The age-herald., 1898-09-21
CAMP FALKNER
 ALMOST DESERTED Only One Hundred and Twenty Men Of
 the Regiment Remain. THE REST GIVEN BURROUGHS And the Majority of Them Are En
 Route Home. PRIVATE SLATE IS IMPROVING William Pride of Go. B Died at His Home in Florence of Fever Con-
 tracted in Miami Remains
 Inferred at Tuscumbia.
PRIVATE SLATE IS IMPROVING

Yesterday afternoon about nghtfall Camp Falkner bore deserted appearance which contrasted strangely with the camp which, for the past three afternoons had been fairly overfowing with a thousand soldier boys and their thousands of friends. Only few sentinels as they hung around the guard house, a few men down at the company kitchens and a few belated offi- cers who were winding up their accounts were to be seen.
 Early yesterday morning the work of is- suing thirty day furloughs to the men be- gan. Each company was formed and all those who would volunteer to remain in camp, while the main part of the regiment was off on furlough, were asked to step forward. About 12O of them volunteered
 The work of issuing furloughs to the re- maining thousand then began. Blanks had already been signed and issued to the cap ta1ns, and it took only short time to do the work. The boys from Huntsville, Florence and Decatur came to the city imedmiately and boarded the north bound Louisville and Nashville for their homes. A special car had to be added for ther accommodation and they pulled out of the shed cheering wildly. All of the men took their entire camp equipment in cluding their arms clothing and bedding off with them so that it would not be lost. Every other train which left during the af- ternoon also carried its full quota of sol diers All of them were enthusiastic over their prospects of being again at home.
 The officers who have volunteered to re- main in tai ubn will be in command; Adjutant Brown, and Lieutenants Dean, Pride, Perkins and Webb. The men who remain in camp will be under strict discipline. but with light duties There will always be guard on duty to protect the property, and some off, cer or non-commissioned officer will al- ways be in command. Colonel Higdon, who will be at his home only a few miles away, will be frequent visitor at the camp. Most of the tents will be taken down and piled up in the company streets, and the 12O men in camp will be formed into two companies.
 Death of Wm. Pride
 News was received in camp yesterday of the death of William M. Pride Jr at his home in Florence He was a private in Company B, the Wheeler Rifles, and was considered not only one of the most popu- lar men in his company, but in the whole regiment. His was the thirteenth death that has occurred in the First Alabama.
 Pride was taken sick with typhoid fever about August 20 in Jacksonville, where he has been since that time He did some splendid work while on detached duty in June and July in recruiting his company to it's maximum strength.
 The deceased was 21 years old. His fa- ther is prominent planter in Colbert coun- ty.
 The news of his death was a great blow to his company yesterday, and all of the men hurried home in hopes of being present at the funeral services. It was their desire to bury their comrade with military honors. They were too late, however, as is seen from the following telegram:
 Florence, Ala, September 20.-(Special.)- Private Will Pride of Company B, Wheeler Rifles died in this city last night, and was buried in Tuscumbia this afternoon Pri- yate Prides death was caused by typhoid malaria contracted in Miami, Fla, and is the first death in Company since the war commenced
 Slate Is Improving
 Private J. M. Slate of the Clark Rifles, Company M who was so seriously wounded Monday afternoon at the hands of Private David D. McClung of the same company is getting along remarkably well consider ing the terrible nature of the wound Ever since the accident happened the surgeons in charge have predicted that his death would he a matter of only a short time; but from the last reports received from camp last night he was still alive and resting quietly He is perfectly rational and asserts posi- lively that he will not die.
 Those doubting Thomases who have doubted the efficacy of the old Springfield rifle as a weapon of modern warfare should be shown the terrible work done by the bull let from McClungs rifle. The bullet entered Slate's side just below the heart, and, tear ing a great hole through the left lung, struck rib, and glancing around, came out right by the spinal column Not content with going through one big soldier, the bullet continued its course and plowed into inc ground a short distance behind where Slate had fallen It must have struck some hard substance in the ground, for it glanced upward again, and ended it's course in wheelbarrow landing near. Its velocity, however was great enough to tear big hole in the wood.
 On Provost Duty
 The Jefferson Volunteers are still doing provost duty in the city, but it is probable that they will be taken off today, and all of them who desire will be granted fur louehs. The Volunteers gave a splendid eX- bibition of drilling on the streets yesterday afternoon, which was witnessed by large number of citizens.
 Succumbed to His Injuries
 George Johnson, a colored brakeman on had tn