The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-11
DITCH|NG AND SHOOTING
Sea Girt Camp Saved From
Flood by Energetic Drain
age Work.
PRACTICE AT THE RIFLE RANGES
Sanitary Precautions Result
In a Fine Showing for the
Fourth--Camp Notes.
PRACTICE AT THE RIFLE RANGES
Especial to .sThe Jersey city News."l

iopecldi L ne JERSEY Ofty NEWS j 80
SEA GRIT, Aug. II. 189S.-The rain,
which rendered the camp of the First,
Second and Third Regiments so uncom-
Portable, seems to have been passed on
to afflict the Fourth Regiment during its
stay at the Sea Girt camp. In the mem
Dry Of the eldest residents along shore
there has hardly been a summit with such
continued rain. Ever since the first call
for troops, clear weather, for any length
of time has been the exception rather
than the rule.
While the men were at dinner yesterday
heavy black clouds in the Southwest, sent
them all scurrying to fasten their tents
securely. and ii was well they did, Tor
like a wall of water the rain came on the
camp, obscurlng the tents at one end of
a omDan street from the other This
heavy down pour lasted for an hour, and
left the camp flooded.
AS soon as the rain let up sufficiently,
the officers of each company started their
men at work to get the water out of the
streets and away from the tents. Ditch
digging is useful and necessary in the field
ana the Fourth once more showed that
they should go to the front, for camp,
this morning, is ditched thoroughly. ihere
are bitches down or across eacn conn
many street. There is a ditch around near
" every o~fflcer's tent. They carry the
water either to the flanks between the
BattaIions. or else at the open spaces Pc
side the Field Onicers' tents and the
Headquarters street
Company / was perhaps as bad a snf-
fercr as any, and their experience is ty-
spical. Under the direction of Captain
Christie and Lieutenant Cole, those OF the
company who were on police duty dug
three bitches from tlge company street 70
the battalion street where large hoies
were dug. These holes filled rapidly, ana
from these the water was bailed with
rails and thrown on the grassy spaces
near at hand. Here the earth, not nav
ing been so thoroughly hardened anu
beaten by the hundreds coming and go-
ing daily. soaked the water Up
Another ditch was dug from the com.
pany kitchen across the p oIlceTs
street.. the TWO tents of C0mpan
rs officers to the side of the AdJutants
office, where another hole was dug for
the purpose Of easy bailins.
During the heavy storm OF idSl nlShl,
it was found that these ditches ana holes
succeeded admirably in the purpose Tor
which they were dug.
Second Regiment, as did not volunteer,
engaged IN rifle practice on me stare
range today. The number VINO came
down was not large, but the scores were
good. as it usual with the Second Regl-
msnt, which ivide with the Fourth me
shooting honers Of the state. II mas az
WAYS DGCtL d EIOSO ~ E1tAA eN -
m and last year the Fourth came
out ahead. If the Fourth Regiment OF
Volunteers remains at Sea Grit. the regl-
ment will probably repeat It's success q
last wear and retain the State r0plnfes All
of which 1t now holds. The volunteer
members Of the regiment are all taking a
lively interest i'll rifle practice. Tins NUM-
her of new men qualifying has been large
than was expected. especially when me
short time allowed each man to shoot IN
is considered. When the men are sven
4 chance latter in the season TO improve
their scores. the number of qualifications
will be much larger than at present.
cavalry from Red Bank Will use the
range today, and the First Tre9p of New
ark viii 60 on the range on ffieay; q
neither Of these organizations was draft
ed. there will probably be a large proper
ton of them on the range.
The present physical condition OF The
to the healthfulness of this camp ground.
There are only four or five simple cases
in the hospital and there has been moth
ing in the way 81 fever or malaria.
the boxes brought into camp by the
friends of the soldiers. who Immediately
I'LL themselves with cake and pastry ana
fruit. To the ordinary stonlarh THIS mas
be nourisfing, but to these men, eatlflS
aas they do from day to dry the most
simple and nuurishing of foods. # iis SIM.
the officers much credit for the general
health of the regiment must be given.
for every officer in the regiment joins
and assists. heart and soul. Colonel Smith
IN his labor for the good Of the regi,
rnente Major Field and his able corps of
assistants have also been exercising the
greatest of care over the general health
of the men. The food is looked after
constantly, to see that it is sufficient and
properly cooked, and the sanitary
condition of the camp is also their con-
| Germ. Nothing. however trivial, is me-
elected. A surgeon, for instance. is on
the beach constantly during bathing
hours to be ready in case Of emergency
The men are not allowed to Venture far
from shore for fear of cramps
Now that the pay rolls have all been
altered and sent in again. the officers and
men are patiently waiting for the PAY
masters visit. The work of extending the
rolls. of filling in the blank and the
amounts is considerable so that it may re-
alire some days vet to get the rolls In
condition so that the men shall be paid.
Guard was mounted as usual today by
Battalion A%djutant Gilkyerson. The Of
fcer of the Day Is Captain Bryant, of
Company F. First Lieutenant Harry
Bowley, of Company C. is in command of
the Guard. and Second Lieutenant Jacob
BUST. of Company x, is "Supernumerary
officer of the Guard.
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