Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-09
District Soldiers Gain Novel Expert.
enoes Going to the Front.
SIDETRACKED AT WILDWOOD
Echoes Of RooseyeIt's Rough Riders
Heard in Passing.
COMPLIMENTS FROM CITIZENS
Special From a stur Correspondent.

the pending war with Spain is not without
its discomforts and drawbacks. The Is:
Regiment of Infantry, District of Columbia
Volunteers, has come into it's full share OF
both. Col. Harries' command broke camp
at Chickarnauga early Wednesday morn
ing. H. is now nearly neon Saturday. Three
and one-half days have passed and the Sd
Battalion of the regiment, together with
the wagon train and live stock, are eighty
five miles from Tampa.
We are now resting quietly at Wildwood.
II cidentally, Wildwood is most appropriate
~ named. There is asufficiency of wood visi-
BILE, and If not wild everything and every
body have that appearance. In addition
to a railroad station 1 have succeeded,
after a careful research, in locating five
structures. On siding half mile from
this alleged settlement the train transport
ing the Sd Battalion, was halted shortly
after o'clock yesterday afternoon. There
was nothing particularly startling in the
mere hating of the train 1t had been
brought to a standstill at frequent inter-
walls since leaving Rossville, near Chicka-
manga. But time cragged on. 1t continued
to drag. Then 1t dragged some more.
Meanwhile the men were growing hungry.
They had had nothing in the way of food
Stree early morning. The water in the
nine cars, both for drinking and bathing
n
was no way Of securing coffee for the men.
absolutely no way Of replenishing the wa
ter supply.
The delay grew Irksome. The train Off
Gals could give no explapation beyond the
brief and unsatisfactory statement that
orders had been received to wait. In the
heighborhood Of 800 officers and men wait
ed with as much patience they could
muster. There was nothing else to do.
Finally, rumor spread that wreck had
occurred down the line. The shades Of
eht were getting in their heavy work
wren long train of empty coaches ap-
preached from down the line. The brake
men were hailed by the soldier lads, who
had been given permission by Major
O'Brien to leave the cars for the first
time since the journey began.
Yes, there had been wreck, SO said the
brakemen.
who was in it?"
why, some Of them fellers with DC. on
their coats"
Anybody hUrt?'
Don't know. but think there was"
Men Forgot Their Hunger.
Now, all this was very interesting. The
men for the time being forgot their hun
ger and thirst and devoted themselves to
discussing whether the LIST or I'd Battal-
ion or both had figured In the smash-up,
and the extent Of the damage. An hour
dragged by Another long train of empty
coaches approached.
Everything blocked down the line" was
the information that accompanied the in
coming train. You won't get through for
a week" -
In view of the fact that the travel ration
furnished the troopszwas-a about exhausted,
and facilities were not at hand for obtain
Ing an additional supply. the situation
changed from irksome to one that border
ed on alarm. Something must be done.
Major O Brieh, accompanied by several of
his officers, trudgedS through the deep sand
in the direction of the station at Wild
wood. There a lcne telegraph operator
was discovered. Major 0'Brien demanded
to know what was what. The operator
was induced TO send a message of inquiry.
Another wait At last the instrument be-
gan to click. Major CBrien was informed
that the tracks leading into Tampa were
completely blocked. 1t would be impossi-
BILE to move anything south of Wildwood
before morning at least. No mention was
made of a wreck.
Radical steps, Of necessity, had to be
taken. Foraglng parties were sent out in
all directions. Unexpected success reward
ed their efforts. A little store was I'M
earthed amidst the dense foliage and its
entire stock of coffee purchased. Soon i'm
mense fires Illuminated the clearing.
Huge kettles were placed on these, and
before long coffee was boiling. The pic
ture presented was one seldom witnessed.
The train was moved from the siding to
the station. At exactly 10 o'clock steam
ing hot coffee was served the men. Next
water was supplied the cars by buckets,
and at IL o'clock most of the battalion was
wrapped In blankets and slumber
A few of the officers and men remained
awake, owing to the suspicious actions of
two individuals concerning whom nothing
definite could be learned. The air had
been rife with stories of the presence and
actions of Spanish spies. Night before
last car load of horses were hamstrung
at this very place. 1t was remarked how
very easy 1t would be to blow UP train
load of United States troops. Therefore,
the most vigiant sort of watch was main
tanned all night after the presence of the
suspicious individuals referred to became
known. The sun rose this morning, how
ever, without anything having disturbed
the quiet of the night.
Rumor Regarding the Roads.
Rumor has it that General shafter has
assumed control Of the railroads entering
Tampa and will hereafter run the trains
according to his own ideas. If such a
move would result In their speedily leav-
ing Wildwood the boys would be inclined
to give three cheers, together with several
tigers as addenda, for General Shafter.
AS rule. only the most complimentary
things may be said OF the citizens of Geor-
gfa and Florida AZ every station passed
the enthusiasm and patriotic demonstra-
lions have been refreshing. Flowers have
the folks had barrels of ice cold lemonade
at the depot. which, was dispensed gratis.
This little action was appreciated by the
Washington soldierss and. they will ever
entertain bright thoughts. OF Ocala.
Teddy" Raaseyelts regiment of rough
riders preceded the; District troops through
Florida by one day. The peaceful resi-
dents were aware. of It. The accounts they
give of their passing are fiorid. sanguinary
and excited. At one quiet little town. SO
the accounts state, the rough riders COM
PEELED the station agent to cover 100 yards
In mountaineering time and then, as q
s-rt of farewell. sent a bullet through his
hat. the headgear being in its customary
position on the head sof the agent. Some
of the Florida people are now digging cy-
clone cellars. into which they mean to re-
tire the next time the three RS appear in
this vicinity. fi
The best Of order has prevailed during
the trip. At every station the people I'M
hesitatingly declare thatsthe District troops
are the best bshaved' men, by far, Of all
those who have passed this way. citi-
zen at one city remarked: you gentlemen
must be right from home; 1t can't be that
you've been cut long, for you're too clean
and nice looking" So
Fun With Capt. Domer.
Capt. Charles Sumner Davis Domer. who
IN time of peace .devotes himself to posing