The Washington herald., 1908-08-10
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Took Down Their Tents in a Hurry
in Dripping Storm, and Got Here
shortly After Noon on the Good
Ship Jane sIoseIey-AH Are Pleased
with the Two Weeks Outing.

bedraggled crowd Their ardor was the
only thing that remained undampened by
the steady dOwnpour that began shortly
after midnight Saturday night. and did
not end until after noon yesterday.
This and their enthusiasm were their
only two assets Of good cheer. for the
morning would have more than tried the
patience Of Job-it would have shattered
that tinae-honored virtue to srnithereens.
More adverse conditions for breaking
camp than those encountered on the glad
some Sabbath morn yesterday are i'm
possible Of description and they defy the
imagination.
Kept stiff Upper Lips.
Yet through ii all the men remained
cheerful met the conditions as they were.
and proceeded with the business Of break
ing camp They lowered their dripping
tents on the dripping grass and seeping
ground. and with many more drippings
Of desultOry conversation and Of water
OF their clothes. they rolled and packed
them and stood bravely in the rain. Each
bundle was 29e Per cent overweight. and
those detailed 10 oversee the transfer TO
the wharf staggered on the slippery
ground under the extraordinary load.
Every countenance reflected the Joys of
camp life.
| Meanwhile Gen. Harries and the bri-
gade star, snug IN the manor house with
a cracking FIRE in the crate. smiled con
tentedly out upon the dark, cold morning.
and turned again 20 the warmth inside
IN the peaceful perusal Of their morning
paper
Despite their dismal surroundings. there
was a general spirit Of good cheer over
both reservations yesterday morning. ana
the men worked with a will In the face
OF all the difficulties, and the War De
ipartment order that all tentage and i'm
iPedimenta must be removed from both
reservations Sunday, with no provision
IS 70 rain or other contingency, the
work was but little delayed.
Everybody Worked Hard.
Great credit for the expeditions trans
portauol Of troops and al camp equip
age IS refected upon Capt Schafer and
Capt Cock. the two quartermasters. who
had entire charge Il was shortly after
noon when the Jane NfoseIey arrived at
her dock in Washington, and the men
in close marching order swung rapidly
up Seventh street TO the armory. That
it was not much later is remarkable.
3 1t-A-aAA-e-- --4EAaA -AAE aAlANaa Na- cl4lAllE
when the men turned in. after having
packed everything that could be packed
in advance. and there was no indica-
ton Of the coming terrors Of the coming
morning.
They arose al 40 IN the morning. the
rain coming down in a deluEe. and the
various camp grounds running rivers.
With much hesitation. and nervous as
vel as physical shiy5ring. they pulled
back their tent flaps with trepidation
and gazed out on a scene Of desolation.
and wondered. hoping against hope. that
some divine providence would interfere
The fates and the War Department con-
spired against them. however. and when
reveiIle sounded through the camp OF the
regulars az 3 O'Clock they had already
begun the work Of striking their tents.
The regulars looked on sympatheticaIIy.
Z The guards are looking for some OF you
fellows they shouted Why? WHAT'S
up2" was the answering query. Some
body broke camp around here. and they
are looking for who did IL" came back
the response
Little Raiadrop- Halted
Just then one OF the guards, seeing
dark figure hustling OF with camp stuff.
and being unable 70 see more than tweu-
y feet in front OF his face. cried Halt
Who goes there2~ Il so happened that
the man addressed was Private Morisrfty.
and being true TO the traditions OF the
Dutch he readily responded: Little Rain
drop-on the Job"
Wei. what are YOU doing around
here" the guard asked in a piqued voice
Faith. and Oi am looking for George
Washington's silver dollar" came back
! Patrick 4 second time
Guard-G-wan. ye blithering idiot It
washed down into the Potomac w1in yer
brains seeped outen your shoes
At this even the weeping willows wept
more copiously. and Patrick disappeared
in the outer rim OF the circle Of vision.
There was but little breakfast in camp
yesterday morning. and the mess tents
were pulled down over the heads Of the
I late cOmers- At Fort Washington all
| eQuipage was piled along the tracks OF
the Piscatawsy Limited and transported
I 10 the engineers wharf BIZ dinky train
4 As soon as the various camp grounds
/ were cleared the men marched in COM
pany formation 10 the steamer Jane
\ Mcseiey- The boat was crowded. but all
I Of them managed 10 get IN out Of the
/ wet There was but scaut comfort, how
cold. and It swept the boat from stem
to stern
All Glad to Get Away.
There was not man that die not want
I 10 get aboard, as evidenced by the fact
that a detail Of forty men. who were TO
remain over and aid Capt. Schafer in
loading the tents and other impedimenta
on the barge Jackson. ali trooped aboard
and refused to bulge until driven out by
/ the guard
All Of the Fort Hunt contingent was
safely slowed On the upper deck Of the
/ steamer before the Fort Washington
troops were embarked
/ Col Coffin and a number Of the regular
/ officers and men braved the weather TO
come down to the wharf and say q last
Z farewell
As the Moseley pulled out from the
dock, the band played Aud Lang Syne,"
and last farewells were waved amid the
I cheers from the militiamen for the regu-
I lars left on shore. ard by the regulars
I for their departing friends. AS the Nose
I ley swept out istO the channel, all hands
/ Joined IA three rouslng cheers for Col
I COf1il, who doffed his hat by way of
/ response
II was an hour and fifteen minutes
/ before the Moseley arrived in Washing
ton. and the men were all axious 10
/ get 10 the RrmOry and home. TO get dry
! clothing and to finish their interrupted
sleep.
! T)ssos.a the .5;e-,s, e-,ssh ,es.s-s ard