The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-23

MANLY Art.
CAMP ORDWAY. GAITHERsBURG,
Nd. July 22-The camp is now in fine
condition. despite the fact that rain has
fallen three out Of the four days or nights
since tie Guards and cadets reached here.
The rain Of the second night taught all
hands a salutary lesson.
Everybody went to work the next morn
ing banking and ditching, and stalking the
tents The hunks have been arranged bet
ter, too, and the result is that there is
much more comfort than at first Indeed.
the camp is now in the prime of its exist
ence. The daily programme is carried out
smoothly and exactly on time. Pickets are
stationed along the borders of the camp
and send men to the guardhouse for not
furnishing adequate excuses for their at
tennis to pass through the lines. The
telegraph and telephone systems are now
cnmpIete. At the end of each wire is
signal corns wagon with two operators in
side who work the little clicking instru-
ments from a. m to 10 D. N. This work
OF the signal corps has been practically &C
oomplished in two days through the untir-
ing efforts Of their commander, Lieutenant
Mattingly.
Here and there at all times of the day
can be seen mounted couTiers, OTderlieS,
priyates. corporals. sergeants galloping TO
their different destinations with orders.
The fine sanitary condition. due to the
perfect order and regular cleaning OF the
-, F1..F rfrnf fha q H.
buiance corps. in spite Of the rain, has
only three patients. Two of them are Eick
from slight colds due to the rain Private
s. J. Long. of Company B, Fifth Battalion,
broke bis toe last Thursday night while on
guard duty by letting a gun fail cn 1t. He
patrolled his beat all night in the rain.
and hobbled about all the next day, think
ing his toe was only bruised, and only THIS
morning be reported at the hospital HIS
wound was promptly dressed and spiintred
by Surgeon c. A Weaver, OF the Am5u-
lance Corps. Private Long will be laid up
during the remainder Of the stay here.
On account of the healthy condition of
the camp the ambulance corps spend their
time in making fun. Last night for half
hour before taps they had a buTlesque
prize fight. most laughable to behold. be-
tween two camp mascots, small colored
tots about ten years old. named The Sing
ing Kid" and Spider Jim" The fun was
finally stopped by a superior officer.
Battery A, OF the = .ght Artillery, the
only Guard battery. has taken up hne,
shady position in an old orchard upon a
hill Captain Moore has had his field guns
drawn up in an imposing line in front OF
his camp and has set his company flag. His
men obtained lumber and constructed
benches under the trees, and by this act
have stolen a march upon all the other
companies, who lack these conveniences.
The Light Battery camp contests first
place with the ambulance corps for the
cleanest and most pleasant camp
The National Guard rife range has been
laid oG and built in easy access of the
Frederick pike. about mile and half
from the camp. The two rows Of twenty
targets each are situated 300 yards apart
and are. respectively, distant from the
firing line 500 and 200 yards, so that by
changing the firing line any range can be
secured
The forty score boards are ranged in q
long line in front OF the targets and the
work is greatly facilitated by expert score
counters and markers. 4 large tent for
the officers and visitors has been pitched
upon the ground.
The Second Battalion Of the Guards. un-
der the command Of Captain Evans.
marched to the range today and enjoyed
two hours Of rife practice. Each battalion
will have its turn at rife practice on the
succeeding days.
The dress parades are attended by a
large and enthusiastic crowd Of people
from both the surrounding country and
Washington. All OF them remain TO hear
the band concert which is regularly given
II front OF headquarters. Many come TO
this concert and the crowd is not drawn
away from the performance by the music
OF the singing kid" who Is small and
black, but has very sweet, strong voice.
The guard around the camp has been
drawn much tighter and now passes are
required 10 go outside the lines At brief
intervals at night can be heard the cFlal-
lengs OF the sentries, who goes there?"
or the calls Of the piCkets for the cor
poral OF their post when some suspect ia
gathered in.
A provost guard is stationed in the city
OF Gaithersburg TO catch those without
passes or those lettering there after taps.
Every cay the several companies take
practice marches OF about two miles dc.yn
the Frederick pike, and from these
marches the ambulance corps gathers most
OF its work, for In these marches more
than ten men have tainted up to date.
At present the engineer corps is en-
gagged In cutting down the trees that OBJ
struct one side Of the large parade ground.
Ihis corps mas been OF valuable rervice
to the camp, and even now. when most of
the work Is finished, 1t still continues in
its hard work. To it is due the excellent
location and laying out OF the camp.
The High School Cadets, who are in
camp under the command OF Lieut.. Col.
Van A. Potter. have worked harder and
more conscientiously than the majority Of
tho Guard companies, and by every drill
show their superiority in close order. but
Of extended order they have had no drill
ing, but are fast obtaining a knowledge
OF it. They are all hoys. while the ma
jority Of the Guard are men, but they have
all held out better. for not a boy has |
tainted during drill, while ten Of the |
Guard have fallen by the wayside
On the arrival of Mai. Gen. Nelson A. |
Miles and Henry B. F. Mcfarland. Com
missioner for the District OF Columbia, at
camp at {:40 p. NJ yesterday, Battery A.
Of the Guard, Light Artillery, fred a
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