The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-03-29
coXEY'SARMY STARTS OUT
7 Ess THAN ONE HUNDRED MEN
IN THE LINE.
After Dismal Night They March Eight
Miles in a snowstorm - Failure
Perches on the Army's Banner.

ple, Coxey's army marched eight
miles today on the road to Washing
ton. There were few less than loo
OF them. Not to exceed u had over
coats or gloves. They had slept last
night on pallets of straw in the airy
and cherries circus tent and they
were greeted this morning by the dis.
, agreeable discovery that no detailed
arrangements had been made for
feeding them. Several hundred per.
sons watched their departure from
MassilloD. About 5000 persons assem-
bedat the temporary camp at Reed
urban, and host greeted the. crusad>
ers at Canton, Tonight they are
sleeping at Camp Lexington
in the eastern part of Canton. A
heavy snow storm set in before the
details of the camp had been com,
pleted, and the trampers are huddled
around roaring camp fires. A bout
tWo.thirds of the men who enlisted
made the trip, Coxey has buried his
isappointp2ent over the non.appear-
ance of the crowd he expected, and is
exultant over the handful who re-.
+. ported for business.
The Massillon camp on the Tus-
caravans presented an odd sight early
this morning. No fire was permitted
in the big tent, but there was heap
of blazing logs outside. Every few
To hn fla nf hn
parted by soldier of the
COmm0nweal who visited the
fire to drive away the chills.
Soon, he would hurry back to burrow
in the straw for another nap and 9th.
ora would take his place. The hobos
in the party became known just before
breakfast. They had soup. 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 lige O troop
of boys. A bugle call to breakfast
brought them together at the tent
with a rush The bill of fare comprised
bread, coffee and raw meat, The lat
ter Wa4 affixed to the end of pointed
sticks and roasted over the fire. One
group of five ran away in q body after
breakfast and boarded q passing
freight train. Thirty of the Common.
wealers spent the night as dodgers at
the Massillon police station. They
comprise two entire groups who could
not be found when they were needed
for picket duty. They were On hand
for breakfast.
At o'clock Marshal Lewis Smith.
DhH FTpHnnwn aI1n1nnnnH
the mon to camp together and they
were found to number Il groups.
They were organized into commune.
Smith drilled them on the meadows
for half an hour. He has added sew
eral f0rmalities of military discipline
to the soldiers. One of them is the
plan of having them march in groups
Of two and military salutes. A man
who shouted, "Here's Browne" at
the California reformor half way across
the field was given raking over by
Smith. Among other things he said
that the proper caper was to ask for
Chief Marshal Carl Browne and sa-
lutte when his attention is secured.
Thus the despised military system is
being introduced, even though COM
panies are called communes and regi-
ments communities. The IL groups
consolidated today are called the
Chicago commune.
Two hours before the time for de-
parture the tents were pulled down
and preparations made for the trip.
Outsiders we're 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 CoXeyana and the
soldiers had busy time of il, A di-
version was caused by bulletin from
Coxeyana announcing that steamer
had lust passed that point, laden with
recruits from Canton. The steamer
made the trip of nine miles in two
and a half hours, bnt only few men
from Canton were enrolled.
The start from Massillon resembled
the moving of an old-tashioned 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,
boy of 16, was mounted on bloOded
\ stallion from the stock farm, and wore
a military uniform. Browne and the
I other officers were similarly mounted,
). while the general" rode in a phSton
4 behind one of his favorite horses.
Mrs. Coxey, her 3-year-old son, and
the hOusekaeper for the Coxey's, rode
In the buggy. The rank and
fle CT the army brought
up the rear on foot, following
the band wagon, which much resem"
bled gypsy travelling conveyance.
The musicians did their best to en-
liven the soldiers, and the many gay
banners added fantastic elements to
the pageant. Before the start the
noon day rations were dispensed:
They consisted of can of salmon and
a Loaf of bread for each group of five
and small slice Of ham for each man.
This seemed to satisfy the men and
they marched away with light hearts
and buoyant steps.
PREPARING TO MEET THEM.
ALLIANCE, o., March 25-The fol-
lowers of Coxey were jubilant ct first
\ This afternoon after seeing the small
number of recruits that started with
l The COmmOnweal army in it's tramp;
they became disgusted later When