The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-03
Sad Death of Corporal Robert Darling,
Fever Sufferer, at the
Union Station.
PATHETIC SCENES At CAMP
NO EFFORTS SPARED BY PHYSICIANS
TO CARE FOR THE SICK.
March of the Soldiers Through the
City Greeted with Cheers
List of Sufferers.

1t was nearly o'clock when the One
hundred-and- -fifty-seventh Regiment left
the train east of the fair grounds, yester-
day, and marched into camp. The
sun was at a sweltering heat and
there was little shade for the pro-
lection of the soldiers many of whom lay
in the glare unmindful of everything and
perfectly content in the knowledge that
they were reclining on Hoosier soil again.
The sxty-two sick men in the hospital
cars were conveyed in the I. N. G.. ambu>
lances that were waiting to the camp hos
pital tents, where they were soon made
comfortable. After a good refreshing bath
they were clothed in fresh night shirts and
put to bed on comfortable cots be-
tween clean white Sheets and were
soon doing more peacefully than
at any time since they left their
mothers tender care for the fortunes
of war. BY some mschance the cars con-
tanning the camp equipment were not on
hand when the regiment reached Camp
Mount, and it was not until late in the
afternoon that the cars backed up on the
track and eight wagons were pressed into
service and began delivering great cases
containing the rude camp cooking utensils
that formed the tents. The soldiers began
pitching their tents and the camp city
sprang into existence with great rapidity,
indicating that in the months the boys have
been away they have learned much about
practical camp work.
The camp was broken up at Fernandlna,
Fla. after driving rain that had soaked
the canvas of the tents. They had not
dried yesterday, and the men found it diff
cult and nasty to handle the tents, but
there were no complaints. The boys knew
there would be nothing to do but rest after
the camp was once established, and this put
new life and zest into the weary men. The
tents are weather stained and brown from
the rough climatic influences of the South,
and form a strong contrast to the snowy
white tents of the camp hospital. The
growth of the camp into life went on like
clockwork. the men showing an exact ac-
quaintance with their work that made loud
commands from officers unnecessary. Once
a of tents was set a little out of the
street line, and these had to be shifted.
Some of the boys who had pitched their
small shelter tents had to take them down
entirely to make them line up with the
street. but the shelter tents are such little
affairs that this was but a few moments
work, and there was no grumbling.
WORK FOR EVERYBODY.
While some of the young soldiers were
driving tent stakes, Tightening guy ropes
and making things secure, others with great
canvas bags were off at straw stack near
by filling up the bags, which are used for
ticks. To the east Of the grounds the cooks
were busy preparing for the evening meal,
setting the iron frames that form the
stoves" in the ground starting fires and
bringing large cans of water to the boil.
West of the main camp and between, it and
the hospital quarters the regimental head
quarters was being established, detail Of
soldiers putting up the tents of Colonel
Studebaker and Lieutenant Colonel May. as
we'll as the other regimental officers. The
work went on with a rapidty that was al
most amazing to the novice. who had no
idea of how rapidly thousand men, each
seeming to be in the way of the other,
could perform so many duties without con-
flicting in any way. Those who looked on
doubted whether the same men could have
worked with so much precision four months
ago. No sooner were the tents pitched and
arranged for the night than the boys began
making themselves as comfortable as pos
sible. Knapsacks were unstrung and their
was seen with a great lot of sea shells,
picked up on the beach at Tampa as me-
mensoes for friends; AT another place a man
had cotton bolls just bursting. which were
brought home for friends as souvenirs from
the cotton fields of the South
The thoughts of many of the boys turned
to home and at the first moment of leisure
they were at work writing home to moth
err The arrangements for correspondence
were rather crude. A board resting on the
knee was the writing desk. in most cases,
as the soldier sat on the ground bending
over his letter. nibbling at a dull lead PEN
ell and indicting his message home with
much difficulty. Where not thus engaged
soldiers were polishing the locks of their
guns, carefully removing the rust that had
gathered after the arms had been wet in
the rain at Fernandina. But few were idle
Every man seemed to have something to oc-
cupy his time. Here and there men were
reading newspapers but the supply was
not very large. Most of the men are dead
broke" and have no money to even buy
papers.
PATHETIC SCENES WITNESSED.
There were many visitors. Some of the
scenes were pathetic and others amusing.
All the visitors. whether aged mothers who
pressed their sons to them with tears in
their eyes. or younger brothers. shaking
hands awkwardly and abashed with the
elder brothers who had gone TO war and
come home heroes. seemed perfectly happy
to be reunited. OF course mothers and
brothers and fathers all commented on the
fact that the returned volunteers looked
worn out and We're thinner than when they
went away. but cheerful I'm be all right
after a day or two's rest set them at ease
again. AL visitors noticed that there was