The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-26

About Completed.
Special from a staff Correspondent.
Camp Alger, Dunn Loring, Va, July
25.-An order was issued yesterday d-
recting that another physical cXairin-
alton be made of all the soldiers In
the camp. The hospital records show
that many men We're accepted by the
surgeons at the entrance examination
who should never have been ,aliowed
to pass. 1t is thought that the ranks
contain many more who must, in time,
become a burden TO the army, and to
weed these out before they crowd into
the hospitals is the purpose of the new
order. Any man whom the regiment
al surgeons believe TO be in any way
afflicted with a physical impairment
must be reported TO corps headquar-
ters. He will be given a critical eX-
animation, and If ne is found to be in
any way unsound his discharge will
be recommended. 1t Is quite likely
that number of the Thirteenths men
will have to undergo this second test.
Two epileptics have been discovered,
and several are suspected of being af-
fected with chronic complaints of an
equally serious nature, and which
would incapacitate them as soldiers
in the eyes Of the examining board.
The call for all five cavalry COM
panies coming so soon after Adjutant
General Corbin's declaration that only
two of them had any present prospects
of going to the front has aroused new
hopes in the breasts of the infantry
men, and everybody now shares the
belief that possibly the adjutant gen.
eral was guilty of slight mental res
ervation during the interview of Tues
day night. In the face of everything
that has been said TO the contrary
General Goblin insists that his brigade
is virtually on its way to Porto Rico.
He is SO firmly convinced of it him
self that he keeps a man on duty all
night long at the telephone, which con-
meets his headquarters with the war
department. 1T is said upon reliable
authority" that this is in line with
advice from the adjutant general, but
being an office matter 1t will have to
be accepted, If accepted at all upon
reliable authority"
THEY ARE READY.
If a call should come at any time
now, the Thirteenth would be found
ready. Everything it needs in the line
of equipment, with the exception of
1S2 gun sings, has been received.
These slings have been ordered and are
expected to arrive any day. When
they are distributed the big task of
equipping the regiment will have been
completed and Quartermaster Cox and
his two able assistants Quartermaster
Sergeant Isaac Brown and Commits
sary Sergeant Alfred Wormser, will
be able to take a well earned rest.
A petition is in circulation among
the officers of the regiment for the
establishment of regimental mess.
AT present the officers are divided into
ten messes, headquarters having one,
the non-coms another and the line Of
ficers having as many mesSes as there
are companies. 1t is figured that by
all eating together better fare can be
secured for less money, and much an
noyance can, in addition, be avoided,
each mess now being compelled to look
after it's own providing and cooking.
The privilege of selling refreshments,
ice cream and the like will go with the
conducting of the mess.
The men are enjoying much better
health all around than when at the
ether camp. Only one case of fever
has developed since coming here and
that no doubt was contracted in the
old camp. Dysentery is also on the de-
crease and before long, it is confidently
hoped that it will have been stamped
out altogether.
WELL A FAILURE.
The Thirteenth's well is a failure
and the men face the prospect OF
probably another week of no water.
Alter reaching depth of l39 feet Sat
urday evening the drill was with
drawn and pump and measuring ap-
paratus attached to test the flow.
When it was found that there was 11O
feet Of water in the hole there was
great qualification, but when after AN
hours pumping through an inch and
half pipe the well went dry, showing
that the flow was so meagre as to be
totally useless, the qualification gave
way to chagrin. 1t is proposed to sink
the well still deeper in the hopes OF
finding a vein of water that will be
sufficient to supply the regiment II
such flow does not develop within a
couple of days another well will like
ly be started.
Captain Thomas Z. Gilman, of Com
rany d, was today presented with a
handsome. sword by the members OF
his command. 1t is mounted in gold
has the modern fish-skin grip and is
beautifully embellished in every part
Tine presentation was made through
Lieutenant Arthur r. Foote in the
presence of the whole company and
many of the officers from both head.
qunrters and line. 1t was such a com.
plete surprise TO Captain Gilman thai
he could scarcely compose himself suf.
f'ciently to speak his appreciation
There is no officer in the regiment bet
ter liked than Captain Gilman anL
among the officers there is none con
sidered more efficient. T. ]. DUFFY.
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