The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-30
FROM THE FRONT.
Another Interesting Letter From the
ROdman Rifles..-FIow Active Ser.
vice Effects Them.

special correspondence 10 the ARGUS
EAST ST. LOUIS. April %.
II some of the old veterans of 81 .'65
could step into the quarters of the militia
stationed here, how wildly it might re
call the days Of twenty years ago. All
the companies are looking weary and sun
burnt; many handsome compilations may
be spoiled for the next few weeks. When
in camp at Springfield and off duty, the
men would be up to something for
amusement. bat here it bears different
aspect; 60 through the quarters of any
company and nearly every man that is of
duty is trying to sleep and get some
rest. The indications do not. point to
any speedy termination of this strike.
The Knights of Labor do not take
any blame on themselves for the lawless-
ness carried on here; they say it is done
by hoodlums and tramps, and indeed it
looks so. Every tram coming in is load
ed with tramps. who, when they find out
the state of affairs, generally join the
strikers. with no other object than plum
der and disturbance Of course some of
the rougher element of East ST. Louis
act as ring leaders. and head any mob
that may congregate. The danger here
is not passed yet by any means; pistol
shots. rocks and mobs may be heard and
seen all day and night During the day
disturbers congfegate outside of the SEN
try line, and often necessitate the calling
out OF company to disperse them. AT
night they are holder and come as near
as they can get to the yards. Tuesday
night the guard house was filled With
strikers that had been arrested by the
guard. A more brutal and obscene lot of
human beings could not be found. They
were so noisy and disorderly that an extra
guard was placed there. Among them
was little colored boy who had been ar
rested early in the day for larceny. The
little darky was badly frightened
and could not, OF would not eat or talk,
consequently he was held until this
morning, when he was given his freedom
and he appeared very happy to get out
with his life. Another was tramp who
came in on freight. and being a
stranger, came to the guard house for
protection.
SMALL SHOT.
A private of Company A, when called
out on his relief last night, answered to
his name all right and fell in line, but
Immediately fell out and went back to
his quarters, and was not missed by the
corporal until helwanted to put him at his
post, when he discovered him ia bed. The
private says he remembers nothing about
falling in with his relief. The question
now is, Have we any somambulists in
our company"
A day or two ago one of the militia
was taken very sick, and going into sur
geon's quarters for medical aid, found
that he had swallowed large dose of
cotton oil il a glass of beer. Had as
sistance not been readily at hand. We
might have had a fatality to record. Your
correspondent was unable to fiud ont to
which company he belonged
The Rodman Rifles have the champion
cook, and cannot complain of their RAJ
lions being poorly handled. Mr.. Davis,
the cook, is first class at the business, as
the company found out at Springfield
last fall.
Company A has shown its appreciation
Of Sergt. VIM Stewart, by making him
ard his bride the recipient of fine we'd
ding present. The company all send
congratulation to the happy couple.
Horet Won koeckritz, private In Com
pany A, received the sad intelligence of
his sister being very low, at Davenport,
and left for home tonight
Ex-Supervisor Frank HARDWOOD, of Mo.
line, is here in the interests of the Moline
Dispatch.
The weather is good aud the health of
the company is first class. No serious
sickness, and no one very badly injured
yet.
The thanks of the company are due
Wilmans & Gait; also the Bijou cigar
store for cigars by the box. PRIVATE.