New-York tribune., 1896-08-31
CROWDS VISIT TROOPERS.
c,v,1RysrEN AT FORT HAMILTON HAVE
MANY CALLERS.
TUE RIDERS HAVE ENJOYED THEIR TRIP EAST
PIT ARE READY TO GO RACK TO THE


But ARE READY TO GO RACK TO THE
LIFE OF THE PLAINS.
,,s probable that more people went to Fort
,Jor,Iton yesterday than that sleepy old post
hos seen on Sunday in many years. The OBJ
,oc,ive point was. OF course. the squadron of
,be sixth Cavalry. in camp just east of the fort
7, Was a sort of field day for the troopers but
.hsre were no ceremonies and the people who
,ourneyed down the dusty road after the long
ride down to the Narrows saw the cavalry
man In his everyday life and In his undress uni!
,orn. just as he is when he is at home En-
.neers artillerymen and infantrymcn are ia
,rliar sights 10 New Workers. but they have
hitherto seen little of the cavalry arm OF the
service and so Il was yesterday that thou
sand or more civilians took the opportunity 10
INSECT & squadron Of some Of the rinest riders
IN the Army Unfortunately. perhaps. for the
siehtseers about half OF the men had secured
leave of absence for the dav. and scat
tered in various places bent upon getting as
much fun possible from their outing before
going back to the humdrum life of garrison
duty At Fort Myer Many Of them had gone
to Coney Island. where their neat-ooking blue
uniforms with the yellow stripes attracted con-
siderable attention. Others had gone to New
York 10 see what the Bowery. Of which they
had heard SO much. looked like. As most OF
the troopers are plainsmen and Westerners and
as this is their first assignment East the men
naturally had a keen desire to see the sights Of
tho largest city in the country and applica-
tons for leave were numerous.
Much the larger part OF the visitors came
during the afternoon II is curious TO note how
p crowd can stand and stare and gaze in open
mouthed wonder at things unfamiliar 10 them.
They swarrned around the various tents and
inspected the interiors to suit themselves.
Many Of the troopers were taking an afternoon
snooze but this did not seem TO make any diff
ference with the rquisitors. They walked In
the tents. and sat down on campstools or on
boxes and proceeded to enjoy themselves. They
inspected the blanket beds of the soldiers and
looked with curiosity at the line Of wearing
apparel which the troopers had hung outside
their tents TO dry.
And do they all 90 their own washing?'
asked one woman
Certainly" said a good-natCred trooper at
the end of the thousand and first question
when they are in camp and on the march
How funny
The trooper said Eyes" rather doubtfuy. and
didn't look as If he believed il. Then the woman
asked:
Don't the soldiers sometimes get tired Of
hardtack?"
"Hardtack?" repeated the man. IN surprise.
1--WE don't have that"
Why ! thought YOU did. I've always heard
tha, soldiers had to eat hardtack for their
meals and thought It real mean in the
Government to feed them that way"
The cavalryman smiled CHASTITY smile. and
then with much elaboration of detail, explained
10 his fair inquisior that the soldiers had cooks
II prepare their meals for them. He told all
q bout the daily menus. and then, with serious
face said impressivelI that the soldiers, when
q, barracks had biz of fare beginning at
soup and ending with nuts.
Always from eight to ten courses. madam.
and wines on holidays and birthdays. The
soldiers years ago had hardtack. but our wages
permit US To set up file mess
Well the Army isn't such bad place after
AL" said the inQuisitor. she passed on
It may be said that. while the squadron is
pleased with the change Of scene for few
days many OF the men. and especially the ON /
GERS will be glad TO get back to their barracks,
where their comforts are mannesty greater |
than in camp. They have liked the diversion |
and tho honor too OF esCOrting Ii Hung Chang |
around New-York but even that has its limita- |
tons end many of them are not sorry that II |
&c over TO sit FOR hours in a tight dress uni !
form on parade is not the easiest thing In the /
world and many of the old troopers say, that /
for steady diet, they will take the freedom OF
Western post duty and grow fat under IT, Sald /
one Of them Yesterday. a grizzled OLD fellow; I
Il guess all OF us We're glad to be ordered East I
from Fort Neobrara but let me tell YOU there /
are many Of us now, and myself among the /
number who are quite ready 10 90 back TO the /
old iife Of the West. We like the old DAYS. the I
campaign where there action and excite !
ment Those We're times
The squadron will rest to-day, their escort
duty with Ii Hung Chang having ceased when |
they took him back to the WALDORF from 'ne
Presidents reception. To-morrow morning at /
o'cloek the troopers break camp and start on
their return to Fort Myer.