Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-08-28
GUARDSMEN
BEAR DISCOMFORTS
Manila Grove, August "a 1902


Editor The American Little we
thought when we were suddenly awak-
encd from our slumber at Columbia
Park last Tuesday morning ut o clock
that under the orders of Take one
days cooked rations and Sheridan
Roll we would at this date be still
ly the first hardship that the boys of
Company + have experienced This
is the seventh day at Manila Grove
and it is by far the pleasantest place
ut which we have as yet camped. The
grove is situated midway betweeen
Tamaqua and Lansford and is easily
accessible by the Lansford and Tama-
qua Trolley line, on which cars run
both ways ut intervals of thirty
minutes The ride to either of the
above cities, about four miles distant
occupies fifteen minutes. The line
from Tamaqua runs through wild
woods the greater part of the way and
skirts Nos. 10 and II collieries owned
by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Company, who also own the grove
and the trolley line
Manila Grove is one of the largest
and best appointed parks i'll this sec
tion, having an area of about 40 acres.
The pavilion contains 5000 square feet
of dancing space and is lighted with
over 800 32-candle power incandescent
lights. There are also a photograph
gallery, shooting gallery, ball park,
mechanical swings, a large roller
drum, razzle dazzle and fountains of
cold spring water, in addition to other
attractions Several men, including
an electrician are employed at the park
all the time and the grounds are ex-
ceedingly we'll kept The trees are
principally spruce and oak and are
beautiful specimens. The Crowning
feature of the park cannot be appre-
ciated until night when thousands of
incandescent lamps glitter among the
trees in every direction, making one
think of fairy land.
Amid such pleasant surroundings
one could hardly imagine any hard
ships, but when you think of men liv
ing seven days with nothing but a
poncho- blanket and overcoat and under
orders to move at any moment night
or day the situation changes. The
only equipage brought from Shenan-
doah except the Sheridan roll is the
mess tent and cooking outfit. Change
of clothing, extra bedding, etc, were
left behind. As this has been named
the Flying Battalion" there is no
telling when the rest of the outfit
will reach US The men sleep in the
mess tent, i'll the pavilion and any old
place they can find.
Roughing it seems to have improv-
ed the physical condition of the men
and the hospital has not had an oc
cupant since we have been here.
At the foot of the park stand several
trolley cars, with night and day crews
to take us wherever needed. AT
Tamaqua stands train ready at any
minute to convey us beyond the limits
of the trolley line Every man sleeps
with his full equipment beside him.
The Battalion can move in a few
minutes after the call "to arms.
Major Gearhart commands the bat
talon Corporal Gross is acting as
battalion quartermaster and commits
sary. Albert Smidley and Charles
Prentiss furnish the music for the
dances every afternoon and night.
Lieutenant Harrington led the singing
at the services this afternoon and the
above musicians played the hymns. The
service was conducted by the Rev.
Hugh Miller of the First Presbyterian
church of Lansford.
Zone of the Outfit -