Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-24
CORPORAL TELLS
OF STORM IN CAMP
OFFICER OF co. G WRITES OF
HURRICANE IN MILITARY
CAMP IN TEXAS.

The recent tropical hurricane that
press dispatches told so much about
in it's havoc among the various mill
tary camps on the border, is the sub
1ect of a letter received from Corp.
Phil Binks by one of the employees OF
The Courier. In his letter Corp. Binks
makes plain that it was a real storm
and one such as none Of tho boys from
these parts ever Witnessed. The hav-
oc and the annoyance caused for the
guardsmen by the terrific gale and
torrent of rain is Interestingly told by
the former Courier representative IN
the following:
Brownsville, Texas.
Aug 10, 1916.
Dear Friend:
Will write today OF our experiences
in camp during the tropical hurricane
which has been raging on the gulf
for the past two days. 1t passed over
the city of Brownsville yesterday and
continued throughout the day with tor
rents Of rain, the wind travelling at
steady gale of sixty miles an hour.
The wind would strike the tents with
terrific force 1t seemed to us that
1t would be only few minutes when
the tent poles, stakes and all would be
flying in the air. The boys had been
given warning by an order issued
earlier in the day from headquarters
to Captain Schamp that a storm was
reported to be headed this way and
would arrive some time during the
day.. The tents were staked as Sc
curely as possible before the storm,
but a number Of the tents in camp
could not Withstand the terrific gale
and were blown down.
Probably the greatest loss was at
the quartermaster's depot where the
water soaked the supplies which were
, stored there.
The buildings in the rear of the
third Iowa regiment were partly blown
down, but can be- easily repaired In
short time.
The boys, though not experienced in
fighting storms In camp. weathered
the storm very well. Fortunately only
few of the tents in G street gave
away in the storm. The boys were
given a warm breakfast this morning
and everyone seems to be getting
along fine. After breakfast was over
we got busy and carried all the wet
clothing and bedding out where 1t
would dry After short time the
tents were cleaned up and once more
it seemed almost like home.
A number of the commands Of the
second and first Iowa regiments were
chartered in the city of Brownsville
for the night. Their camp in some
parts was covered with water and in
places resembled a large lake. The
third Iowa had orders to get every
thing ready to move to the court house
for the night, fearing return Of the
storm, but later 1t was decided to stay
with the camp. We made ourselves
as comfortable as possible under the
circumstances. Those who did not
have any place to sleep bunked with
the other squads for the night.
The commissary tents we're blown
over and the contents were soaked by
the heavy rain. A large quantity of
stores had been packed on wagons
ready to move at a minutes notice, in
case it became necessary. The supply
wagons were ready to move all the
baggage possible In case the water
forced us to move to higher quarters.
The land being somewhat higher at
this point enabled us to stay in camp
for the night.
The only serious damage was to the
newly erected mess hall of the third
Iowa band which was demolished by
the heavy wind. ..... .-,
The officers quarters of the third
regiment were soaked by the heavy
rains but none of the tents were down.
The officers were busy looking after
their commands and government prop
erty and of course were treated un-
kindly by the rain.
visited the second Iowa infantry
this morning. These men suffered
more severely from the storm than