The morning call., 1894-03-26
COXEY'S MEN OFF.
March of the Advance
Commune.
LESS THAN A HUNDRED LEFT
In a Cold Wind the Ragged Band
Goes Eight Miles.
LESS THAN A HUNDRED LEFT
AND THE "MYRIAD" IS MISSING.
Suffering From Exposure and Hunger
the Miserable Followers Are
WretChed Indeed.

CANTON, Ohio. March 25-In the face
of a sharp wind that brought shivers to
the frames of ill-clad people Coxey's army
marched eight miles to-day on the road TO
Washington. There were few less than
a hundred in line. Not to exceed dozen
had overcOats or gloves. They bad slept
last night on pallets of straw in the airy
and cherries circus tent, and they were
greeted this morning by the disagreeable
discovery that no definite arrangements
had been made for feeding them. Several
hundred pers ons watched their departure
from Massillon. About 5000 people as
sembled at the temporary camp at Reedur-
ban and q host greeted the crusaders at
Canton. A heavy snowstorm set II be-
fore the details OF the camp had been CON-
pleted, and the trampeTs are huddled
around roaring campfres. About two
thirds of the men enlisted made the trip.
COxey has buried his disappointment over
the non-appearance of the myriad he ex-
pected and is exultant over the handful
who are prepared for business
The Massillon camp, on the Tuscarawas,
presented an odd sight early this II orning.
No FIRE was permitted in the big tent, but
there was heap of blazing logs outside.
Every few moments the flaps of the tent
were passed by soldier of the Common
veal. who visited the fire TO drive away
the chilIs. Soon be would hurry back to
burrow in the straw for another nap, and
another would take his place. The "ho-
bos" in the party became known just
before breakfast; they had soap: they
washed at the river bank, and others car
ried water in pans and heated it over the
fire. They burned straw, and frolicked
about like troop OF boys. A bugle call
TO breakfast brought them together at the
tent with a rush. The bill of fare COM
prised bread coffee and raw meat. The
latter was affixed to the end of sticks and
roasted. One group of five men ran away
in body after breakfast. and boarded a
passing freight train.
Thirty of the Common wealers spent the
night as lodgers at the Massillon police
station They COMPRISED two entire
groups, who could not be found when they
were needed for picket duty. They wer e
on hand for break asst At 8 o'clnck Mar
shall Louis Smith, otherwise the unknown,
summoned The men to camp together and
they were to number eleven groups. They
were organized into a commune. Smith
drilled them for half an hour. He has
added several formaliLies Of military dis
cipline 10 the rules of the Commonweal.
One of them is the plan of having them
march in files, in twos. and more sur
prising innovation is the addition of mill
tary salutcs. A man who shouted, Here.
Browne" at the California reformer half
way across the field was given a raking
over by Smith. Among other things, he
said the proper caper was to ask for Chief
Marshal Browne and salute when his at
tention is secured.
Thus the despised military system is be-
ing introduced, even though companies are
called communes and regiments CON-
munities. The eleven groups consolidated
to-day are called the Chicago commune.
Two hours before the time for departure
the tents were pulled down and prepara-
tions made for the trip. Outsiders were
directed to leave the field and await the
Commonweal on the main streets of the
town. Camp wagons and saddle-horses
were brought in from Coxiana and the
soldiers had busy time of it.
diversion was caused by a bulletin
from Coxiana announcing a steamer had
just passed that point laden with recruits
from Canton. The steamer made the trip
of nine miles in two hours and half, but
only few men from Canton were en-
rolled. The followers of Coxey in this
city were jubiIAnt at first this afternoon
after seeing the number of recruits that
started with the Commonweal army on its
march. but they became dsgusted when
told the major portion were tramps.
The Mayor has appointed twelve police
men to assist the regular police when the
army reaches here Tuesday. While he
did not apprehend any trou bic whatever,
he made the appointments as a precau.
tionary measure.
There Is well-defned belief that Coxey
intends to desert the army here next Tues.
day and go to Chicago on the evening ex.
=" press. Last Thursday while returning
from Pittsburg. Coxey asked a railroad
official of this city what time the evening
express was due TO leave this city. When
informed that it left at 8:40 P. NJ, he said
be would be compelled to go to Chicago
as he had several trotIers there that be
wished to sell Wednesday at a stock sale
Some bets were offered here at odds oi
2 to l with no takers that the army would
disband before il reached Pitisburg.
The start from Massillon resembled the
removal of an old-tme country circus
more than anything else. There was NJ
goddess of peace in the procession. al
Coxey designated, his divorced wife re-
fusing to permit her daughter to 60 will
the army in that capacity. Coxey's SOD
Joseph, boy Of 16. was mounted on q
biooded stallion from the stockfarm. and
wore military uniform. Brown and the
other Officials were similarly mounted
while the general rode in a phaeton be.
hind one OF bis favorile horses. Mrs
Coxey and her three-year-oId son rode in
buggy. The rank and file of the army
brought up the rear on foot. following The
ban wagon. which very much resembled
a gipsies' travelling conveyance. Before
the start the MONDAY ratinns were dis.
pensed: thew consisted of can of salmon
and loaf of bread for each group of five