The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-28
VOLUNTEERS
i HARD LIFE.
Pennsylvanians at Mont
Chanin Have no Shoes
or Clothes.

There are 379 men, comprising the First
Battalion of the Second Regiment Of Penn
| sylyania Infantry, oncamped at Mont
chanin, in command of Colonel John
-Biddle Porter, on active duty in guarding
the DUPONT Powder Works. Barely one
half of this number Is uniformed and
| equipped, and of tho remaining half, many
arc sadly in need of clothing, shoes and
pay. Owing to an unexplained delay on
tho part Of the government, these import
ant ques ions have been neglected, and
there are many bitter complaints from re-
cruits who have left comfortable homes
and families, to go to camp in inclement
weather, without money or Inadequate
| clothing.
A walk about the camp at Montcbanin
| reveals tho wretcbed condition of the men s
clothing Many of the soldiers wear Shoes
whose original function of protecting the
feet has long since departed. The men in
many ins unces are we'll / Ugh bare footed.
Look at that" said private to re-
porter yesterday, thrusting out foot coy-
cred with framework ofa shce. "thats
the way many of us are, and we have not
received our pay for service either, and we
need 1t badly. AS for Onr Clothes they arc
In many instances almost falling in pieces,
1t is true that tho costumes of these re-
crults are of M almost grotesque humble.
ness and antiquity, aud accord poorly
With tho dignity of United States soldiers
The men are anxious that they be clad in
regular uniforms and tO get the pay which
they feel due them.
1T isa most unfortunate affair" said
Colonel Porter to-day. "Thcy look more
like reconcentrados than soldiers, and I
am sorry for it. When they were ordered
to Mt Gre, ma they were told to wear their
oldest cloi hes They did. Now they are
still wearing them.
I'VE have been daily and hourly expect
Ing the uniforms and equipments from
the government, but somehow or other they
have not come. 1t is much TO be regretted
that our men are not al in uniform, as
they do not cut very brilliant figure in
thelr present costumes lust about half
ournumber are uniformed and equipped"
Colonel Porter said: "Since 1--WE have re-
ct1ved thirty days ratiors It seems proba-
Die thatwe shall be here some length of
time. The Importance of the task OF guard
ing the power works demands that a strong
body of men remain here. The DuPonts at
this point are the only ones where hcxu-
eonal powder. which is used in our big
guns, Is made, and their preservation in
safety is Of Tho utmost Importance to tho
g0vel nment.
so important Is the guarding of tie
WORKS considered that squad of sixty
three prlvaics and three non commission
ed officers goes On duty every night at s
o'clock to remnin on guard until morning.
me men are going Oh guard now," added
Colonel Porter.
The details from various companies
We're seen assembling. The men stood in
driving rain us if it had been balmy
weather. When they had drawn up in q
double limo three rounds of ammunition
were dealt out to each man. The guard
then moved off, and for long time could
bo seen from the hilltop walking over the
wet fields, and past woodlands, fresh and
green, in the light from the clearing sky.
'Ihey arc marching to the works where
they a,e stationed at their appointed
places" said Colonel Porter, "and there
they will remain until the morning shift
OF men goes on in the powder manufac-
tories -
ITO show how busily engaged the Du-
Pont works are it is simply nece ssarv to
state that thee separate sets of men are
at work there con tinuously. The day men
are on from morning until evening, while
during the night two sets work from Il
o'clock until midnight and from midnight
until morning. Supplying American guns
with powder Is no small undertaking at
tho present time"
The story Of IN impromptu bath in a
mill race which came near costing Cor.
poral Edward Ruth, Of Company b, his
life, was related by Corporal Huntley, of |
Company u, who rescued the submerged |
man.
"It was my night on duty" he said,
"and l was going my rouGds along the |
mill race down by the powder works when ]
heard cries coming from the water. IL 1
was so dark that couldn't see my hand |
before me, and you can believe l was bit |
ratified.
Listening attentivclJ, recognized the
voice. 1t was Ruth. Tho corporal had
slipped from the single plank crossing the
mill race, and had fallen into seven feet
Of wateT, tlshed him out as best l could |
and called for help.
He was unconscious, and 1t took deal |
of work to bling him round, but he's all /
right now, and will speak for himself"
Corporal Ruth made a low bow and
looked as II the dip in tho mill race had
quite agreed with him.
But if what the men Gay about tho
weather at Montchaurin is true, a mill
race is entirely snperlluous in taking a
dip" A private said: ut rains out in
this country before every meal and twice
Mt bedtime"
Indeed. the organization of Committee
on Flooding Out has becn found necessary
BY the frequently inundated campers. 1t
is tho duty OF this important body to
visit the tents after showers to see that
lhe inlhalis arc sun llflng. despite the d. |
luted condition of affairs, 1t was recent
|y reported that mo. 2 tent was flooded
out. but after the august body of instl-
gators had found its inmates under only n
loot Or two of water and SILL breathing,
Llc report was declared unfounded
Many joke tho soldiers have among
themselves and many q merrymaking,
700, despite the persistent demonstration
IF weather. The Concerts and balls" are
much in vogue in the evenings, and at
hoe festivities, carried on in a stag way,