The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-26
A DAY FORT RILEY.
The Presbyterian Excursion Was
an Enjoyable One.
NEARLY FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE WENT

HRRD Rn0 EsOB8RAAlC-
Entertain the Visitors.
The Preabyterians of Topeka took
possession of Fort Riley yesterday and
held it all day. The fort was captured
without any difficulty and no efforts were
made to rescue it.
In fact the soldiers were very glad to
see the good people. The life of reg
uIar army man Is somewhat monotonous
and when any special attraction is at the
fort, it is great relief.
Bright and early yesterday morning
the Presbyterians arose and began max
ing ARRANGEMENTS for the day. Lunch
baskets we're packed, umbrellas set out
and the children's hair brushed, and
away the whole family went, bound for
the big picnic.
Long before o'clock four passenger
coaches were filed. The train consisted
of engine No 653 with Engineer George
Ford at the throttle. OF course there
was a baggage car to carry the lunch
baskets. There were not enough seats
to accommodate the excursionisLs going
out and many had to stand up.
At ten minutes past o'clock Conduc-
tor Harry Field yelled "All aboard" 1t
was the most prompt in its departure of
any excursion that has left Topeka in
pie aboard when the train left Topeka,
but 100 joined the Presbyterians at Ross
Vile and about rs at Wamego. The
whole crowd, therefore, numbered 400,
or over.
1t was a merry crowd. Any number of
children were aboard-and that insures
merriment.
Fort Riley is about sixty-eight miles
from Topeka. Two hours and ten min
i. s., he -,
that time was was made.
A STATE JOURNAL reporter accom-
panied the excursion, and got just as tired
as the other people Some people have
an idea that a newspaper reporter is a
sort of being that never tires.
Arriving DIT the fort. the excursionists
climbed up the long hill to the parade
grounds at the post.
1t was long walk, and those lunch
baskets got mighty heavy before the top
was reached; for there were all kinds of
good things in them.
BY the time all the picnickers had ar
rived at the barracks in full view of the
parade grounds, the maneuvers of the
First cavalry had begun. 1t was very
pretty to see 200 cavalrymen going
through the fancy drills, This division
was but recently brought to Fort Riley
from Fort Grant. in Arizona. The sew
places with them.
After this drill, the people scattered
around on all parts of the grounds. The
young soldiers had things their own
way. OF course the girls were crazy to
meet them, nd so it wasn't but a short
time till almost every maiden was stroll
ling along the beautiful walks by the
side of gallant young soldier. "What
did the boys do?" Well, some of them
HOu-u m thu Confaon SO
big sounding work. The Canteen is a
large building which is nothing
more nor less than country
store on big scale. On the first floor is
the pOstOffice and general merchandise
store On the second floor is a restaurant
and in the basement is a room fitted up
for the accommodation of those soldiers
who think glass of beer is a necessity
on a hot day.
The government of the United States
runs the postoffice, store, restaurant and
''refreshment room" Among the soldiers
the canteen means to them just simply
saloon" Nothing but beer is sold in
this government dram shop.
One soldier who had partaken of too
much OF this "harmless" beverage stag
gered out and was moving about in an
aimless manner. He readily Joined in
conversation with a STATE JOURNAL re-
porter.
Lem shee." said he, "This ish the
twelfth day Pve been drunk Somehow
l can't leave she d stuff alone"
why don't you take the Kelley
cure?"
The drunken man shook his head.
ats no use."
The reporter was told that the man,
when sober, was an exceptionally bright,
honest fellow. When be gets started on
~ ho - e.
twenty days And the government never
lets up selling him the stuff, drunk or
sober.
The noon hour was the most interest
ing one for the small boys They had
all they wanted, too. The Presbvterians
did not all get together and spread big
table. They divided into small groups
and had the best time Imaginable.
The Rev John D. Knox was a Presby-
terian yesterday. At least he went down
on the excursion and saw the sights
Just after dinner the artillery gave an
exhibition drill that pleased everyone
Following that was a concert by the First
Cavalry band They play we'll. but not
nearlyas we'll as the Seventh.
And then the ball game! Nine horny
handed sons of toll boarded the train at
NamegO They call themselves the
Wamego base ball team. But they didn't
SIZE up their game very we'll, for when
the umpire woke them up it was found
that the score made by them was five
runs, while the Fort Riley team showed
twenty-one men over the home plate.
The manager of the Wameeo team
explained to the reporter that "most of
our boys have Just come in off the farm
ana they amt in good practice yet
There is that second basemsn, He iust
quit work last night"
The game was full of errors but was
interesting.
After that the excursionists had moth
ing more to look at and they slowly
walked down to the train The day had
been very pleasant one, the sun having
hidden under y cloud most of the time
But the wind blew the dust in everv-