iS new rifles were also received from
the Springfield arsenal, and these will
De issued without delay to those who
nave been so far without arms, or
whose pieces We're condemned at in
spection by Lieutenant Cox. There is
no little satisfaction felt among the
members of the regiment that all are
hnally equipped, and that in all re-
spects it is now in good condition for
any emergency.
Inc song OF the fakir in this place
AT present is as complete and as abso-
Iute as anything could possibly be.
ror the past rev days Uncle Sans
Pa9ihasters nave been circulating
from one regiment to the other, and
III thelr wake has followed every kind
Vi iaklr' ancient or modern, who
ever trleu 10 fleece unsuspecting hu-
manly. The Thirteenth has not been
an exception. The boys We're paid to-
uay ana We're consequently happy. but
no sooner mad the paymaster turned I'D
at headquarters than these up-to-date
shdrks began to scour the company
streets' selling all kinds of tempting,
put unnecessary devices-anything
Whlch would attract the eve, capti-
Ndte the imagination and tighten the
purse.
The latest specimen to appear is the
i"eH'iIlcalloh badge fiend, who vends
slliaIl paoge or aluminium to be worn
around the neck and which contains
tne name company, regiment and home
auuress or the Wearer. Many peculiar
"isuihehts were used TO prospective
purchasers why these badges should
DE worm the most equivocal and Ouix-
QUO OF all being that they would be OF
great value to person in case he
should De hurt or killed. These sharks
are specially obnoxious around pay
uaSs' "hlch they time with perfect ac-
curacy.
The receipt Of their months pay has
put the boys In an extra happy frame
OF NINA, ana many OF them for supper
enjoyed the luxury of milk, fried eggs,
vegetables and canned goods. This is
W SN lilc lIllll OF the tOlIltl-
cation, as the canteen is closed tighter
than an Egyptian mausoleum.
A slight fire which was started in
Lieutenant Berry's tent, of Company
b. furnished the chief and, in fact, only
recent excitement. A bottle of oil or
or acid was spilled and caught fire by
coming in contact with a lighted cigar
or match. The blaze was quickly ex-
tinguished
Private S, w. Kistler, formerly of q
but now attached to division hospital
left today on furlough for the home
OF his parents at Great Bend, Susque-
hanna county.
The members of Company are on
the verge OF serious kick against
their rations. They object to what
they are getting, and the time and