The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-26
Coxsy's Army OF Commonwea
Starts on It's Long March
Eastward.
The First Eight Miles Made In the
Face OF a Cold, Sharp
Wind.
Report That PenBsylvania Troops VIII
Meet Them At the state Line-The
Other Armies.

CAsToS o.. March 25.-In the faos OF q
cold. sharp wind CoxeJ's army marched
eight miles to-day on their road 10 Wash
inRton. There we're few less than = hun.
dTed Of them, about two-thirds OF these en-
listed, and not TO exceed a dozen had over
ooAts or gloves Coxsy buried his disap-
pointment over the non-apgsaranos OF the
myriad be expected. and eHultsd over the
handful who we're prepared for business.
The Massillon camp presented an odd sig ht
early this morning. No FIRE was permits
in ths big tent but there was q hssp Of
blazing logs outside. Every few moments
during the night the flaps Of the tent Woie
parted by soldier of oommonwesl. who
visited the FIRE to drive away the chills.
They burned straw aud frolieked about like
a troop Of boys. The buRle call al break
fast brought them together at the tent with
a rush. The bill of fare comprised bread.
coffee and raw meat. The latter was af-
fixed 10 sticks and roasted. Thirty
commonWealers spsnt the night as
lodgers az the MAssillon police
station. Al eight o'clock Marshal
Louis Smith summoned the mon together
and they we're organized into a commune.
Smith drilled them for half an hour. Two
hours before the time for departure the
tents were pulled down aud preparation
made for the trip. Outsiders were directed
to leave the 6eld and await the common
veal on the main streets OF the town.
Camp wagons and saddle horses were
brought in from CoIisna and the soldiers
had q busy time OF il. A diversion was
oAnsed by a bulletin from CoIisna an
nouncing that a steamer had just passed
that point laden with recruits from Canton.
The followers OF Coxey we're jubilRnt al
first after seeing the number Of recruits
1 that started with the comm veal army.
but became disgusted when told the ma jor
portion we're tramps. There was a we'll de-
| fined belief that CoKoy intends TO desert
the army here and go TO Chicago on the
evening express. ODDS we're offered Of two
TO one, With no takers, that the army
would disband before 10 reached PittsburR.
| MAssII1oN March 25-In contradiction
| Of the general belief that Coxey IL wealthy.
the MessillOn people say his property is
/ heavilY encumbered. The reports culmin-
atsd tonight IN the statement that CoKey
would be obliged 10 pay heavy mortgage
| on the stallion Acolyte in few days. lie
bought the horse from Col. Pepper, OF
kentucky. for $4,000. aud paid SIC 900. A
son Of Pepper was here last Monday ana
gave notice that ample security would have
to ha given for the debt OF $24, 600 or there
| would be legal proceedings on Wednesday.
The start fiom this place Tessmbled the
| removal Of a county circus. Coxey's son
rode a blOoded stallion and wore a uniform.
Brown and other officials were similarly
mounted, while the general" rode in q
| buggy. and the rank and nle on foot
| brought up the rear. They took a noon
lunch and marched away with light hearts.
PrrrsBuRa, March % The Dispatch prints
a story 20 the effect that 10 Is reported that
portion OF the Tenth regiment battery,
/ OF PIttsburg, handling Calling guns, have
been ordered to prepare 30 meet CoIey's
army at the state line near Beaver.
HAzIEroN Pa, March 25.-Nst one of
the 20 men whom Astor Evans cisimed to
have enrolled Ia the commOnWeal army
responded to-day.
DENVER March 2j-Bsrt Hamilton, a
civil engineer and actor Is organizing au
army similar TO the Corey army 90 40 10
Washington and demand the free coinage
OF silver, the construction Of new rail- cad
from ths Ohio river 20 the Pacific coast,
and other legislation in the inte est OF the
western portion of the United States. The
stat will be made next Saturday, and
Hamilton expects TO leave Colorado with Al
least 5000 men. and gain recruits all along
the line. Tho army will demand free trans
portation from the railroads.
BstthA Miller. who is organizing an army
to 40 to Washington. tonight sp 9ointsd
100 officers. each Of whom will, during the
week, wOfk NJ the project.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex. March p. The frat
comvany OF sixty men. OF Gen. Fry's in-
dustriAl army, are on their way to San An
tonic. and the populists here have arranged
to feed them during their stay.
Southern Pacific officials received word
to- night that the industrial army OF zoo
men were put OF the trains near findlaJ
station and that the trains were tied mp.
The army broke ths switch lock and then
threw the switch open, causing this train 60
take the siding. The men climbed on the
cars aud the conductor pulled To FindlaY,
where he tied them up, pending the arrival
Of orders from General Supe intendsnt Van
Wick. Orders came for him Co keep the
train tied mp, a. the company had decldsd
not 80 carry the meu.