The times., 1898-05-16
SUNDAY WITH THE SOLDIERS
Thousands of Visitors Call on
the Boys in Blue.
COLOR COMPANY CHOSEN
Capt. Kings Company Wins That
Honor, and beautiful Flag is
Christened and Presented tn the
BattaIion-Mascotsa and Measles in
the Camp-New Orders.


camp of the First District of Columbia
Volunteers. Thousands of people visited
the grounds, and the camp was one great
! scene of animation ana color The blue
uniforms of the soldiers and the bright
costumes of the fair visitors were blend
ed, and, together with the inspiring
notes of the bugle, lent charm to camp
! life not often seen in regular army SER
vice.
The day began gloomily and rain fell in
torrents until noon. The trenches, how
ever, carried off the water and tents and
! blankets We're kept dry. Breakfast was
served as usual, except that for the first
time beefsteak was served TO the men.
II was good and wei cooked. Some was
tender and some was not, but it all went,
! just the same.
| The army regulations prescribe strict
observance of the Sabbath, and the men
were, therefore, exempt from drills and
parades.
About o'clock visitors began to ar
rive. The sun came out and dried the
mud in the company streets, so that
promenading was made agreeable.
The visitors We're given carte blanche
to go where they pleased and groups OF
! ladies stood about the tents of their
! friends and sat on blankets spread by
| the soldier boys. Much interest center
/ ed in the prospective dress parade which
| everyone hoped for, but Major Urell an
! nounced that dress parade was tabooed
on Sunday and so the crowd was disap-
| pointed.
There is much discussion over the Sc
/ lection of the color company of the bat
talon. Some time ago ii was stated that
the Morton Cadets, under Capt Frederic
! Hodgson would have that honor and
they decided to present to the battalion
/ the beautiful flag won by the company at
! Alexander Island. Now ii seems that
/ Company B is entitled TO the privilege. as
/ il was the third company mustered and
/ rests on the right center OF the battalion.
/ As Il result of this decision. Mrs. w. I.
! H. King wife of the captain of Company
! b. presented u pretty flag for use. 1t was
! given 10 Major Ureil with proper cere-
/ mony 1t was chrstened by Mrs. John
/ Houston daughter of Capt King and
wife Of Private Houston, of Company b.
A bottle of champagne was opened and
| the entire contents sprinkled over the
/ national emblem. which was then hoisted
! over the tent Of the battalion commander.
Senator Carter and family came out
and were the guests of Major uureli
More sIascots.
More mascots appeared in camp yester-
day Fighting Fitzhugh Lee" the red,
double-spurred rooster of Company B..
was mounted on a bicycle and photo
! Craphed. The scene was viewed with en-
/ w by the members Of Company L. Capt.
{ England and forthwith several men pro-
/ ceeded to a farm house. They returned
I with a black and white spotted duck
ffs
1 the cooking tent where ii was located.
There was another christening in which
the duck was ducked and them emerged
with the name of Admiral Dewey"
Meanwhile the Ordway Rifles Were not
idle. A meeting was called in the COM
pany kitchen and Privates Burk and
Stark designated to go and find a mascot.
The men started on their expedition and
after walking nearly ten miles found a
farmer who owned a yellow pig. il was
/ purchased at once and then began the
task of getting it to the camp. Squealing
and squirming IL was finally landed at
the kitchen and a pen built.
we will call It Gen. Blanco" said
Sergt. Dobson. and so it was.
Gen. Blanco" is being fattened and
soon viii be slaughtered for the company
I mess.
Orders for ChicISamauga.
r Late in the afternoon report reached
tie camp that the War Department had
changed the assignment Of the State
troops, and that the District boys viii
be sent TO Chickamauga as soon as a reg
| iment is mustered. The Information was
given TO Major Urell and his officers, who
expressed qualification at the change. The
men gave vent to their feelings by shouts
and cheers.
The hospital did not receive any new
patients yesterday. Measles developed
Saturday night. Private Owens. Company
d, Capt. Hodges, was taken i'll and re-
moved TO the hospital tent. He was
peppered with red pimples, and upon ex-
animation DR.. Cox pronounced 1t a case of
measles. Owens was Immediately iso-
lated from the other patients and careful
~ nursed. His condition is not serious
but he viii be confined to the hospital for
at least week. Steps We're Immediately
taken TO prevent the disease spreading,
but it is understood that there is an cpl
demic of measles in the town of Falls
Church.
At sick call yesterday morning twenty
men stepped from the lines for treatment
but all were minor troubles and were
not put in the hospital. The other men
who We're sick have been returned to
their ranks as cured and only seven en-
gagged the attention of the surgeon.
Private Kelly, Company D, was today
arrival of the regular official. Kelly is
an old hospital steward, having served
in the regular army and also at the
naval hospital.
Last night Mr.. Chopin, proprietor of the
Eagle House, entertained several of the
the officers at supper at Falls Church.
Yesterday workmen began the construc-
ton of a telephone line from East Falls
Church, and today the poles have reached
the camp grounds
Captain Martin. Of the War Depart
ment is establishing his headquarters al
Dunn Loring, where gangs of men work
night and day in constructing the branch
lines from the Southern Railway to the
camp. He has given contracts for the
purchase of several thousand mules, and
they are expected to arrive early next
week. Then ii is believed the rush OF
Z troops from the different States will be-
gin.
! Exempted From Dues.
J At the regular monthly meeting of The
1 ID