Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-17
A Tropical Rain Storm Makes Things
Lively in Camp.
EFFECT OF PAY DAY ON The MEN
Some of the Points of Interest
About Tampa.
BOYS ARE COMFORTABLE
special From a Staff Correspondent.

| camp of the 1st Regiment of Infantry Dis
| trict of Columbia Volunteers. that rain fell
| Sunday evening. Folks in Washington do
! not consider an ordinary rainfall as of I'M
usual moment. 1t is different here, espe-
| cially as everything in the nature of de-
| scending moisture may be classcd as extra
ordinary, and will continue so until little
! later on, when the rainy season is inaugu-
rated. Prior to Sunday evening there had
been no sign of rain in the neighborhood of
Tampa, with the exception of a meek at
tempt at shower a few days before, for
: fully three months. At least, that is the
declaration advanced by the natives and
no good reason exists for doubling their
word. But those of the regiment who were
In camp Sunday evening feel quite sure
that rain fell In reality, it poured the
clouds apparently making a conscientious
endeaVor to square themselves in two brief
hours for the inactivity of the past quarter
year.
A Rain Storm Tint Mennt Business.
In connection with the storm, the point of
chief interest is that at the time the regions
above grew lachrymose the enlisted men OF
the regiment were quartered in shelter
tents. Shelter tents are diminutive A
tents. They are open in front and on the
march EACH man carries one-half a tent
In case OF heavy rain provision should be
MADE for changing the name of these small
canvas affairs, for they afford absolutely
no shelter. Therefore, the situation Sun
day evening was not only uncomfortable,
but serious. The water fell in volume too
great to be readily absorbed by the sand
feeiing particularly lively, it tried to immi-
tate the Johnstown food. and met with con-
siderable success. 1t swept along the COM
pany streets carrying everything clothing
toilet articles and mascots-before it Some
of the officers saved their few possessions
ham
boxes and ropes. Captain Charles Sumner
Davis Domer, he who has gained notoriety
Dy making up as a familiar advertisement,
ana VINO orders mercE andiSe sent to him
by mail, collect. during the heaviest por-
ton of the downpour heroically stood IL
the open, and with bare hands dug a trench
around his tent. Captain Domer thus pro-
tected from the clements many specimens
of Photographic femininity to say nothing
OF several boxes Of good things sent from
home. medal of honor awaits him: at
least the feeling here is that he should be
rewarded in some such manner.
When the rainfall ceased sleep was out
OF the question. BY dint of repeated efforts
and the of kerosene fires were lighted
and coffee boiled. The men Rugged the
fires all night At daybreak the camp pre-
sented d weefully dsmantied appearance,
but the sun put matters Fight in short or
der. The rain PACK the sand, the gen.
eral situation is much more pleasant today
The sentinels had troubles of their own
while the rain held sway, and calls of
ScipoId u Inc post NO. re-
lief were frequently heard. Major Pyles
the regimental surgeon. perhaps came
nearer losing his temper than any other
member of the organization. Major Pyles
had retired and was just passing into
dreamland lulled by the ratter of the rain
on his tent when he was rather rudely
disturbed A corporal eKeitediy informed
the surgeon that one of the sentineis had
been struck by lightning. His condition
was stated to be critical. Major Pyles, who
accompanied the corporal, was soaked to
the skin. He found at a distant post a
soldier who had been momentarily par
aIyzed by fright-nOthing more-by I'M
usually brilliant flash Of natural electricity.
Large tents Monday took the place of
the shelter habitationS, and never did men
labor more willingly than did those of the
District regiment in substituting one can
vas structure for another.
Big Luck for Tampa.
The concentration of thousands of regu-
lar and volunteer troops at Tampa has
proved a veritable Godsend to the little
city in the sand.
With thousands of troops came many more
thousands of dollars. In addition the ma
jority OF the regiments have been paid
since their arrival. Soldiers, it may be
safely stated, are more generous as spend
ers in proportion to their incomes than
any other class of wage-earnerS. Tampa
has reaped all the benefits growing out of
the principal business thoroughfare, pre-
sents d scene of the greatest activity from
early morning until late at night. The SOL
diers are in complete possession of the
sidewalk. A hearty welcome is accorded
them, possibly because they have volun-
teered to uphold the stars and stripes
against all enemies. foreign or domestic,
and particularly the kingdom Of Spain. The
probability Is, though, that their money Is
the open sesame. Everything imaginable
is offered for sale. and it seems as though
everything is being bought. The govern
nent orders, In addition to the vast num-
Der of individual purchases, are affording
Tampa an era Of prosperity that is unpre-
cedented and probably never dreamed of
by the most hopeful of it's citizens. The
opportunity to coin money in such proper
items as IT is being harvested now will prob
ably never again be presented to this pen
insula. 1t is needless to say that the
Tampans are thoroughly alive to the stu
alton.
The men of the District Of Columbia regi-
ment were given ample opportunity to en-
joy themselves after receiving their pay
ters directed that companies might be per-
mitted to visit Tampa by platoons, each in
charge of a commissioned officer. The SOL
diers returned loaded with bundles and
with full stomachs. Some of them did not
come back to camp however. until gath
cred in by the provost guard during the
night. The regular guard of necessity had
to be increased In numbers In order to prop
erly watch over the crowded guard tents. in
addition to It's other duties. The field Off
GERS court has been grinding on steadily
since shortly after the departure of the
paymaster and several gallant but indis-
Greet boys in blue are; now serving SEN
fences varying from FIVE to. thirty days.
II didn't let myself loose at all, sir" was
the plea of one private before the court
IT only took five glasses of beer. The hot
sun sort of got me mixed In my bearings, SO
l was late getting back TO camp"
Il suppose If you had let yourself loose"
remarked the court. $t'eui wouldn't have
gotten back till after ashe end of the war.
That will do
Most of the offenders have now had JUS
tice melted out to Them and the indications
are that peace and quiet will hereafter be
the rule throughout the regiment-at least
until another pay day rolls, around.
Like q Western Town.
Tampa reminds me strongly of western
town. instead of city of the east. Those
members of the regiments who attended the
interstate drill last July at San Antonio.
Tex, are impressed with its striking gem
eral resemblance to that community,
fraught with memories of the Alamo. But
the cowboys, Mexicans, and half-breeds,
characteristic of the lone star state, are
missing from the throngs here.