The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-24
FUN AT FORT RILEY.
The Masonic Excursionists Enter
tanned by Gen. Forsyth.
GIVE DISPLAY DRILLS.

The trip the Masons took to Fort Riley
and Junction City yesterday was
thoroughly enjoyable.
The excursion was a complimentary
one to the general grand chapter, and
was given by the grand chapter of Kan
sas. Three hundred and three we're on
the train from Topeka, and the number
was added to st the intermediate sta
tions. There were also two other excu--
siOns to the fort that day, all IN honor Of
the Topeka one. The M. K & 7. ran
one of thirteen coaches from Par
sons and EmpOria and brought
LOO people. The Union Pacific also
brought in q good train load from the
west. With those from Junction City
the crowd at the post must have number
ed at least 1000.
The train reached the fort soon after
10 o'clock, and after the crowd had en-
deavOred to scrape and rub some OF the
dust Of the journey out Of its eyes and
pick the sand burs out of its clothes, the
people crowded into the double decks of
the porches on the east and west sides of
the barracks that face the parade ground
and ate their lunch, after which the ex-
ercises of the day began.
General Forsyth left nothing IN
done for the entertainment of his visi-
tors. It was after eleven o'clock before
the guard mounting cavalry parade
! took place. The fact that majority of
the men stationed at Riley are still in
Chicago on detached service detracted
to some extent from the originally pro-
posed entertainment of the day.
At eleven thirty, a skirmish line was
sent across the parade ground to the
north and the guests saw some heldwork.
1t was running ire and as the line
moved forward only to drop to the ground
and fire again many brave soldier bit
the grass, or fell with imaginary holes in
vulnerable portions of his person. This
was where the hospital corps got in its
work. There were about twenty Of them
and they carried pouches full of ban
dages and plasters, and one by one the
wounded were taken care of and con-
veyed to the am ulance, or taken out on
a drag, the motive power of which was
that most celebrated of military Rccesso-
ries, the army mule.
The wounded were taken into the
crowd and the bandages examined by
the spectators to see that they we're all
right AS soon as the dead men we're
relieved from duty they were allowed to
walk away.
The handsomest part of the military
/ programme was the mounted dress par
ade by the four troops Of the Seventh
cavalry on the parade ground The
/ eight buglers were thoroughly IN touch
with their instruments and we're highly
/ complimented by those who had heard
bupling before. After the field maneu-
vers the troops were put through their
sabre drills
Troop A then gave an exhibition drill
and this was followed by the riding drill
BY Troop E in the riding hall at I
o'clock. This was splendid and consist
ed of hurdIing and revolver and sabre
practice on dummies.
1t was now time for luncheon and the
grand chapter and its invited guests
! were ushered to the immense mess hall,
! where rows and rows Of tables greeted
them. Guests to the number Of $50 we're
seated at the tables and treated to
spread that was certainly splendid. Fol-
lowing Is the menu;
Cold Sliced WestphaIia Ham.
Spiced Lamb Tongue.
S S9Ia ollceo spring S saFafoga cbine
-, sardine salad aIssl L.. ,,,,,l
Cream Cheese.
French Pickles lexis ..
LOU California Grapes ---o-0---
Cakes, Assorted. Angel Food. Nacaroons.
Lady Fingers. Kisses.
Lemonade.
Coffee Champagne Punch.
During the entire luncheon the Fort
Riley orchestra Contributed some of its
best selections to the merriment Of the
/ occasion. At intervals during the re-
sponses to the toasts Topeka's MOdocs
sang. Without them, the day would
have been dull, indeed. The song that
attracted the most admiration was one
written specially for the occasion. en-
The toast programme was found to be
rather cumbersome, as it called for
| eighteen responses. A good many Of
/ them had to be cut out in consequence.
Owen A Bassett was toastmaster.
The first toast was "The East" and
was responded to by Hon. John w. Car
/ ter, of Connecticut
sThe South" was most ably responded
to by Hon. Frederic Speed of Mississip-
pi
Ex-Governor I. Bradford Prince of
| New Mexico, did full justice to 'sThe
| West"
General John c. Smith Of Illinois, re-
sponded to the toast of The North -
"Our Country was the next toast an
nounced and General James W. For
syth had been chosen to respond to it.
| Gen. Forsyth 3 remarks called forth a
great deal OF applause. As becomes his
station he is a rather war like person and
is anxious to go out with his men, his
guns and his hospital corps and add to
the domain of the United States right
away.
Major W F. Randolph wasn't there
/ and Lieutenant J. G. Bell responded to
the toast "The Army and the Navy"
There were now twelve more toasts to be
| proposed, but the diners had become i'm
patient and the exercises closed with an
Invitation from High Priest John C. Scott
to visit the Junction City lodge. It was
acce pied, and there was a rush for the
train.
The game of ball between Fort Riley
and Emporia was a victory for the latter
When the guests reached Junction
City they were taken up town in car
riages and the men folks Immediately be-
came dignifed senators" as the gentle
man from Missouri SO happily explained.