The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-25
EARLY SCENES.
The Army starts on Its March from
Omaha.

Omaha.
Three thousand laboring men marched
out of Omaha today with banners fly
ing bound for the CommonweaI camp Of
Gen. Kelley at Weston, sixteen miles
east Of Council Bluffs.
1t was done upon the signal agreed
upon at last nights meeting OF the Cen
tral labor UniOn-the ringing of church
bells and the blowing of whistles-was
given announcing that Kelley's army
was still at Weston unable to secure a
train for the east Inside Of five min
utes LOCO men had gathered at jefferson
square and were quickly organized into
companies with a captain for every ten
men. The march was then taken up
through Sixteenth-st to Farnam, where
the column proceeded to the city hall
and counter-marched- At every street
recruits were received and when the
column reached the Paxton hotel there
were $500 men in line Each company
was provided with American flag and
Rs fast as recruits joined they We're
formed into companies and provided
with banners At Eleventh and Far
nam-sts. the main column was met by a
detachment of 800 men. They Joined
forces and proceeded to the Douglas-st
tOll-bridge across the Missouri river.
Here they were met by the superintend-
ent Of the bridge. who said the COM
pOrtatiOn across the river. This was n
graceful act, for the men were prepared
TO cross with or without permission. 1t
had been expected that the Union Pa
cific shOpmen would join the column at
this point, but that part of the program
was not carried out for the company
warned the men when they came TO
work that those working would be ex-
pected TO remain on duty all day. The
master mechanic also prevented the
blowing Of the shop whistle. There were
q number OF Union Pacific men in the
line of n1archers, however, but they were
men who had not gone TO work this
morning. Thousands of people followed
the column to the bridge and other
thousands were on hand on the other
side Of the river to welcome them. The
cold seemed to have the effect of bring
ing out greater throng than had been
expected last night, when the rain was
falling so heavily. All the men seemed
TO be in excellent spirits and determined
that the march should mean business
The column had been preceded to
Council Bluffs by a committee of prom
inent citizens appointed at last nights
meeting Of the Central labor union in
cluding the Rev. DR.. Joseph T. Duryae,
pastor Of the First congregational
church; the Rev. DIR. HamersOn Of the
First presbyterian church, and the Rev
Frank Crane Of the First methodist
church. The committee was TO call on
Governor Jackson and the managers Of
the railroads and urge that the Com
m0nwealers be at once started on their
way east
A Conference with -. John.
While the column was marching to-
ward the Missouri Gen. Kelley was in
Omaha seated in the private car Of
President st. John of the Rock Island
road, holding ap animated conference.
Mr.. St. John said. i'm response TO a re-
quest for a train, that he was not in a
position to grant 1t. even should he de-
sire TO do so, as the matter was now
wholly in the hands of the presidents Of
the Iowa Trunk lines and no one read
could grant a request for a train unless
the presidents Of all other lines agreed
Gen. Kelley then left the car and called
on other friends for advise. One pronf-
nent man suggested that the army levy
on the farmers for horses and wagons.
that the army be split into squads OF 100
men each, and that they spread out over
a stretch OF territory twenty-five miles
wide and march on foot across the state
II was suggested that such a plan would
soon bring the people Of the state To
time. for the army would practically
deyastate the country through which it