The Washington times., 1911-08-27
Camp Ordway Presents
Desolate Appearance
After Soldiers Leave
By ]. L. WRIGHT,
StaR Correspondent of the Washing
ton Times.

ton Times.
CAMP ORDWAY, FREDERICK, Md,
Aug. I.-Barron and brown, as a result
OF the tramp of troops during the ten
days encampment of the District Ma
tional Guard and the earlier encamp-
ment Of the Maryland National Guard,
the reservation to the west of Frederick,
which has been the scene Of so much
activity lately. today presents a desc
late appearance.
The tented city of brown, which made
its nushroom-like growth, sank to the
ground within an hour today. The can
vas has been rolled up and placed ir
the freight cars that yesterday were
placed on the siding near the camp.
When the long column oS infantry
men began tc wind its way from the
camp along the three miles of turn
pike leading tc Frederick there was
nothing left on the broad expanse of
prairie except a few old mess benches
and an occasional water splgOt. Even
the parnell filter had been packed up
and moved away.
Men Arise Early.
The men were up early this morning,
and at 7:3O o'clock the tents almost were
simultaneously struck. Breakfast was
the last meal the cooks had to serve,
they having previously prepared travel
ing rations for the men on the trip to
Washington. They ate noon mess at IL
CLOCK 10 see lEldI all IIe COOhln5
utensils had been properly cared for
two inspections were held between the
hours of and II o'clock.
At II o'clock assembly was sounded
and fifteen minutes later the infantry
men began their hike to Frederick
Shortly before their arrival the first
train carrying the equipment for the
entire brigade lett the Baltimore and
Ohio station.
The second train ARRIVING Brigadier
General Harries and his staff, seven
coaches OF troops, and one coach filed
with servants and walters left shortly
after. The third train composed of tel
coaches of troops and Dne of horses,
and the fourth consisting of eleven
coaches and one stock car soon fol-
lowed.
10y day came early for the guards
men today. The First Infantry was
paid at $50 O'Clock, the Second 1nfan-
try at 7:30, the First Separate Battalion
at $50, and the ambulance company
Frederick people were not allowed on
the camp grounds today. Under orders
issued by the adjutant general only
newspaper representatives with passes
were permitted to enter. y strict guard
was maintained until the end.
The general health of the troops dur
ing the encampment has been good,
there being only one case of serious
iIlness-that of Sergeant Ginnelly, of
the Signal Corps. He is reported TO
have typhoid pneumonia, and was taken
to Washington ahead OF his company. |
Driven from their tents by a rain that |
virtually changed camp Ordway from a |
reservation into lake, hundreds of the |
District guardsmen spent sleepless |
hight around camp fires. Those who |
wero given their four hours rest be- |
tween every two of sentry duty returned |
TO the guard tent to find the floor COW |
cred by six inches of water. A place to |
lie down was out of the question, and If /
they did not have to stand, they were |
lucky.
Because the sun came out late yes
terday afternoon and dried the can-
vas. 1t was decided not to wait until |
this morning to lower the wall and con-
icle tents. Instead they were taken
down, rolled up, and placed in the box |
pup tents and prepared to suend the |
night on the ground with only their
ponchoes and blankets to keep them off
the damp earah.
Rain Comes.
Soon after evening mess the downpour |
began. The men dug trenches at the
base of their tents, hoping to keep the
interior dry, but by taps the trenches
had filled, and the water was running |
over the ponchoes and soaking the |
army blankets. The canvas on the pup |
tents being light, the water was driven |
through some of them like sieve. |
large tents up and had cots to sleep on,
were not bothered by the elements.
Play war had all the hardships of |
real war last night, and as result |
all sorts of schemes were resorted to |
In the hope of getting comfort. AS |
is always the case, the big hospital |
tents were left up until the last min |
ute When the men were driven from |
their company by the down-pour |
many of them went to the hospital, |
SAYING they had sprainS or pains that |
needed attention. Captain Fales and
Lieutenant Hudson of the Medical |
men were turned away by the scores |
when 1t was found they were taking. |
Down the corral the horses stood in |
water a foot deep, and the sentry lines |
had to be moved in hundred yards in |
order that the men on guard duty would |
not have to wade through water up to |
their leggins' tops. The band of the |
First Infantry was literally drowned out
early in the evening. The band had one
of the lowest csT1pinE places on the
reservation, and after few minutes of
the downpour water was running over
the tent foors like a torrent.
When the sentry on duty stopped one
bunch of khah-clad guardsmen return
ing late from Frederick with the COM
mand Halt, who goes there?' the reply
came back, "A liberty party" Where
YOU been?' Been ashore, sir"
They padded through the water and
entered camp. A little later the men
around the camp fires were startled by
a cry Of help, help Then the inquiry
was shouted across the pool Of water:
whats wanted?' Throw me rope,
I'm oyerboard." -