The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-23
LADIES PRESENT A FLAG
OUR SOLDIER BOYS AT CAMP LANDS
END, NEAR PORT ROYAL.
Delightful Place, Barring the Mosquitoes, Me-
groes and Snakes. The WinsIoW There.
Boys will be Sorry 10 Leave.
Camp at Lands End.
Port Royal. $. c., Aug. 20.

| don't see much in your columns about
the troops nj this camp. Probably the
same impression has been left upon
your minds MS has been left upon most
others chat is that Lands End is what
the name signifies. But herein a great
mistake is made for This is one of the
most delightful places on the Atlantic
coast.
We are in camp upon IN island, which
is about ten or twelve miles square II
is most inhabited by snakes, negroes,
mosquitoes, deer, duck, rabbits, foxes,
etc, and all kinds of SEA and land fowl.
We have, as yet. had no offenders FOR
going TO sleep on post, and ! sincerely
believe man would he taking his life
i'm his own hands in doing 50, because
the mosquitoes are like vampire bats.
We have good SCa-hrcc2c nearly all
of the time. The surf is fairly good aud
most of the boys take advantage Of ii as
cleanliness is next to G0dliuCSS.' You
know, and we have no churches or chap
lain. But the sharks are getting pretty
bold now, rs they usually do in late
August and we can no longer go in swim
ming. but satisfy ourselves by dipping
in along the beach.
Notwithstanding all of these iuconycn.
fences and diScomforts we enjoy our
selves and will be sorry when the time
comes to leave. The Government has
made nm appropriation of $500, for the
erection of temporary barracks here and
the work is already under way. There
are two S-inch Il. l.. rifles mounted on
15-inch S. Il. carriages here which have
jlf%t lately been completed. \ dctach-
ment Of men will very probably be sent
to Hclton Head about five miles above
here to take charge of the new guns at
that place. Port Royal is Just about
five miles down the harbor and Beaufort
about eight miles.
The dry-docll ut Port Royal is. think.
the largest one at present in use, on the
Atlantic coast, being six hundred feet
in length.
The torpedo boat "Winslow" came in
to this port yesterday for coal and will
leave Monday for Norfolk, Va. We
went aboard her today. The position Of
Worth Raglcy was shown us and the
place where the fatal shell struck which
hit him. He had been manipulating
rapid fire gun. ON the port side of the
boat. on n line parallel with the aft
smoke-stack. Tie had turned his back
to the gun and had started forward
when the shell came over the wires on
the port side and struck the deck at
about one third of the distance across.
The shell burst, one piece hitting him,
rs is known, the others scattering some
hitting the smoke stack. some the con
ming tower and other places. The stack
has been patched, but the tower is so
thick that il cannot be patched. | was
told that he did not catch the flag staff.
but a pipe. which ran horizontally with
the smoke stack, which | think is very
probable. The flag is fixed to the stern of
the boat She is a vicious looking little
thing. about fourteen feet wide at the
centre and about one hundred and fifty
feet in length. An auxiliary cruiser fly
ing the United States flag came in port
this afternoon, but | could not ascertain
her name.
-Four steam boats plying between here
and Savannah touch here tri-weekly and
always have a lot of pretty girls on
board. The Ladies' Home Guards" of
Greensboro Y. c., presented Company
%" with Il beautiful tatfetta silk flag,
edged with yellow fringe, and with
the letters 600. ID. Ord Reg't. Inf. L. :.
v" worked in gold upon it. 1t was
presented to the company this after
noon. The flag was held in front of the
company by the Company color sergeant.
while Capt. Gray read the letter accom-
panying the flag. and the one he wrote
acknowledging the receipt of it and the
appreciation of their kindness. in behalf
of the Company. After this Lieut.. Gator
proposed three cheers for the Ladies'
Home Guards" and they were most
heartily given.
The Company was paid off last Mon
day and Company sc" was paid today.
Neither Company looked forward with
much anticipation MS they can't spend it.
Most Of it was sent home to mothers
and sisters and invalid relatives.
We went on board the "Nantucket'
also and were told by Lieut. Hugh Mil
Ter that she would be ordered out of ser
vice in a few days and they would go
home by rail.
MO my vVNFEy