The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-03-29
COXEY'S ARMY.
The General in Charge in a Carriage,
Marshals a-horseback,
With the Rag-Tag Afoot Leave Massillon
on the March to Wasn,ngton-A snow
Storm Sets In and Number De-
sert-In Camp at Canton.

storm Scts In and NUMBER De-
sert-In Camp at Canton.
CANToY. o., March 26. 6.--Coxey's army
Of the Commonweal moved out of Mas
sillon sunday on schedule time. There
were perhaps as stragglers in line at
the start and 25 less when Canton, s
miles away, was reached. Carl Browne,
chief marshal, headed the procession.
He was mounted on a white horse and
was followed by half dozen aids, all
ed on horses belonging to Coxey,
who rode in carriage drawn by pair
of spirited steeds
The procession consisted of the mar
shals, Coxey, his wife and sister, a
bugler, four covered wagons, contain
ing camping outfits, baled straw and
several quarters of beef, brass band
that played all kinds of music at once,
and the soldiers of the commonweal on
foot They marched single file and
two abreast as pleased their fancy.
With very few exceptions they were
hard-looking lot of citizens. This
they claimed was not their fault, but
the fault of our system of govern
ment.
The weather was pleasant when the
start was made, but the procession was
soon overtaken by severe snow storm.
This had depressing tendency and a
number of desertionswere reported be-
fore Rcdurban, the first stop, was
reached. After brief stay at Redur-
ban, the army resumed it's onward
march and reached Canton shortly af-
tnr 4 ,>a
was pitched.
On the march from Massillon to Can
ton the commonweal army was followed
by mob of nearly thousand people,
in carriages. on horseback and afoot
On re aching Canton the army was
greeted by fully 10, 900 people, who were
crowded on the sidewalks and in win
dows and balconies along Tuscarawas
street Every one regarded the affair
as a huge joke, and good humor pre-
vailed among all Camp Lexington
was pitched on a vacant lot near The
workhouse, shortly after o'clock, and
the tramps, constituting the army of
the commonweal at once began build
ground and making other preparations
to keep comfortable during the night.
The army had to start on it's march
without the Goddess of Peace" as no
maiden could be found to assume that
role. Instead of a goddess burly Ne
gro has been enlisted to carry the ban
ner, thus giving the African race repre-
sentation in the movement
One group of five soldiers deserted in
body before Canton was reached.
Their marshal thought the celestial
powers were not exercising proper dis
erection in sending snowstorm upon
the advancing hosts, and advised his
men to break for passing freight
train. They broke, and have not been
heard from since. 1t is feared by some
of Coxey's lieutenants that there will
be more desertions before morning un
less the weather moderates, owing t.
the prevalence of comfortab BILE haymow
in these parts.
Coxey's life insurance policy has beel
revoked, the officials of the compan.
fearing he may meet with
violent end before finishing tn
present enterprise. Coxey is enthus
iastic, and claims the movemen
thus far exceeds his most sanguine eX
pectations, but this is hardly in keep
ing with his former declarations. Can
ton and Massillon were both crowde
Sunday with people who had come i
from surrounding towns and cities t
witness the sight.
With the ground covered to tn
depth of half an inch with snow
nothing to eat but a short supply {
bread and cheese, and little straw
sleep on, the Coxey recruits were i
anything but a joyous mood Sunda
night. Murmuring under the big Gil
Gus tent where the commonweal arm
is quartered is loud and genera
CoXey's soldiers declare things mus
improve at once or they will go bac
to begging. Coxey and his lieutenant
are still sanguine and are endeavorin
to Undue their followers with conf
dence by making speeches, which, hov
ever, do not seem to have the desire
effect.
:, Coxey said Sunday night: 81 am no
satisfied that / will be followed I'M
: Washington by 100000 men. AS pc
pie hear that we have actually starte
they will begin falling in. UP to tn
, time they have been afraid that W
/ were bluffing Now they see that "
mean business"
Dr. Kirkland, of Pittsburgh, know
as The Cyclone" arrived at Cantc
: Sunday evening and joined the arm
l lie says he has figured out by astrolol
l that this is to be the grandest move tt
S world has ever seen. Even if it we
: to die out now, it would be revive
, apain. He knows this, because Il
stars have told him so.
Lieut. Browne announced Sundf
: night that seven groups of five fro
Canton and two from Cleveland h;
just been enlisted. Solon C. Thaye
e chief commissary marshal, got discou
: couraged and resigned on reachir
a Canton. Oklahoma Sam was appoint,
a his successor. John O'Neill, of Clev
e land, was appointed chief of the col