Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-22

there is no guard or sentry duty, all that
falling to the lot of the regulars, and The
work about the camps is slight. With the
perfect weather and the ideal camping ar
rangements the men as delighted
they were at first surprised
In the afternoon Col. Urell. Maj Stevens
OF theSartil!ery and Capt. Shafer, quarter
master OF the I'd Regiment went with The
Evening Star reporter on the papers dis
patch boat to visit Fort Hunt Col. Urell
and his party were met at the shore end of
the long pier by a waggonette and driven
to the house OF the commandment, Capt.
Ballantine, who escorted them about the
post after the colonel had visited Maj. An
ton Stephen and the five companies of
District troops encamped at Fort Hunt.
Maj Stephan reported everything In ex-
cellent shape with his command, the only
exception being the departure of Private
Wiseman. Company d, I'd Regiment, who
Is invaded home; diagnosis. tired out.
Mosquitoes Eradicated.
Although there is a remarkably good
hospital at Fort Hunt. 1t is said to be lit
tie used since DR.. ]. w. Hart the post
surgeon, has ''petrolized mosquitoes out OF
existence in the vicinity. He is said TO
have obtained quantities OF kerosene by
proving to the War Department that so many
pensions were paid to men who had con-
tracted malaria at Fort Hunt from bites
of the insects that 1t would be cheaper for
the government to buy oil He won laurels
Capt. Ballantine took Col Crell and his
party into the fire-control station. where
the ranges and aiming of the guns are de-
termined, and with Maj. Stevens explained
the elaborate system by which unerring
exactness is secAred. Then In Mount Vernon
battery the big guns were put through their
PAGES, the visitors trying a hand al working
them. tetery walk over forty feet OF a
single plank temporary bridge above a deep
cash in the earth led the visitors to the
perpendicular ascent of forbiddng black
ladder, the only means of access to the
meteorological station, which is located in
an abandoned firing station. Everybody
made the ascent. but Capt Ballantine con-
fessed that he had never found out why
the ladder had been made SO steep.
The camps are close together at Fort
Hunt and all near battalion headquarters,
thus differing from the situation at Fort
Washington
Attack on Fort Washington.
Maj. Stephan's attack on Fort Washing
ton Wednesday is to be left largely to his
own judgment to details. He has no
contour map of Fort Washington. and, of
course. cannot use the guns OF Fort Hunt
to aid him. He visited Fort Washington \
last night. but whether the call upon Col
Urell or in furtherance Of some deep-laid
hostile plot he declined to say.
On the other hand, the militia officers at
Fort Washington have no maps of Fort
Hunt. but as the latter is a one company
post of area somewhat restricted, lying also
in full view from the heights across the
river. the conditions are unequal.
Fort Washington, from Swan creek down
to Piscataway creek, is bordered by heavy
trees. Except for the romantic looking old
fort. no sign of aimed strength is visible
catur. Humphreys. Meigs Wilkin and
Smith, with monster engines of ready
to hurl death and destruction. That is the
fortified foe that Maj. Stephan must strive
Services were held yesterday morning at
all the company camps by Chaplain Dud-
ley Of the I'd Regiment. Chaplain Perry Of
the Artillery and Mr. Jessops Of the Y. NJ.
in the hall at the post exchange last night
Chaplain Perry led the morning service
and Chaplain Dudley sang and preached
upon obedience Col; Urell, Lieut.; Col.
attended. among them being Capt. Mea-
cham. formerly a first lieutenant in the I'd
Regiment. but now a captain In the Ar
tillery Corps.
Visitors in Camp.
The families of Capt Clarence " Sayer
and Lieut.. Frederick H. Heidenreich were
visitors at camp yesterday and dined at
officers mess.
Company F, Capt. Duffle in the battalion
Of Maj. Simms. camped at the outer batter
les attracts great attention and favorable
comment for the machine-li like precision Of
it's work. The members are former Wash
ington High School cadets, who have
brought to the militia the ingrained accu-
racy OF drill inculcated in their school days.
Another company-K-is composed largely
of Y. M. c. A. cadets.
A double hospital tent was pitched this
morning for the militia at Fort Hunt. No
one is Ill, but DR.. Pope thought 1t best
to have some place where he could have a
man lie down II he seemed to need that, in
addition to other mild treatment.
At Fort Washington yesterday the flag of
the Y NJ. c. A. was raised by mischief
lovers over Col. Urell's tent, but was not
permitted to stay long. The Y. NJ. c. "A. |
agent, Mr.. Jessops, who shares Chaplain
Dudley's tent. was cold during the night,
his one thin blanket proving too little cover.
Looking about for something to keep him
warn,, he finally draped himself in the pages
of The Sunday Star and lay down to sweet
repose Today he hurried to town for bed
clothes. C.. e. T.