The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-27
Only Seventy-Two Had the Courage to
Fall in at Canton Yesterday and
March to Louisville.
ACCESSIONS ON THE WAY
Fifty More Commonwealers, ALI
Tramps, Join During the Day.
Scenes and Incidents at the Camp-The
People Requested to Give Coxey
Financial Aid.

LOUISVILLE. O., March 26.-But severn
ty-two OF Coxey's commonwealers had the
courage to march away from Canton this
afternoon in the face of the wintry blast
that was blowing at the time set for the
start. The band deserted at that point,
also. and that took much of the spirit out
of the soldiers The march from Canton to
this place, through two inches Of snow
and in a temperature twenty degrees above
zero, was anything but a pleasant expert
ence for the thinly-clad wanderers. who
had imagined that the entire trip to Wash
ington would be sort Of a springtime
frolic. Fifty tramps were picked up be-
army went into camp tonight it numbered
122 men, aside from the officers. The claimed
enlistments are 25O. Much excitement was
created to-day by the announcement that
three of the tramps had robbed man
named John Ruegg of a watch and so in
money. This was the first attempt at law
lessness but no arrests were made.
The conditions at Canton this morning
were anything but encouraging to the COM
mander and his associates. Contrary to ex-
pectation, the twenty-five women, wives
and daughters of Peoples party men of
Canton, did not turn up at the camp
grounds Of the army, on account of the
weather. and as a consequence the men
were obliged to hustle for themselves as
far as their breakfast was concerned At
o'clock in the morning the camp was
turned into a veritable Valley Forge.
Small groups of men could be seen shiver-
ing in every limb, trying to obtain shelter
from the freezing blasts which came from
the west. Two-thirds of the men who start
ed with the army had taken lodging in the
city prison, but at an early hour they be-
gan to gather at the grounds to get their
rations. Some difficulty was experienced
in getting men who could use the cooking
utensils to advantage, but finally at the
east side of the tent gasoline stoves were
set up end the morning meal commenced.
The donation, which consisted of one dozen
boiled hams, two hundred loaves of bread
five bushels of potatoes. baked beans and
an abundance of other eatables, Were soon
utilized, and everybody was thoroughly
satisfied as far as his stomach was con-
cerned. Fortunately, the abundance of sup
plies prevented the tramps from getting
into any alterations over how the food
should be divided, and everyt thing passed
off harmoniously. Many OF the men, how
ever, were heard to grumble about Mr..
Coxey taking lodgings at the best hotel in
the city. and were of the opinion that he
should take a dose Of his own medicine.
Several of the tramps were interviewed at
the Canton prison last evening as to what
they intended to do in case provisions were
not furnished en- route, and each and every
one Of them said they would make a raid
upon the farm houses
At the grounds this morning the most
noticeable thing was the absence of any,
body to command the much-shattered
forces. Carl Browne, the chief marshal, did
not arrive upon the scene until 1890 o'colck.
he also having taken a room in one of the
prominent hotels. Once upon the grounds,
his orders to the men were after the style
OF a circus man, but the men were slow In
Cbeying. Inside the old perforated circus
tent the scene was a curious one. Horses
and men, who had bunked together during
the night, were huddled in small groups
endeavoring to keep warm while waiting
for the temporary cooks to prepare break
fast. No tables had been prepared for the
supply of knives, forks and plates conse-
quently the commissary and aids handed
out the ham sandwiches, which constituted
the bill of fare for breakfast. At 1926
o'clock preparations were made to get din
ner and strike camp so as to be on the
road at II o'clock. After the soldiers had
eaten their dinner some disappeared, and
when the command to march was given
only SeVenty-tWo fell in.