Middletown transcript., 1898-06-11

which for century has sweltered in the
sun and sand, has experienced such an
awakening as its staid inhabitants
never dreamed possible and has done
more business in the last two months
than ever before in its history.
On all sides Of it, and down the long
neck of sand, which stretches to the
Gulf. and ends at Port Tampa, the
white tents of the cavalry, infantry and
artillery dot the landscape, or glimmer
like clouds amid the dark green foliage
of the pine trees. The population OF
this tented city is more than $4,000.
There are scents of interest in every
camp, and in every company stree" "
in each of them things are to be seen
that are very much out of the ordinary
to the civilian. The little homes of the
soldiers, each with its we'll ordered row
of personal property placed before it
and within its walls; the camp kitch-
ems; the picket lines of horses, the
quartermasters' quarters the more
elaborate canvas homes of the officers
and regimenlal commanders these
have interest for the sightseer.
Out to the west of the town, how
ever, where the new cavalry camps
have been established, and even fur
ther in the same direction, toward the
encampment of the Cuban volunteers.
be who goes out early in the morning
before the heat of the sun puts an end
to daily drills, will see some things
that will strike him as unique and alb
solutely original. In beautiful grove
Of pines, whose boughs are fancifully
festooned with Spanish moss, screened
from the sight of casual passers by
are body of hardy, rough riders. al
Of whom are American or European
born, but who have enlisted to fight fol
Cuba libre. Their leader is man
with history. He has led expedition
into Central Africa; has fought against
savage tribes thers for years; has ex
plored remote and hitherto unknown
regions in the most inaccessible portion
of the Dark Continent; has hunted ii
gers in India for the fun of the thing,
and has done all sorts of unusua
things simply for adventure. He il
rich and has equipped this force of mer
in order that he may do little Cubar
campaigning and see some excitement
His name is William Astor Chanler.
Mr.. Chanler's chief officer is Grover
Flint, who, through an experience o
several years. campaigning in Cubs
with Gen. Gomez, is ably fitted to di
rect such an expedition as Mr.. Chanlel
has organized.
I visited their camp few days ago
with my camera, and found the tril
| we'll worth the trouble. The detacli
ment of men under Mr.. Chanler's com
mand are all of herculean build, ant
every man is an athlete. Not onl.
that, but every one of them has seer
service in some army or another, il
various parts of the world and not ont
of Them knows what physical fea
means. Their impedimsntia is reduced
to minimum, and is the exact coun
terpart Of that used by the CubaDs OF
the island. A hammock of strong can
vas, slung between two trees. forms th
bed. Over this, supported by lariat
a yard above the hammock, is spread !
"poncha" or storm blanket of stou
canvas, waterproofeJ. This form
their only tents. The ponchos are
protection against both rain and sun
and the hammocks suspended abDv
the ground, keep them from malaria
influences of the wet soil. Anothe
lariat stretched between two trees nea
by, and about two feet from the grount
supports all the carbines and rifles o
the command. Another poncho, spread
very close to the ground and kept wet
covers the cases of provisions and keep
them fresh and sweet for an indefinite
time. The same tree upon which sht
owner fixes his belongings, also serve
/ IA -, = ssh tah af
tached to the end of long lariat
browses off the leaves of the ground
palmetto or the sweet bunch grass tina
prevails here. Over at one corner ol
the grove, and invariably on that sidt
farthest from the direction of the coas
is the camp kitchen. Its smoke alwayi
blows away from the camp-a til
trick the Cuban campaigners are ex