Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-29
BOY SCOUTS AF|ELD
Studying Secrets of Woodcraft
in Rock Creek Park.
PICKETs DETECT COURIER
Fierce Attack Made on Fortified
Position.
COUNTING THE CHALK MARKS
Umpires Have Not Yet Announced
Which Side Has Won the Battle,
Both Claiming Victory.

Scenes that rival the widest tales from
Cooper's Indian stories are being enacted
In the Capital City today. Surrounding
the old Pierce mill in Rock Creek Park
seventy-five young savages and as many
trusty scouts are pitted in frontier war;
fare, while the peaceful settlers have
closed their doors, stuffed their ears with
cotton, and are hoping for peace tomor-
row. The Y. NJ. c. A. Troop of Boy
Scouts is having its second outing
The band started from the Y. NJ. G. A.
building this morning under the direc-
ton of scoutmaster A. NJ. Chesley, sew
eral men from Fort Myer and several in
terested civilians, who are to aid in the
instruction Of young America on his
rampage. There are fifteen patrols, each
patrol numbering seven privates and a
leader. Each boy carried his own lunch.
The day is to be spent In battle games
between scouts and Indians
Running the Pickets.
The first stunt was a practical lesson
In picket running. A spy, Thomas Bing-
ley. was given a message which he was to
carry through the lines and deliver to Mr..
Chesley. The latter was surrounded by
a strong force Of scouts on thickly
wooded hillside. The scouts were not al
lowed within 100 yards of Mr.. Chesley, but
they surrounded him on all sides. From
point within a mile of Mr.. Chesley'S po-
sition Bingley started at given time.
The scouts who were to apprehend him
were In ignorance Of his starting point.
Bingley worked hard, ''snaking' his way
through underbrush. climbing trees to
avoid loose parties Of scouts and work.
ing his way inch by inch toward his OBJ
jective point, but the lines were too close
ly drawn and the woods were too thick
ly patrolled and he was finally captured.
short distance from where Mr.. Chesley
awaited his message. AS he was allowed
only an hour n which to deliver the
message. he was forced to take desperate
were finally detected by outlooks posted
In tall trees.
The Indian Fight.
The big game Of the day was the Indian
fight. Half of the party, under the lead
ership of Big Chief Harry w. Long, with
drew into the woods. while the remainder,
under Gen. Arthur Smith, took up a
strongly fortified position and awaited at
tack. Both parties were armed with
small Sieces of chalk to hurl at the en-
envy. AS chalk mark On a member of
either band rendered him "hors de COM
bat the chalk proved an effective
weapon
The defenders, spurred on by their off,
GERS and picturing the horrible fate of
any who should fall into the hands of the
savages, met the first attack unflinching-
ly, replying to the blood-curdling yells OF
the merciless foe with well directed vol
leys Of the deadly chalk The dead and
dying from the first onslaught, after dec
Grating the hillside on both sides Of the
fortifications for while. picked them
selves up and withdrew to neutral ground
to watch the finish and steal snatches
from their own luncheons. The battle
continued furiOusly for some time. A
few Indians managed to get inside the
Notifications. but only to admit capture.
Gallant sOrties by the defenders Of the
fort drove the savageS back for a time.
but the lunch hour and the hunger of
both hands were really responsible for the
cessation Of hostilities.
The umpires were busily engaged count
ing the chalk marks this afternoon, and
the result Of the battle has not been an
nounced. Both sides claim victory
Other Instructions.
Besides the lunch, every boy had pro-
vided himself with six feet Of rope. There
were no lynchings. The rope was for in
struction in the gentle art of lassoing.
G.. NJ. Potter acted as instructor Ac.
companying the scouts were two men
from the Signal Corps company stationed
at Fort Myer, and a corporal in the 18th
Cavalry, who aided in the drill fnstruc-
ton and taught the boys how to tie diff
ferent kinds of knots.
Several other games We're played in the
course of the afternoon