The morning call., 1894-07-07

Capitol grounds this morning at $50
O'Clock. Within a few inmates all the
men OF both regiments were up and doing
and camp routine began. There are few
Of the things here usually found at militia
encRmpments. The sentries are danger
ously numerous aud they are remarkably
skilltul in bringing the bayonet amazingly
close to your breast and still not hurt you.
At $3.50 O'clock the guard was mounted
according to regulation in both regiments.
Immediately after this necessary ceremony
the companies were assembled and morn
ing drill was commenced. The men were
instructed in Skirmish work and partIcG-
larly in firing by squads and company.
They displayed considerable enthusiasm
in practice and are evidently alive TO the
seriousness of the situation.
An order from General Dickinson's
headquarters, through Lieuteuant-Colonel
Edwards, assistant adjutant-generaI.t this
morning. announced the appointment of
Major G. E. Miles brigade officer of the
day.
Indignation runs high in the camp Of the
San Francisco regiments over erroneous
reports detrimental to the reputation Of
the organizations. L has been stated that
the members of these regiments have
been seen intoxicated on the streets, wear
ing strikers badges and conducting them
selves in a generally disOrderly fashion.
The real state of affairs is that the San
Francisco regiments are the best behaved
organizations here. With the exception of
the failure of some the Thirds men to per-
form heir duty as National Guardsmen,
there has been nothing else to the injury OF
the reputation of the companies. The open
sympathy with strikers in the Third has
been found to be confined only to Com
pany g, the mem bers of which are still
under arrest and undergoing summary
court-martial. The men of the Third are
furious over the dIsgraceful conduct OF
their thirty-eight comrades. They are
paying dearly for their error, ana have
sad ordeal TO pass through before they get
back to San Francisco.
The San Francisco First Infantry con-
tinues TO show itself worthy of It's excel
lent reputation. Among these men, and
also among nearly all of the Third Regi-
Iuent, the general conduct is becoming.
Light Battery \ has proved Itself q
strong organization in the small but eff
cient representation Of il here. The bat
terry would undoubtedly manipulate that
gauing affair quite killlngy if occasion
required. The signal corps, under Cap
tain Hanks, is doing well, and spent some
time this morning in practice with flags
and heliOgraph.
The Sacramento companies and those of
Stockton are not so orderly. The disci-
pline is little out of gear there, and the
men are given more freedom than seems
consistent with military regulation at such
a time.
Discussion Of the exciting events Of the
Fourth of July has not ceased yet. At
the camp the men of the First and Third
are indignant at the absurd arrangement
of the movement upon the depot. These
two regiments had positively nothing to
hear or suggest in the matter of prepara-
tiOns for the movement. Brigadier-Gen-
e7al Sheehan was the one who secured The
right of line for the Sacramento COM
panies, supposing that the strikers would
give way rather than take chances on the
precipitation of a riot when their soldier
friends were in the front rank General
Dickinson was not consulted. The San
Francisco troops had beensent for because
the companies of this city were not con-
sidered equal to the occasion on account of
their sympathy with the trainmen, and
now the San Francisco troops are wonder
ing if some one did not blunder 10 order
ing them to the rear OF the column and
placing in the van the very organizations
known TO be delinquent in loyalty to the
State.
Something serious will come out of that
depot proceedings. l. will be thoroughly
investigated ana may result. in the reor-
ganization Of good portion of the
National Guard of the State. Some officers
high in authority will perhaps be caused
to account for this disgraceful muddle.
There is great deal of talk and effort at
explanation about the order. which is re-
ported to have been given on Wednesday
to fire on the mob. No such order was
given. 1t is true that General Sheehan
asked for a written order before he would
command the troops TO commence firing
and the order was written, but it was not
delivered. There were too many hiefs
and too little nerve.
The members of Company &, Third
Infantry, who violated the articles of war
on Wednesday are to be tried by general
cOurt-martiRl tomorrow morning at the
camp on the capitol grounds. About the
entire company is charged with disobeying
orders issued by competent military au-
thorities during the affair at the depot.
Major Hammond Of The staff and Major
Smith of the Third Infantry have been
busy all day preparing the necessary legal
papers and making arrangements for the
trial. The specific charge against the men
is that they left their street column forma-
ton without permission and refused to
return when ordered TO do so.