The morning journal-courier., 1908-07-22
STORM DAMPENS SOLDIERS ARDOR Rain Sweeps Into Tents of the First at East Haven and
 There Is Rush for
 Cover.
NOT IN IT WITH NIANTIC
Men Find Water and Food Excellent Governor Expected to Visit the Regiment on
 Friday.

After two perfect days for camping on dry ground and judging by past performances not expecting any rain for the rest of the summer, the mem- bers of the First regiment, c. N. G., met their first real obstacle in the storm which swept this section of the country last night, A band con cert was in progress when the rain began to fall, but was not stopped for several minutes as farmer told the soldiers that 1t was impossible that there should be a steady iain. He stated that everything which could draw rain had been done. All the houses In East Haven had been paint ed with the hope that the reln should come and wash away the paint All the Sunday schools had had picnics, but there was not even q shower. Windows had been left open nights with the hope that the rain would blow in, but al that happened was that a second story man in two cases entered houses and partook copiously of the family silver. But still no rain.
 Encouraged by the resigned state ment of the East Haven citizen, the band played on until heavy drops drove the soldiers to their tents. The farmer asked someone to kick him to see if he was awake, and then went home to see if the rain vas falling in what was left of his garden.
 Left alone to themselves he militia men hurriedly dug trenches around their tents for the water to flow off. Tn camp is situated on a slight ele- vation from the base of the valley. The tents were securely fastened, and because there was little Snl none of them was blown down. The rain, however, soaked through the canvas of many of the tents and blew through the flaps of others. Within an hour the tents were soaked and the camp was sea of mud. Nc drownlngs have been reported.
 The antipathy which he member. of the First regiment took to Eas Haven on arriving Monday. hat slightly decreased yesterday after noon. although no one there for { minute thought that the place was tn, equal of Mantle. The men wer, troubled with flies from the first, bu fortunately there was a dearth of mos quitoes This condition of affairs wil be remedied to-day for the rain fallins on the hogs in the dried up swampi near the camp will send out thousands of mosquitoes.
 The water Is excellent the men say It Is brought to the camp from thu nearby stream and Is boiled befor, used. After being boiled it is placed in gin and whisky barrels; the bar rels are headed up, and the wate' flows out through the spigot. It | thus as pure as it Is possible to ob tain. The men say the food Is yer, good this year possibly better than a Mantle; and the cooks along send Del monicos sprnting to the woods.
 On Thursday or Friday t Is expect ed that the governor will visit tn camp. although there will be no regr, lar governors day. The men ar planning to give him such an ovatio, as the rules permit, and then vii , show him some choice target shoot ing. All day yesterday they had tar get shooting In relays, and the worI will be kept up to-day.
 ,, It has been arranged that ten me
 from each company may he out O , camp each night up to to:30 o'clock i Written permission Is obtained fror the captain, and when they com back to camp the captain marks tn time of the return and the tickets ar , given the colonel The colonel ha
 the privilege of extending the tim
 for return for an hour, and the priv
 ilege of staying out the extra time ha F been requested in many cases. La,
 night many of the men went over
 Momauguin to see the fireworks, an |, | others went to SaVin Rock