The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-15
CAVALRY ON A JAUNT.
Troops / and X Gone to 70.
semitic and Big Trees.
They viii Remain Till November, and Have
Taken Their Tents and Supplies
Along With Them

There was quite a hustle at the Preside
all through the forenoon Of yesterday con-
sequent on the orders received TO dispatch
the only two cavalry troops at the station
to guard the national reservations at Yo-
semitic and SeQuoia Park. The numerous
depredations committed by local vandals
and irresponsible tourists at both points
have made the step necessary. and as the
cavalry will get desirable practice in the
open field and become Injured TO mountain
travel, the experiment of this year will
probably be repeated annually. The troops
will remain till November, when the ap-
prOach Of wintry weather in the Slerras
puts an abrupt stop to the incursi0ns VI
tourists Of all sorts and conditions
The popular idea of a eavalryman with
spotless attire, heImeted head, glittering ac-
cOuterments and general air of ''raZzle-
dazzle" was sternly discounted by even a
cursory glance at the men as they fitted to
and fro around the stables vest, rlay.
Troops / and K are not going to fight An
enemy, but they are going on rVice never
theless, and that means that pOmp and
pride and panoply of ar yield TO conSidera-
tons of practical utility. While around the
stables the men wore the toughest sort of
hats and decidedly seedy coats, and even
when they mounted their horses to depart 1t
was observable tina. the helmets had been
replaced by more comfortable and service
able felt hats; the gay blue uniform with
the yellow bars, denoting the cavalry arm
of the service, by stout biOuses, and the
dandy trousers, which cut such figure at
Minister Swi1ts funeral. by overalls thrust
down into rugged top-bOOts. Considering
that both at SequOia Park and Yosemite
mud AMI dust are as natural conditions as
morning and evening, the propriety Of the
outfit could not be questioned.
ON THE MARCH.
The departure of the troops from the
PTesdio occurred at O'Clock in the after
noon, and the men rode straight to Mission
street Wharf, embark on the steamer
Transit A special trala will convey the
men to their destinations, which are about
100 miles apart Troop L has fifty-nine men
with three officersACaptain Wood and Lieu
tenants Dean and Davis. 1t goes to Ray
mOnd, whence the men will ride 10 Yo-
semitic. The men of Troop / are greatly
elated OVER the preference they consider to
have been accorded to them, as Yosemite is
not only more lively post than the Big
Trees and Sequoia Park, but the exposure
will be less. Troop K has sixty-one men
with two officers-Caitain j. III. Dorst and
Lieutenant j. b. Nolan. 1t will proceed to
Exeter Station and thence ride to Seauoia
Park Each troop has ten pack mules and
two transport wagons, while a surgeon goes
with Troop and hospital steward with
Troop K.
During their stay at the two posts the
men will live under canvas. precisely as if
on active service. They have taken along
with them provisions sufficient TO last them
for month"; at the end of which time the
pack mule teams will be brought into serv-
ice for the transportation OF supplies, Just
as was done in the Sierra snow blockade
eighteen months ago. When the reserva-
tons are reached the officers in charge will
decide how many men are required to be
placed on picket duty each day. The space
to be patroled in both cases is quite cOnsid-
cradle, but as the expedition is undertaken
against presumably peaceable body of
fellow citizens. and is. in fact, more of a
police than military detail, it is probable
that from ten to fifteen men of each troop
will be found fully ample to supply the
pickets.
NO CAVALRY LEFT.
The departure of Troops and K leaves
the Preside without any cavalry. 1t is ex-
pected, however, that Troop 3 of the same
(Fourth) regiment will arrive at the Pre-
sidio from Walla Walla. WASH, on Sunday
This troop consists of about sixty men,
Nearly all the effective cavalry of this de-
partment are in Washington, having gone
70 raplaaa hn .