The times., 1898-05-22
THE FIRST DEATH IN CAMP
Private BludSoe, of the 9Th ILL
nOiS, Receives His Discharge.
WATER SUPPLY Is SHORT
Sixteen Thousand Men Depend on
One Spring for Their Whole Wa
ter SuppIS-Taik of Moving the
CamR-Troops Suffering for Equip
ments-News of the Camp.

For the first time since its occupation.
Camp Alger yesterday heard the strains
OF the Dead March Over in the hospital
tent of the Sixth Illinois Regiment
volunteer hay dead. while the strength Of
the Sixth stood gloomily about and heard
their band mourn the regiments loss.
The dead soldier was Private Lewis
BIudsoe, of Company A. He had been
taken i'll with typhoid fever on Wednes-
day last while en- route to this place
When the Sixth arrived here on Friday
he was at once placed in the hospital
tent. but he rapidly grew worse and died
yesterday morning at $50. His home was
in Rock Island. H., and the surgeons
claim that his death was as much due
to. worrying over his home as TO the ef
fects of the dread fever.
Camp Alger Is rapidly spreading out
over the hills. 1t is a good days walk
TO visit the various regiments already
In camp, and there are many yet to
come. The question of the hour Is what to
do for drinking water. There is but one
pure spring. and as this already supplies
over Is 900 men, the officers of the va
rious regiments are alarmed at the pros
sect of a water famine. The work of
driving wells has not met with much
success, and, as the newly-arriyed regi-
ments are thrown back on the hills,
the men have TO walk several miles for
water for drinking, cooking and wash
ing purposes.
So precious has this one spring be-
come that the various regiments take
turns in supplying sentries. who guard it
continually.
The Seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, Col Hamilton commanding, ar
rived Immediately after the departure of
District boys. and replaced the latter on
their camping ground.
This regiment was followed by the
First Regiment New jersey Volunteer In
tantry. who pitched camp on the road be-
low the old Manor House. three miles dis
tant from the main camp
About 1890 sfajOr Young's famous coll
ored battalion. the Ninth Ohio. appeared
and We're stationed at the side of the
main road near the canteen. The battal-
ion is composed of big, strapping fellows,
who could give good account of them
selves in any engagement. Their cncamp-
ment was the mecca Of the sports from
the other regiments and every tree in the
vicinity sheltered crap game during the
afternoon. However. as the men have
not yet received their pay no money
changed hands.
Equipments still Lacking.
The majority of the Sixth Illinois were
compelled to sleep on the ground on Fri
day night, owing 10 lack Of blankets.
Few OF the men have a fun equipment.
some OF them even lacking necessities.
Col Foster was greatly wrought up over
the condition OF his men. as he had been
assured that they would receive every
thing as soon as they arrived here. What
ever else they may lack, the men take
pride in the fact that they were the only
regiment 70 arrive freshly vaccinated
The Eighth Ohio Regiment boasts of the
finest hospital tent in the camp. The
corps is fully equipped with everything
necessary for the care Of three regf-
ments. The surgeons are Major Farqu-
har Capt. Wuchter and Capt. A. z.
Smith, with Charles Stewart, o. J. Open
heimer W. c. Struggles and f. S. McKin-
ney as assistant surgeons. At present