The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-03
SCENES AT THE STATION.
Incidents That Marked the Departure
of the TrOOnS.

OF the troops.
The gun SQUAD OF the indianapolis Light
Artillery was the first company TO arrive
at the Union Station last night. Capt
James B. Curtis was unable 70 go, but dis
patched a platoon OF fifteen men under
First Lieutenant Charles Garrard. The Light
Artillery will have charge of one Calling
gun, with capacity Of sixty rounds a min
ute, and capable of doing more deadly work
than two regiments of infantry. The squad
came down Capitol avenue at smart pace.
and on arrival at the station awaited the
arrival OF the other troops in Jackson place.
The Indianapolis Light Infantry.
fine body of young soldiers, came
few minutes later, and, with
long, swinging stride entered the
station and came to a parade rest in the
east end of the sheds. The young men OF
the infantry presented a fine appearance
and looked the typical soldier They wore
broad-brimmed gray hats instead of the
government cap and carried canvas KNAPP
sacks upon their broad shoulders. The two
companies of colored militia marched in al
$50 o'clock and took up a position at the
west end Of the sheds They were followed
b. the Columbia Rifles. of Anderson, IN
der command of Captain Burr. The COM
less than twenty-five halted his men at the
extreme west end of the station. wiped his
perspiring brow and looked as brave and
determined as battle-scarred colonel.
The last troop to arrive was Company a,
of the Second Regiment, boyish lot of
soldiers commanded by Capt. II. c. Castor.
Then the friends of the departing soldiers
began to drift toward the station. Anxious
hon -tS
fiocked through the gates by the score,
and soon the sheds were iammed with
restless. feverish humanity. For a time
the strict discipline of the station was
abandoned and the people were allowed TO
roam about the sheds at will. There were
many pathetic little scenes and not a
few ludicrous incidents. The friends of the
colored troopers seemed to predominant in
the crowd. and the partings between the
dusky young men and their sweethearts
were in many instances most fervent. One
young colored girl embraced a stalwart
soldier half a dozen times and left the
station weeping as if her heart was break
ing. A good old colored un-
Gle paced the platform for several
minutes before he found the particular sol
der he was seeking. The old man had evil
IDENTIFY been reading James WhtcomD
Riley, for he grasped the hand of the
young man and, after shaking the brawny
fist, exclaimed: Goodbye, Jim; take keer
yerself" A matronly looking woman rushed
UP to a stalwart young man, evidently her
son, and, throwing her about his
huge frame, gave him hearty hug.
The boy looked embarrassed, and REDEEMED
perceptibly, but his mother couldn't see
anything TO be ashamed Of, and turned
from his side with sorrow and apprehen-
sion written in every line of her motherly
face Scores of pretty young women
trooped about the sheds, seeking acQUaint-
ances and casting coy glances at some
particularly fetching young soldier. 9th
ers were tenderly solicitous and left the
station with fiuttering hearts.
A few minutes before o'clock an engine
and four passenger coaches steamed slowly
in from the west end of the sheds. Then,
at the west end, two baggage cars and a
freight car were backed In. and the load
ing of the camp equipage and ammunition
began. The immense cartridge boxes were
carefully slid from the wagons into the car
and guards placed over them. At Gas the
troops were ordered to board the cars. and
good-Dyes were said again. Promptly at I
o'clock the train moved out amid Godspeeds
and futtering handkerchiefs, and sighs.