The Washington herald., 1908-08-02
DAY OF ATHLETICS
AT RIVER FORTS
Fort Washington Contingent
Wins in Game of Ball.
GENERAL EXODUS FROM CAMP
Regulars and 1IiIitiamen Go Home
in Crowds 10 Visit Wives, Mothers,
City Over Sunday-COI. UreI Gives
a Dinner, Followed by = Hop.
From q s,aH Correspondent.

From STAT Ca--esroudent
FOr- Washington, Nd. Aug. with
wild cheers from the throats OF a multi
tude Of soldiers. a temporary lapse in
the Two days armistice between the
armies at Forts Washington and Hunt
was declared this afternoon
All day there was stir and hustle and
an undercUrrent Of excitement that por-
tended great happenings. There was moth
ing mysterious about il. but everybody
talked in that assured tone that left the
outsider plunged deep in mystery, as the
subject was always understood and never
mentioned
What was it all about2 Hush. a ball
game, With all the enthusiastic valor
that has marked their attacks upon inno-
cent river steamers and one another. the
forces at Forts Hunt and Washington
clsshed on the athletic field this after
noon. and Fort Washington was the vic
Tor. With loud cheers that awOke the
echoes in the reC5sses Of the Piscataway
The Fort Washington contingent returned
flushed with victory and looking for ex-
oitement. Some OF them on leave broke
for River View, others for Marshall Han,
and still others for Washington
Exodus from Camp.
All day there has been an exodus from
The camp. both among the regulars sta
toned and detailed here. and among the
nLitiamen- who had wives. mothers, and
sweethea-ts AT home. who could not un-
dergo the hardships Of a Trip 10 the forts
tomorrow
Today has been one Of rest and recrea-
1ion-mostIy recreation. At both forts IT
has been q field day for athletic sports.
but the baseball game this afternoon was
The crOwuing glory Of all festivities. which
wound up with the social events Of the
week at both forts tonight
An informal dinner was given by Col.
Ureu and the stad mess Of the Second
Regiment to Col Coffin, commanding the
artillery district Of the Potomac; Mrs.
Coffin. and Mrs. Cofin's mother Mrs.
Mansfield Following this, the entire din
ner party adjourned 70 the informal
Saturday night hop, II the clubhouse. OF
bachelor officers quarters. This was
quite an event
Long before daybreak this morning. the
men were having pleasant dreams Of two
DAYS holiday. something unknown in
most camps Of the District militia. Col
Coffin. who has always been popular with
IIe militiamen. has again shown his
wonderful understanding of men, and to-
day he IS more popular than ever
All drills, except guard mount and
those the miiitiaDen voluntarily under
took, were done away with to-day aft
ter an inspection by Col Coffin. Col
UreIl. and Col Ourand- At O'Clock the
m5litiamen and regulars were at leisure
After Inspection this morning the men
were give comparatively unlimited lib
eTtE- That they did not abuse this priv
IeEe goes without saying Tonight the
entire contingent at both forts are en-
! 5oying themselves IN a social way
River Parties in Style.
River parties chartered tugs and
launches, and there were dinner parties
without number. Many Of these lasted
well into the night.
A number Of the men retired early.
however. in order 10 be fresh tomorrow.
for that day promises to be the basie--
yet Hundreds Of visitors are expected.
and should they not arrive. owing 80
the poor transportation facilities. there
viii be many woe-begone faces around the
camp An effort was made TO have some
sort Of an excursion scheduled. but so far
as is known these efforts have been rIn-
successful
The men at Fort Hunt are fortunate in
that they are not entirely cut OF. and rel
atives and friends can reach them by troll
ley II they care 10 take the mile walk
from Hunters Station TO the fort On the
other hand. Fort Washington is as much
isolated as If il were in the Florida KEYS.
instead Of twelve miles from the CapitaI
Of the nation The roads through Mary
land are always more or less impossible.
and there are no steamers. either mail
excursion OF government boats which
stop there on Sunday
The only possible way Of reaching Fort
Washington is by launch. either from
River View or Marshall Hail. or across
The river from Fort Hunt. This is disap-
pointing 10 the Guardsmen and their
friends. who have always regarded the
intervening Sunday as Visitors day.
Those who do visit the forts viii see
an ideal encampment. Everything is in
ship shape, and in perfect condition from
a sanitary viewpoint Not a single com
plant has been registered, or a single
man called down" by Col. Coffin. who.
in this respect Is a rigid discipIinarian.
he has comPlimented the miIiuamen on
that point. and this is regarded as some
thing Of a record. both by regular and
militia officers.
After a thorough inspection at Fort
Washington by Col Coffin. Col. UreIl. and
Col Ourand. this group Of officers visited
Fort Hunt and inspected the various COM
panies encamped there The results were
identical
The one and only great feature Of the
day was the ball game. This attracted
universal attention. and there was not a
man IN either fort who faiIsd 70 witness