The Washington times., 1904-06-19
MUST ABANDON
HARPERS FERRY
Site For Guard Camp Has
No Water.
SEEKING ANOTHER PLACE
Major Neumeyer on the Scent of a
Suitable Tract Near Charles
town, w. Va.
SEEKING ANOTHER PLACE

Harpers Ferry has been abandoned
as a camp site for the District Militia
Major Z. II. Nenmeyer. who selected
the camp grounds. was the most disap-
pointed person in Washington yesterday
when he received information from his
corps OF ~well-diggers to the effect that
water could not be found anywhere near
the place selected. He forthwith board
ed a train going in the direction of
Charlestown. w. Va. and his last words
were: I'm going again. but 1 Will not
return until I have selected a suitable
site. with plenty of water near It. and
one with which we viii have no trouble
at all"
For weeks Major Neumeyer and Col
onei Brett. Adjutant General of the
Guard. %Journeyed to Harpers Ferry in
search Of a suitable place for the annual
outing OF the Guard, and finally they
determined upon an undulating plain,
Just suited for the purpose. Arrange
ments were made with the farmers who
owned the land. and the deal was
closed.
Could Not Find Water.
Well-diggers were then sent to the
place to sink artisan wells. and run
tANn ~ ~ 4LAG tic UOlE EdlllEA
the site. The diggers worked unceasing-
ly for more than a week. and went
more than eighty feet down, but not a
drop Of water did they find. They tried
IN various places just outside the camp
grounds. and finally they reported TO
Major Neumeyer that there was no
water TO be found in Harpers Ferry.
Yesterday afternoon Major Neumeyer
formally abandoned the plan to take the
men to that place. There are several
desirable and suitable sites near Charles
town. and Major Neumeyer is deter
mined TO find a place with water on OF
near It this trip. He says he has lost
too much time from his business, and
worked too hard TO have failure con-
front him at the last moment. when
he thought he had been successful In
getting the right place.
Brett Will Pass Upon 1t.
After he makes his selection Colonel
Brett Will nave to go to Charlestown. or
wherever the site may be located. and
sanction it before the engineers will be
sent there. There remains but six weeks
In which TO make practically all the
preparations for the and
If the Guard officials do not watch them
selves. they viii either have to take the
Guardsmen to Leesburg again. after
all the vows and oaths taken TO the con-
trary, or postpone the
several weeks. and thereby cut down
the attendance about 20 per cent
There is no Engineer Corps in the
Guard at the present time. and the Sig
nal Corps is not on the finest footing.
but It IS believed the camp site can be
gotten into condition by August ]. sew
eral officers have been designated TO
perform engineer duty. and as they are
connected with the engineer CORPS Of
the District or United States. while in
washington, they have a great deal Of
experience ans can speedily lay out the
plan Tor the camp site after it is Sc
lected.
Naval Battalion's Plans.
II is now believed that the Naval Bat
t3iion's plans will be changed at the
last moment also. in view OF the fact
that tie monitor PuVitan has been
gwen 10 the command instead of the
FERN. In heC Of starting from Wash
lfston on the Puritan and taking a
cruise down the Potomac to Chesapeake
a and engaging in target practice
down there, IT is said the officials are
planning TO send the jackies to Phila-
oeiphia, where they viii be placed
aboard the Puritan and given orders TO
~m1 D-1N noaN 70 1SnllElDn. DE
means Of a circuitous route. stopping
for target practice on the way. The
Puritan VIII also have aboard IL a crew
OF enlisted navy men and officers. and
II is argued that the local tars will get
much more practical training thereby
thar in the originally planned way.
General Brett has returned from
West Point. where he went last week
TO attend the annual graduation exer-
cises.
The following changes have been an
nouneed in the Guard:
HonOrably Observation-Disclosures Karl
Schaefer, Brigade Band: Privates Har-
~ Davis. Colder l. Hehin, and Charles
T. Morris. Ambulance Corps; Privates
Howard T Heating and Harry v.
Mundheim. Company B.. First Regi-
rent; Corporal Charles 3. Rogers,
Company II. First Regiment; Private
Bruce Aldrich. Company Z. Third Regi-
ment; Private Harry L. Sherier, Com
pany +. Second Regiment; Private Ed
mund w. Scott, Company /. Second
Regiment; Private William Burnett
Company d. First Separate Battalion.
Removal from the Dlstrict-Prlvate
Horace L. Wilcox. Ambulance Corps;
Corporal Fred A. Farling. Company c..
First Regiment: Private William y.
Allen. Company c. First Regiment.
Discharged In the interest OF the serv-
fce-Private William A. Mitchell, Com
pany r.. First Regiment.