The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-03-29
COXEY'S COMMONWEALERS
COLD AND HUNGRY, THE ARMY
RESUMES ITS MARCH.
They Plod Through Snow and Ice and
Seem to Keep Up Courage--Coxey
Goes to Chicago, but Prom
Uses to Return.

ALLIANCE, o., March 27-Twelve
miles of the longest free lunch route
on record was mapped out for the
CoXey caravan today. January
weather was also on the program, but
the sympathy of people along the line
of march is making 1t possible for the
men to progress without any particuN
lar hardships. They were cheered
this morning by sausage, ham, dry
bread and black coffee. Soap is still
among the things invisible, and there
is no danger that anybody is going to
mistake this for 9 turnout Of pluto
Gratis Only the hobo contingent are
provided with soap, and they are not
particular about using it at all. Lux
uries are carefully treasured
The health of the marchers has been
remarkably good, considering their
experiences. Meals that are Irregular,
when they were provided at all, and
sleeping on frozen ground with scant
covering of straw is not ordinarily
considered conducive to mans phys
ical wellbeing. There is no physician
in the company unless DR.. Kirkland, the
nervous little Pittsburg astrologer in a
big gray overcoat, is an M. d.
Louis Smith, the mysterius individ-
ual who is the military head of the en-
terprise, has cold attended with
husky voice. His clear ringing tones are
less penetrating today than they have
been. Smith is still immaculate, but
defects have been discovered in his
military leadership. He has the de-
cisive bearing of man accustomed to
command, but his system varies lit
tie from Upton's, tactics. He can
start and halt the column, direct them
to right face and left out he can
not direct the execution of that
intricate movements which are only
known by the soldiers. He is savage
in denunciation Of the plutocrats and
the subsidized press, and reckons that
they will all be swept away. Smith is
q man of very positive temperament
and is intense in his hatred to those
who have money.
At noon the commouweal arrived at
Maxine. Walking was an agreeable
experience, but the riders had chilly
time OF it. Marshal Browne led
stallion over large part of the route.
The territory traversed presented
deserted appearance. A thin covering
of snow was on the fields and not to
exceed a dozen people had assembled
to see the march. FlOcks of chickens
strutting around red barns were the
subject of remark, but no man under
took to modest them. Army songs
were rendered under the direction of
Astrologer Kirtland's newly organized
glee club.
On the way the army passed the
lonely camp of Honore Jackson, the
Chicago haIf-breed. He is the queer
est character in the camp, but there
is method in his madness and the end
sought is free advertising. He started
from Massillion with only sack of
oatmeal as his food supply. His plan
is to keep few hours ahead of the
expedition. and he is looked upon as q
forerunner. Last night he began his
lonely tramp from Louisville at 10
o'clock. His fur cap, wooden coat and
blanket served as as excellent protec-
ton against the weather, and he car
ried light axe to be used for cutting
frewood and possibly tramps. His
camp was seen in a dense brush near
the road leading to Maxine, but he
had passed on to Alliance. lie had