Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-07-14
FROM CAMP THOMAS,
CANT GRO. II. THOMAS,
Chickamauga Park. Ca,
Inlu 4 1908

EDITOR GAZETTE, Hutchinson, Kans.
As | haye nothing TO do for while
will write you few lines about the boys
OF the Twenty-hrst Kansas.
There is very little sickness in the reg
iment now, since they are getting clear
Of the measels and becoming used to
the climate. It is TIE cleanest camp in
the park and also the livellest.
Yesterday morning we got orders to
pack everything ready to move and AZ
1000 u. IN. started out on u trial march.
We marched four Or Ave miles In the
hottest part of the day, averaging 100
steps to the minute all the way. There
we're about $50 dropped out but none that
we're seriously i'll from the effects. Com
pany Il, the Hutchinson company, made
the best record, there was not single
man dropped out; while Company X,
from Kingman, came back with only
eighteen. ! think the day was about as
hot as the average Cuban day too.
The Kansas boys are the best marks
men In the camp. They have taken the
lead in all target practice so far at least
Monday was about the biggest day
we've had since being here. Besides be-
ing the Fourth Of July it was pay day
for the regiment. At 400 a. m. while IL
was still "Dewey" we got out and
marched around the camp playing ma
tional airs. In a very few minutes the
whole regiment was up and everyone
making all the noise he could. Az about
900 o'clock we heard the boys in the
west end Of the camp cheering and In a
few moments found It was the paymas-
ter coming that was creating che excite
mont. While there are great number
In regiment to pay II Is arranged In
such way that 1t only takes a few hours
TO pay them. The band and each COM
pany lined up in front OF the coIonelS
tent where the paymaster sat by table
piled up with money OF all denomina-
tons that had "never been spent" AS
one man would call of the name another
with the pay roll would announce the
amount he was to get and another would
have the money counted out almost as
soon as il was given. There is no time
lost for the line passes along without
stopping. NosooBer did they get their
pay than they we're after pass to get
through the lines TO visit Chattanooga
and Mt. Lookout. think the whole
regiment was in such good spirits that
they could have defeated the whole
Spanish army. Blank cartridges were
issued to most Of the regiments for Skin
mish drill that day, and also ammunition
for target practice, and there was con-
tinuous roar most OF the day.
We are expecting our new instruments
from the government every day. Chief
Musician Watson is great favorite
among the whole band and under his di-
rection 1t is gaining the reputation as
one of the best bands In the Park.
Principal Musician Scott has the real
thing in the line Of sideburns, and Prin'
cipal Musician Ira Somers is competing
with Bob Rea for the best growth OF
chin whiskers; they are both dong pretty
we'll. The other day while visiting at
Chattanooga, Bob Rca CHANGED to pass a
looking glass and did not know himself.
When he first looked he thought it must
be his father he had met. Will Camp
bell is drum major Of our band. He is
the warmest man with the baton 10 the
Park. Totten is back in the band and
makes lots of noise on the little drum.
He and ''Dollie" Metcalf, the only bass
drummer on earth, are the official church.
Coers for the band. Duuaway, the solo
clarionet player, is the only man in camp
that can hold championship for telling
a trombone story. He is the only real,
true, brave soldier in camp, always ready
to soldier. Chas. Vaughn, the great