The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-17
THE GUARDS CALLED OUT.
Governor I,eweIling Orders the Light Infantry
Company 10 the Front.

Hip hip hip, hip hip. This was the
tune to which twenty-four members of the
Wichita Light Infantry marched to the
! Union depot at 1:30 p. m yesterday, there
to embark for the seat of war They were
as fine specimens of soldiers as the Goddess
Mars ever looked down upon. They were
dressed in the regulation blue and all of
them felt delighted at being called forth to
smell powder in their country's cause with
the exception of Messrs Lewis, Allison
and Chapman, who were to have dis
| tinguished themselves In the Merchant of
| Venice at the opera house last night had it
not been for this cruel call to arms. Indeed
MI Chapman turned very sick and
mad to retire TO his home shortly
after the order was received from
Topeka, but sickness didn't go, and
detail of two armed minions of the Pop
uilst government went after him and
brought him out for the inspection of the
company physician, who pronounced him
exceedingly healthy. Mr. Chapman was
not afraid to fnce the clubs of the minions
of the only constitutional house, by any
means but by being conveniently sick he
thought he could stay at home and By this
be played, for the absence of the other two
young gentlemen would not prevent it,
The company was in charge of Captain
Asa G. Runyon, who received the order oil
the governor without murmur. On the
contrary he felt pleased. and he issued his
commands in that light hearted enthus-
iastic manner which betokens desire to
go where duty calls one. He smoked his
corn cob pipe as serenely as if he was going
on fishing excursion, and he cracked his
usual jokes as pleasantly as if there was
not war cloud in sight.
Captain Runyan was assisted by Lieu
tenant Hougland. who was in high gee,
for the doctor has smeled powder hereto
fore in the Stevens county war and rather
likes it.
Several ladies went to the depot to see
them off, aud many were the compliments
airy sentiments uttered by the fair sex con-
corning these young gentlemen. a few of
the more timid shed tears and it required
a good deal of argument to convince
them that none of them would be
hurt unless the train jumped the
track. THESE poor innocent souls who do
not understand the chicanery OF politicians
really believed that Governor Lewellings
bluff was sincere and that war WAS
actually declared. They really thought
that the Hght-heartedness of the boys was
bravery and girls actually became mad at
what they considered their lovers "un-
pardonable GOODNESS in the face of such !
danger" as one of them expressed it.
After being held at rest arms' for |
some time at the depot Captain Runyon
ordered to stack arms which |
they did. He then told them |
they could walk about "A certain |
space which extended as far as certain /
lunch counter and just twenty-three out /
Of the twenty-four of them went to the |
fartherest limit and returned with pack |
ages which they described as An extra |
supply of ammunition. When the train |
arrived they boarded it and away it rolled |
while the jovial boys in blue threw kisses
at the fair sex and INDUCED in that hearty
Did song When Johnnie Comes Marching |
Home" The order which Captain Runyon
received is as follows:
TOPEKA. Kan, Feb. 16, 1898.
Captain Asa c. Runyon Commanding Company A,
Second leg ment-Speciai order No. II
SIR: You will assemble your men at
FOUR armory forthwith, fully armed and
Quipped. aud report to me with all posi-
Die haste at my Office in the state houte at
Topeka with your company.
BY order of Governor l.. d. Lewelling, |
commander In chief.
L. d. LEwELLING, governor
II. H. ARTz, adjutant general