Evening journal., 1903-07-13
SOLDIERS CAMP
OUT IN RAIN
Weather Man Uses All Va
riety at His Command
for Their Benefit
MANY VISITORS NOTWITHSTANDING
Boys Attend Religious Services, but
Dress Parade is Dispensed With.
Dance for Officers at the Douglass
Wednesday Night.

Staff Correspondent Evening Journal
Rehoboth, July l3.-Camp John Hum Is
we'll established and never before was the
First Regiment. Delaware National Guard
better equipped for field service and tn
struction. They have first class tents,
complete equipment. including Krag-Jor-
gesen rifles, the official arms of the United
States regular infantry. There are about
400 men In camp.
The site Is an ideal one. It comprises
thirty acres, two lots being united for the
purpose. II Us about 200 yards from the
ocean and about 200 yards from the rail-
road station. The company streets, eight
in number, run from north No south, while
the tents of the company officers extend
from east to west at the head OF the COM
pany streets.
The camp was formally established on
Saturday afternoon. With band playing
the eight companies under command OF
Colonel Theodore Townsend and Lieuten-
ant olonel Charles M. Stevenson, march,
ed from the railroad station to the camp
site. At blast from the bugles the white
tented village cropped up in an instant.
Little Sunday Activity.
There was very little activity at tho
camp yesterday. Guard mount was the
important feature of the morning and later
religious services were held by Chaplain
Munson. In the afternoon services again
were held. Dress parade was dispensed
with, owing to the rain.
Since the soldiers have been encamped
here they have been treated to all kinds OF
weather as IL the weather han were try.
ing TO season them. They withstood IN,
test well, but no doubt many Of then
wished they were home and in their bed
last night.
On Friday night it was so hot on Tn
camp ground thrt-the detail sent oul n
erect the TENTS botook themselves to IN
board walk and bunked under 1t.
On Saturday afternoon there was a littl
rain but Il served to cool the ground some
what and the boys were happy. Yester
: day opened clear and hot. The sun fairl,
scorched every one who dared TO ventur
out. The guardsmen kept as quiet as pos
sble. There We're many visitors to Tn
camp, but hundreds who would hav.
honored il with their presence We're KEEP
away by the heat. The fair skinned sol
e diers were blistered and sore, but tn
! worst was stlll to come.
Shortly after O'Clock yesterday after
noon the black clouds which obscurcd tn
sky let out a delugc of rain. 1t was ac
companied by sharp lightning. heavy thun
der and strong wind. The sand wa
caught up and blown into the tents an
into the faces of the sentry on his post
Those outside were soon drenched am
many Of the tents were flooded and threat
. ened with destruction.
The storm lasted all the evening, th
lightning being particularly brilliant, caus
. ing all sorts OF illusions.
To the soldier boys on guard the seen
. was weird The night was so dark an
o black thah the proverbial hand before IN
face could not be seen. At frequent IN
torvlls there would be flashes which woul
E light up the heavens, showing the cam
ground and ocean illuminated as IL by
e bright blue light.
The light would disappear as suddenly a
e it came leaving the guardsmen blinded fo
several seconds. At first the men dreade
- this electrical effect. but later looked fol-
' ward TO 1t to light up the camp and kee
- them from falling into holes filled wit
= water and falling over tent ropes
= After the variable weather they have ha
g the soldiers feel that they will be read
for anything.
0 1t VIII not be all work in camp on Wee
ncsday evening there will be "A hop at III
Douglass House for the officers. Thei
4 will be many visitors from Wilmington an
Baltimore. The enlisted men are talkin
Of giving a hop.
= c. L. GRAY.