The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-02

iment will Leave Camp Townsend,
at feekskill, on Wednesday Morn
ing and Embark for Porto Rico.
Drills the Men Have Been Put
Through-Score Made at the Rifle
Matches.
Under date of July 81, A. L. Vorhis,
The Tribune's correspondent with the
First Regiment of Volunteer Engin-
eers, writes as follows from Camp
Townsend at Peekskill. N. Y:
AT last orders have been received to
move, and unless they are counter
manded we will leave Camp Towns
end on Wednesday morning next. via
boat from Roahook landing, about one
mile from camp. The news to strike
camp was received on Friday night,
when Colonel Griffin returned from
Washington, with cheer upon cheer by
the officers and men of the regiment.
The orders were for the whole regi-
ment, while it had been expected that
only the First battalion would be
called. | have yet to hear one man say
go, and the Scranton contingent, which
embraces boys from three counties, are
more than anxious.
For the past week the regiment has
been kept busy preparing for the front.
Drills in engineering, movements used
in front of enemy taking precedence.
In the engineering drills, the men were
detailed to building breastworks, sus-
nGin h,,;l lpnG
streams, from the most available ma
terial. Gabion- making is another fea-
ture of the work. They are built Of
green branches Of trees or bushes and
are about three by six feet in height,
twenty-one inches in diameter, and
when used are placed in front of
man. The earth is thrown from the
front to the inside of the gabion. They
are built by placing first upright
branches of sufficient strength to sup
port the basket, and then from the
smaller branches or twigs you weave
a basket that is solid and will hold the
earth. A bullet will not penetrate one
of these when built correctly and filled
with earth.
BRIDGE-BUILDIN
"The suspension bridge is made from
material gotten in the same manner.
1t can be constructed in a shorter time
If rope is available, but If not, then
poles from small trees are lashed to-
gether and thrown across. The foot
walk consists of the same material.
When in shape the bridge is solid and
will hold a goodly number of men at
one time.
Another event that Occasioned al
most as much joy as the orders TO move
was the arrival of the paymaster on
Saturday morning. Pay rolls were
signed during that day and evening,
and this morning at $40 we were must
cred for pay, l. c., the roll of the regi-
ment was called on the parade ground,
and we will receive our money on Mon
day.
THE regiment has also been indulg-
ing in rifle practice during the past
week at 200 yards. each man had five
shots and was allowed no trial shot.
The first battalion has completed it's
score, and the average on "a target of
a possible 25 is Il. 1t would be.of no
interest to give the individual score of
the battalion, therefore, in an item to
follow, will note the score of the boys
from your vicinity. Sergeant Rock
ford. of Company C, made a possible
% and Corporal Miller. Company d,
"a. Both are from the regulars, and
Corporal Miller has challenged Ser
geant Rockford for match which will
probably come off at Porto Rico.
THE first death at camp occurred on
Saturday morning. Private John
Hartnett, Company L, whose home was
at Troy, ~ Y. was taken with a cold
n week before and confined to the hos
pital. The best of care was taken of
him and he seemed to be getting better
until on Friday morning symptoms Of
pneumonia developed, and he was i'm
mediately sent by ambulance to the
Helping Hand hospital at Peekskill,
where he died at 10 o'clock Saturday
morning. Private Hartnett was 81
years of age, single and a bright, in
telligent and worthy soldier of the
regiment. 4 detail of sixteen men
from his company, all Troy boys, were
sent to Peekskill and escorted the re-
mains to the depot, where they were
placed in charge of a brother and ship
ped home. lie was enlisted at Troy
on July l by Captain Smith, of Com
pany D, and was mustered into the
service in Company l., July S. His
comrades feel very deeply his sudden
demise"
CAMP NOTES.
George Butterfield, OF New York city,
is visiting his father today, who is a
private in Company /.
James Connery, of foot ball fame, is
happy over the arrival of a box of
goodies from friends on the South Side.
1t is needless to say that his friends
received piece of 1t. Jim says Spur"
is o. X
Thomas Morrin, of Company II, who
is one of the South Side boys, is happy
with his position as engineer at the
bath house. When he goes to Porto
Rico he may have something better
AL Bartz is delighted with his box
from home, and would be perfectly sat
isfied If he had his bike with him.
Evan F. Davis, of Company II, is
home on a furlough. He is due in
camp on Monday at noon. Evan is one
of the lucky ones.
Wellington Woodruff, of Troy, N. Y.
is the guest OF Private Fred Woodruff,
Of Company II, a former Green Ridge
correspondent of The Tribune.
MI