The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-06
1900 ROCKIES GET
A WATERY WELCOME
Plattsburg Military Camp
Opens In Flood Of Rain
and Sea Of Mud.
RECRUITS DIG TRENCHES

FLArrsBuRG. y. Y. June b-Thirteen
hundred citizen soldiers received to-day
a true baptism in preparedness from the
skies that poured floods all through the
daylight hours at the opening Of the
Plattsburg military camp.
Immaculate khaki uniforms were
shrouded under glis,ening ponchos and
the first instruction in the school OF the
soldier CAV way to elementary lessons
in the use OF i%ntrenching tools. Long
lines OF shallow bitches were hurriedly
laid to keep the water outside. but In
spite OF all that could be done every
tent included running water. on the
floor. as one OF the comforts of camp life.
Company streets became seas OF mud
and viii remain so for several days.
even should the weather become more
favorable.
Eleven hundred recruits arrived to-
day. The special trains from New York
last night brought $40. and toward noon
the New England contingent OF 800 came
in by boat from burlington. Vt. across
Lake Chainplain. More thar 200 were
encamped previously, having travelled
TO Ilattshurg yesterday. During the
day others came by regular rains or
Is by automobile. Every state in the
Union Is represented. including one man
from California. \ -rouH of Western
ers Is expected ~to-Inorrow.
The work Of getting the mon into
their camp homes was ACCOMPLISHED viii
rapidity. As soon as the New Workers
stepped yawningly from their pullmans
they were tined up at the Adiutant's
office. There they paid their $50 each
for board for the month. were assigned
to various companies and shown TO their
tents. Many We're already in uniform
and for the others IT took only a
minute to open suitcases and dress for
breakfast. They needed no mess call,
for the smell of the frying bacon AVID
eggs from the mess shacks served the
purpose.
Gums Amaze Mon.
After breakfast the equipment wa.
issued II then trouble began. The
chief impression that the rockies got
from the American service rifle, APP
parently. was that 1t IL an intricate piece
of ordnance filed with grease. The
rifles fairly driprcd casmoli'e. The
rockies carried them ~clngerly In two
fingers. lined up for wads OF cotton waste
saturated with gasoline and fell to
cleaning
The rain continued 10 come down
Rags. hands, face, uniforms became
streaked with oil, hut AZ last the rifles
were in shane. The only regret now Is
that they will he nothing more thar
accessories TO the manual Of arms unit
June ~, when target practice cgins
None Of the new mon knows yet whar
TO 10 with the army paint or the rest
Of the stun in the canvas bags ,hey
drew.
The rain didn't keep the men indoors
William G. Rocking. usually known a.
professor OF philosophy at Harvard. was
up to his ankles with "A short spade. So
were John and Thomas Fitzgerald ni
Boston. whose father used to be Mayor
Honey Fitz,' Of the Hub. Leslie
Soule. former manager Of the Yale track
team. and :. Tarkman shaw. s"cretar,
Of the Old Colony Trust Company IF
Boston. who brought twenty employees
Of the company to ami with full nay
were in the samc tN.
II WAS understood that Charles Evans
Hughes. Jr.. and Joseph Corr!gan wee
somewhere in plattsburg. but nohod,
found them. District Attorney John *
Collins of Trenton county Was located
but he was too busy to say anything
Mess Tall Welcome.
Mess call sounded again at noon
Men who had depended for years or
the kindly offices Of the white coatct
concocter OF cocktails 10 give them III.
appetite found themselves hearkening I,
il eagerly. The plattsburg cocktail
composed OF water. work and mud. wl'
very efficient so much so. in fact, tina
dinner was ready before 5 o'clock.
After dinner "A lecture period was an
nounced. but Jupiter Pluvius put in .
veto and the men were told TO anus,
themselves as best they might until Al
Tomorrow morning, when reveill'
sounds. There are two movies II
rlattsburg. and they played to capacity
during the evening
Some of the men brought tennis an,
golf outfits When they took a look n
the billboard at the head Of tho com
pany street, where the schedule OF event
for each day had been posted, to a ma,
they packed their amusement kits il
their suitcaaes sent them to Tn
Y. NJ, G. A.. tent
Gen. Leonard Wood did not appear a
camp to-day, but is expected tomorrow
His representative and senior aid, Capt
Halated Dorey, was on hand with Majo
Peter Murray, T~wenty-ninth l~nfantr.
and commandment OF the camp. Cap
Edgar T. Collins. Tenth Infantry. |
camp adjutant.
Major Harrison Hail, c, A. c.. Is 4
charge Of the regulars OF the Coast Ar
tillery corps, six companies, who hav
been preparing the amp for the pas
two weeks,
:, CERMANY Calls SONS HOME