The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-03-28

CANTON, O., March 25.-In the face
of a sharp, cold wind. that brought shiv-
ers to the frames of weIl-clad people,
CoXey's army marched eight miles today
on the road to Washington. There were
a few less than a hundred of them. Not
10 exceed a dozen had overcoats or
gloves. They had slept last night on pal
lets Of straw in the airy and cherries
circus tent and they were greeted this
morning by the disagreeable discovery
that no detailed arrangements had been
made for feeding them. Several hun
dred persons watched their departure
from Massillon. About three thousand
persons assembled at the temporary
camp at Reedurban and host greeted
the crusaders at Canton.
Tonight they are sleeping at Camp
Lexington, in the eastern part of Canton.
y heavy snow storm set in before the
details of the camp had been completed
and the trampers are huddled around
roaring camp-fires 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 exuItant over the handful
who reported for business.
The Massillon camp on the Tusca-
rawas presented an odd sight early this
morning. No fire was permitted in the
big tent but there was a heap of blaz-
ing logs outside. Every few moments
the flap of the tent was parted by a
soldier of the Commonweal who visited
the fire to drive away the chills Soon
he would hurry back to burrow in the
straw for another nap and others would
take his place
The hobos in the party became known
just before breakfast They had soap.
Some Of them washed at the river brink
and others carried water in pans and
heated it over the fire. They burned
straw and frolicked about like a troop
of boys. A bugie call TO breakfast
brought them together at the tent with
rush. The bill Of fare comprised
bread. coffee and raw meat The latter
was affixed to the end of pointed sticks
and roasted over the fire. One group of
i've ran away in body after breakfast
and boarded a passing freight train.
Thirty Of the CommOnweaIers spent the
night as dodgers at the MassillOn police
station They comprised two entire
groups who could not be found when
they were needed for picket duty.
They were on hand for breakfast. At
II.
the unknown, summoned the men TO
camp together and they We're found 10
number eleven groups. They We're or
gantzed into commune. Smith drilled
them on the meadows for half an hour
He has added several fOrmalitieS of mill
tary discipline to the rulers of the Com
mOnweal. One of them is the plan of
having them march in files Of two and
a more surprising innovation is the
adoption of military salutes a man
W RFOurph OF ba
California reformer half way across the
field, was given a raxing over by Smith
Among other things he said that the
proper caper was to ask for Chief Marshal
Carl Browne and salute when his atten-
tion is secured. Thus the despised mill
tary system is being introduced even
though companies are called communes
and regiments communities.
The eleven groups consolidated today
are called the Chicago commune. Two
hours before the time for departure the
tents were pulled down and preparations
made for the trip. Outsiders We're df-
rected 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 a busy time Of it, A diver
sion was caused by a bulletin from
Coxiana announcing that a steamer
had just passed that point, laden with
recruits from CaCtOn. The steamer
made the trip of nine miles in two and
one-half hours. but only a few men from
Canton were enrolled.
The start from Massillon resemblsd
the moving of an old-time country circus
more than anything else. There was no
goddess Of peace in the procession as
Coxey had designed, his divorced wife
refusing TO permit her daughter TO go
with the army In that capacity. Coxey's
son. Jesse, a boy of sixteen was mounted
on a blooded stallion from the stock
farm and wore a military uniform.
Browne and the other officers were
similarly mounted, while the general
rode in a phaeton behind one OF his
favorite horses. Mrs. Coxey, her three
year-old son and the housekeeper for
the Coxeys rode I'm a buggy. The rank
and file of the army brought up the rear
on foot, following the band wagon,
which very much resembled a gypsy's
travelling conveyance The musicians
did their best TO enliven the soldiers and
the many gay banners added fantastic
elements to the pageant Before the
start the MONDAY ratiOns were dis
pensed. They consisted of a can of
salmon and loaf Of bread for each
group of five, and small slice Of ham
for each man. This seemed 10 satisfy
the men and they marched away with
light hearts and buoyant spirits
CANTON, o., March 26.-Contrary to
expectations the twenty-five women,
wives and daughters of peoples party
men Of this city, did rot turn up at the
camp grounds Of the Commonweal army
on account OF the weather and conse-
quently the men were obliged to hustle
for themselves, as far as their break
fast was concerned. At o'clock in the
morning the camp was turned into q