The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-08
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Camp Meade. Middletown, Pa, Oct.
7>-Acting Regimental Adjutant David
j. Davis is a busy man these days.
because, besides his regular duties, he
has been looking after the details of
the Saturday excursion on this end of
the line. He has just received letter
from Colonel II. M. Boies notifying him
of the time the excursion train will
leave Scranton and when 1t will reach
the sidings midway between Middle
town and Highspire. Colonel Roies
also wanted the newspaper correspond
ents here to let 1t be known what the
boys want most. Adjutant Davis sug-
gests that no delicacies be brought.
Anything else in the line of eatables
will be welcome, and incidentally some
tobacco.
Adjutant Davis is arranging 1t so
that there will be an ample number of
vehicles on hand to bring the visitors
10 camp, and a brigade dress parade
may be held-if not, a regiment dress
parade. Sergeant T. H. Miles has pre-
pared fine musical programme.
After the disagreeable weather and
fhe equinoctial storms which have
prevailed for the past few days, n
change, sudden as it is desirable, set in
"wednesday night after taps and yes
terday morning. when the boys rolled
out of their hunks, the sky was cloud
less and a strong fresh breeze was
blowing straight from the Polar star
Blankets and all articles of clothing
have been put outside to be thoroughly
aired and dried, and not two per cent.
OF the men could be found in their
tents. Everybody wants the sunshine
and the fresh air. Company drills
were held this morning, and immedi-
ately afterwards the companies fell-in
TO erect their wooden kitchens.
PREPARING FOR VISITORS.
Captains, lieutenants, sergeants. cor
porals, privates, you cannot tell one
from the other. They are all at work
and we cannot hear anything save the
blows Of the hammer, the axe, and the
adj, and the steady grind of the saw.
The Thirteenth's camp is a hive of in
dustry, and not an idle man can be
seen in any direction. The cause of
this is two fold-an anxiety to get the
covered kitchens in readiness as soon
as possible, and a desire to show the
friends from home camp ideal for it's
neatness and its general good order.
AS another forcible indication that
the Thirteenth will be held in service
for some time, three months issue of
stationery for the line and the staff
officers was received yesterday even
ing and given out today by Commits
sary Sergeant Alfred Wormser. The
amount issued covers the quarter up
to and including Dec. 81. This, of
course, simply means that the boys
stand a very slim chance of eating
their Christmas dinners at home.
Applications for discharge are now
being made out, ard presented for ap-
proval. by many members of the regi-
ment who have wives, children or par
ents at home dependent on their earn
ings. II is expected that 1t will be
known before the regiment leaves here
whether such applications will be
favorably acted upon by the war de-
partment.
THEY LOOK LIKE GHOSTS.
1t is ineXplicable to most of the men
here why many patients who have
been away on sick furloughs are re-
turned here even while they are still
seriously i'll. Several cases have come
under your correspondents attention
the hospitals and returned to their
companies as 1it for duty against all
the laws of common sense and decency.
They were but the ghosts of men, the
shadows Of their former selves, and
still they were pronounced all right
and placed beyond the pale of proper
treatment Next to this gross Tor re-
f1ned) species of cruelty is to be reck-
oned that of compelling sick men to re-
turn to camp before they are one-fifth
cured.
A glaring example OF this kind has
been noticed in the Thirteenth this
week-that Of Private BENJAMIN
Franklin Smith, OF +. He was taken
sick at Camp Alger several months
ago. and was taken to the division hos
pital. He was discharged later on, but
when the regiment moved to Dunn
Loring, he had to he taken once more
TO the division hospital. Then, when
he had slightly recovered, a thirty-day
sick furlough was given him. At the
end of that time he returned, and pre-
sented an appearance which certainly
would have warranted his detention in
a good hospital for two more months.
He remained here for a few days try
ing TO walk as best he could through
the company streets. The rest of this
pitiful tale is short and simple-a re-
lapse set in. He was taken to division
hospital once more.
GOSSIP OF CAMP.
A leave Of absence for seven days
has been granted TO Captain L. d.
Fellows, of +.
A late order directs that man shall
have five full nights in bed between
tours OF guard duty.
Sergeant James Lovelace, Of II, is
detailed for special duty at the general
commissary.
Homer Warner, of Scranton, is vis-
iting his brother. Private Charles
Warner, of d.
Mrs. w. o. Lathrop, who for the
past week has heen here visiting her
husband. Corporal Lathrop, of A Com
pany, left for her home in Scranton
last evening.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rhinart. of Great
Bend, are in camp visiting their son,
Musician William Rhinart.
First Sergeant James Rafter, of c
Company, was called home on account
of the serious illness of his mother,
who is suffering from an attack of
dytheria. The boys of C bade him
warm good-by and hoped that the
speedy recovery of his mother would
enable him to return soon.
DR.. Plum and wife and r. F. Warg,
of Hawley, paid a visit to the men,
bers OF f Company this morning.
First Sergeant Parry and Wagner