The Washington herald., 1907-07-18
ROOd'S Death Casts Gloom
Over Camp 0rdway.
EXHIBITION BY CAvALRYMEN
Make Fine Impression in Drill, and
Win Gen. Harries' Admiration.
bing to the District Soldiers In
Holly Contested Baseball Game.

dental drowning. Conflicting stories were
told by witnesses. but the one generally
believed TO be correct was that Rood's hat
was blown into the Potomac and ne
leaped in after It, Weighted down by his
clothing. he was drowned before succor
could reach him
The body was forwarded to Fort Myer
this evening. BY arrangement with the
quartermaster at Fort Myer the soldiers
father will have the body sent 10 Pitts
field, Mass, for interment in the family
lot
This was cavalry day at camp. Not
withstanding their feelings over the loss
of one Of their number by drowning in
the Potomac a few moments after L
O'Clock this morning, the members Of the
three troops from Fort Myer gave the
most sensational and thrilling exhibition
Of horsemanship this afternoon that has
even been seen in any District militia
camp. Their maneuvers were the only
exercises witnessed to-day. because
heavy rain prevented the execution Of the
plans Gen. Harries and Col. Brett had for
the militiamen.
Cavalry VIII Play Ball.
The Thirteenth Cavalry boys also won a
spirited and stubhornly fought baseball
game from the militiamen by a score Of
10 TO g. The game began Immediately
after the noon mess, and every soldier in
the cavalry and militia who could pos
sibly get away from his company street
was on the field roofing for his team
For eight innings the contest was highly
exciting In that session. however, the
regulars had a terrific batting rally and
tied Jhe game with four runs. The mill
tia team. composed Of the crack players
IN the two regiments lost their nerve
when the score was tied. and this. with
their inability 70 safely connect with Dor
cas- elusive benders. resulted in their be-
ing taken into camp.
This is the thirteenth consecutive vic
tory for the cavalry lads. Capt. Dorcas.
who is also the top sergeant OF Troop
F. pitched a mastery game after Fergus
was driven from the box. He held the
citzen-sOldiers safe at all times. while
Wilihoite and Hunter. who pitched for
the militia. were batted freely throughout
the game.
Artillery Reaches Camp.
The Third Battery, L. 5. Field Artillery.
rode into camp shortly after noon to-day.
Capt Cassels, commanding the organiza-
tion, reported "a severe march, but de-
clared all his men and horses were In
excellent condition. While the cavalry
parade and drill were in progress the
First Battery, y. c. Artillery fled into
camp. The men and horses looked a lit
tie the worse fer their four days expert
ence on the road, but Capt Charles Fox
stated there were no accidents or cas-
ualties, but every one was in good
health and weu seasoned by the practice
march from Washington.
Residents Of this section say they never
saw It rain so hard and continuously as
It did to-day Everything and every
body was water-soaked For three hours
torrents rained down on the camp The
water overran the bitches around the
tents. and the guardsmen who were on
the drill field when the storm broke over
the grounds were thoroughly uncom-
Portable. A few had change of uniform.
but those who were less fortunate had
20 be conten, TO shed their wet cl1thes
ana crawl between their blankets 10
get dry.
About o'clock. when il was seen that
prospects for rain were slim. assembly
was sounded and the Cavalrymen. led by
Mai. Dickman. marched upon the parade
ground. Their pTanCiug Steeds were
well groomed, all brass buttons shone
like gold. and their highly polished sabers
shimmered in the sunlight After the
proper alinement was gotten, by means
of Signal Corps flags. the troopers filed
down and faced Gen. Harries' tent Hun
dreds of people were in camp 10 witness
the parade and drill
Mai. DiCkman put the three troous
through the manual n the saber for
few moments The brigade band
paraded IN front of the several hundred
horses. playing a lively march. but there
was never move or break In the line.
Maj. Dickman then ordered his men TO
pass in ~eview. As the troopers passed
him he commented upon the fact thar all
the horses had been curried until they
were as sleek as race horses. and their
tails and names showed evidences of
having been put up in curl papers.
The squadron passed in review ar a
walk, trot, and then a gallop. Hearts
beat faster and faster and the blood of
the spectators ran Tiotously through their
veins. as the dashing horsemen whirled
around the large field at bTeakneck pace.
Troopers hats flew into the air Several
were crowded out Of their position on
the perilous and speedy turns, but they
all put spurs to their foaming steeds.
and, by excellent hOrsemanship. wedged
their way into their original places. and
kept up with the squadron Cheer after
cheer went up as the calvarymen rode
from Tire field Gen. Harries gave un-
stinted praise to the cavalrymen, and
complin ented Mai. Dickman.
Cmeers Have Pow-wOw.
This afternoon all men wearing shouI-
der straps reported to Col. Uren. Col
Ourand. or Mai Brooks for instructions
The work thus far accomplished was re-
viewed and criticised, those making com
ment pointing out where Improvement
could have been made. The work mapped
out for tomorrow was also informally
talked over
This afternoon the body of Leslie B.
Rood, Troop G. Thirteenth Cavalry. who
was drowned in the Potomac River at its
intersection with the Shenandoah at Har-
pers Ferry. at an early hour this morn
ing, was turned over to an undertaken in
Bolivar, to be prepared for burial.
By noon tomorrow. it is expected. Can't.
Chambers signal Corps men will be send
ing wireless messages srOm the station
on the hill opposite the'camp gate. After
the rain had ceased falling to-day the
wig-waggers strung up the wires and at
tached the instruments necessary to com
piete the station The current was
tribe too strong and could NOT ba ,,saf7
without causing strong spark, which
made telegraphing impossible until GER
tain changes are made.