The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-29

NO RAIN THERE
SINCE DECEMBER
The Road to Drill Grounds Through q
Miniature Sahara.
USE OF WHISKY SUPPLANTED
Everything Animate and Inalimat0 Coy
cred With Dust From Lime Rock.
BATHING THE ONLY RECREATION
While Blasting Rock for the Purpose of Laying
Water Line Tons of Debris Was
Thrown Among the Tents of
First Alabama.
BATHING THE ONLY RECREATION
Special Dispatch to The Age-Herald.

Special Dispatch to The Age-Herald.
Miami, Fla, June 2S.-Regimental COM
manders have discovered that the heavy
march through two miles of sand to the
drill ground north of the encampment is
rather more than unframed troops can
stand, and complaint also includes the ex-
ercise ground. which is said to be too small
for the evolutions in. extended order, one
end of the ground being a regular morass,
which it will be impossible to traverse in
wet weather..
The last impeachment does not give the
officers serious thought, however, as there
has not been a fair shower of rain here
since December last. There was heavy
thunder storm in the vicinity today, but
Miami was not favored, and the black sand
of the camp continues to mingle with the
white dust of the limestone roads, impelled
by strong sea breeze, and covers every.
thing. animate and inanimate, like an At
rican sirocco. This is the main reason the
shore is popular, and in the pleasure of sea
bathing the troops forget the sand, after it
has been washed off.
Has supplanted Whisky
In another matter, it has been found
.benefieial-it has entirely supplanted whis-
ky. The two barrooms in North Miami
which were the betonoir of officers for sew
eral days, have been forcibly closed. There
is an abundance of everything in the tenn
perance line, and the troops are satisfied.
Each regiment has settled down to bust
ness, and the officers are remaining in
camp for meals. in preference to patron
izng hotels. An accident was threatened
today in the Alabama camp through the
rock blasting, which is necessary to the
laying of the water pipes. Some tons OF
dirt and rock were blown over into the
, line of tents but fortunately no one was
hurt by the flying debris.
! One. staff change was published today.
Z Lieutenant Alvord Twenty-second infan-
try, who has been acting assistant adju
. tant-general the staff of General
Wheaton. is now inspector-general of the
division staff. The brigade staff vacancy
is filed by Lieutenant Rowland, of the
cavalry.
Blouse Must BE Buttoned
Another order from headquarters governs
the wearing of blouses or shirts buttoned
up when out-of camp, and calls for exposure
of ranks of insignia at all times by officers.
The Inspector general will from this out
inspect the division daily.
There are now twelve patients in the d.
vision hospital, including two cases of ty
phoid fever, two cases of mumps and eight
cases of measles brought over from Louis
lana. Inc ALABAMA troops are III SpIeluio
health, and Captain Morris has been as
signed from the regimental staff TO the
division hospital.
While drilling on the broad thoroughfare,
which is the principal avenue of the city.
this evening, the Alabama troops were
highly eomplimented their appearance
and the precision of their movements by
the division staff officers. Alabama also has
the honors for good order and perfect dis
cipline during the journey here and since
their arrival.
Miami is only 40 miles from the Cuban
coast, but no idea of an embarkation is
entertained here, as the new channel
through Biscayne bay to the wharf Is only
eighteen feet deep.