Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-30


affair and would include all branches of
local labor organizations
There would be. he said over ZOO prin-
tiers In line. and the delegation and individ-
march beneath the commonweal banners,
would be startling surprise to those per-
sons who had ridiculed the great movement.
A Bulletin to Be Issued.
The move to change the camping place
has disconnected nearly all Of the arrange
nents made for this afternoon and evening
II Is certain, however that Mr. Coxey and
Marshal Browne will make addresses some
where In the city this evening. although the
definite location has not yet been decided
on. and a bulletin. giving this informa ton,
viii be posted at the National Hotel some
time during the afternoon.
ne scene this morning at the common
veal camp In Brightwood Park was more
Pdlheuc than picturesque. striking as the
gathering was In its utter dilapidation and
ap1ect misery. The worst gypsy encamp-
ment that ever squatted down by a road
side would nave been regal In its appoint-
ments to the conglomeration of penury and
poverty that occupied the circular space
walled In by dirty canvas. Several mud
covered wagons. nearly at the end Of their
rickety careers, stood ike hooking mon
ftors mere and there. their canvas sides
and once gaudy bodies covered with the
signs that have become so familiar to the
axies and pendant from their tongues and
snafts were tin pans and tin dishes In
every stage Of battered shapalessness and
two weatherbeaten tents. patched in many
tattered place, were pitched at either end
Of the Enclosure. Within them was a filthy
array of bedding and blankets and around
their sides were the weary marchers.
Although they had pitched their tents In
Christ have not found 1t a land flowing with
milk and honey. The morning sunlight
thawed out a stiff and cold and hungry lot
OF tourists after the first night passed in
the District of Columbia. Their leaders,
Gen. Coxey and Marshal Carl Browne were
down In the city three miles below, en-
sconced in the luxurious surroundings OF a
50 a day hotel The shabby tents only pro-
vtded accommodations for the commune
leaders and privileged characters Of the
retinue. and as for the privates, they
swarmed like rats into the commissary
wagons, while others simply dropped to
sleep. without blankets or covering on
mother earth There was a scramble for
the shelter of the horse sheds In which
Coxeys high-priced stations were stalled.
Stations fetch market price. and it is
necessary that they should be rubbed down,
bedded. watered and fed. Men have not
been exchangeable for legal tender In these
no ones loss but their own IL they drop off.
One contingent of wealers was provided
for in the long shed attached to the club
house Of the racing track near by. The
bristling, thorny rye straw into the shed
and upon this q half hundred privates made
their bivouac. They snuggled into the
straw like sardines in a box and declared
them since they started from the historic
precincts of Massillon. For the others,
Camp George Washington might better
have been titled Valley Forge.
1t Was Wash Day.
Here and there in the Enclosure were
smouldering fires, which were kept alive by
occasional additions Of faggots. and upon
them were tin buckets and pals containing
the urderclothes Of the more cleanly Of the
commonweslers. who prodded them with
sticks as the dirt Of the long march was
boiled out of them. All over the place were
the recumbent forms of sleepers in every
attitude of utter WEAKNESS. Some Of them
had blankets or quilts or tent flaps beneath
them. but the majority were stretched out
on the damp ground. careless OF the conse-
quences to their emaciated bodies, wasted
by semi-starvation and broken down by the
long march they had finished for what pur
pose they knew not and had long since
ceased to care about.
One man snoreG away, with the sun beat
ing down in his face. and one leg was cross
ed over the other knee with the most
amusing air of ease.
Another lay face downward, with his nose
buried in the grass. and all around them
were their broken-down companions In
various striking postures As the morning
wore on the visitors from Washington be-
gan to reach camp, and among them many
itinerant Italians, who brought bananas
and candy, while two ice cream vendors,
with gaudily painted freezers, loudly pro-
claimed the excellence Of their wares.
The Apathy of Suffering.
The men who were awake knew abso-
lutely nothing Of what their future pro-
| ka hat
them eventually. Nor did they seem to
care. Their faith in Coxey and Browne
did not seem to be enthusiastic, but then
their experience had not been such as to
fire them with ardor of a superlative sort.
They were neither hopeful nor despairing.
Their minds appeared to be saddened by
their sufferings, and they were ready to
move or keep quiet, as the orders might be.
The most independent member of the
army seemed TO be the dog which Christie
pher Columbus Jones had brought along with
his followers and nag-covered wagon from
Philadelphia, and his vigor had to be re-
strained by q strong rope held by peg
driven into the ground.
An Illustration Of the character of the
American people. notwithstanding what
position they may be placed in. was given
when The Star reporters arrived at the In
closure. They had taken out big bundle
Of exchanges and gave 1t to one of the COM
monwealers for distribution. At the sight
Of the newspapers the members of the army
who were awake made a simultaneous
break for them. 1t was as II a horde Of
hungry men had espied a bounteous COLA
ton and heard an Invitation to partake Of
IT. Bleared eyes frightened as brown and
grimy fingers clutched the precious type
filled pages, and In five minutes the inclo-
sure resembled a reading room in a public
library.
1t mattered not to the readers whether
the Journal they perused was Of old date or
>oyp FROM trrl 11pfo To- oil
They devoured them, even to the smallest
then traded with their neighbors One man
was from Toledo, and he fairly danced
with pleasure when a copy of the Blade fell
to his lot. Hungry and pinched as their
stomachs were. the misguided misera bles
who had followed such a forlorn hope with
almost heroic persistency still had left
interest in the current news Of the day.
The Hungry Men Growl.
By IL o'clock all the men were awake,
and then mutterings began among them.
Neither Coxey or Browne had appeared,
and there was no signs Of breakfast. Every
man in camp had been attacked with
diarrhoea last night, and they were sick
and weak. yet nothing in shape of food
was In sight, save six washboilers and
pots, full of black coffee that had been
made several hours before and had grown
cold.
The men began to inquire among them
selves about their breakfast, and 1t was
learned that commissary wagon had gone