Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-19
SOLDIER R0YsG(H9g
ABILENE GAVE THEN < NIGHT
RECEPTION. ....~/
Twentieth Rsgimest Makes . Stop
1t This City and ID Received With
Cheers and Tears-Abilene Boys
Happy.
[From Tuesdays Daily.l

interest IN ADllene history. IL was
the time Of the passing Of the towns
first company Of soldiers as they went
westward toward the Philippine ia-
lands. In three sections the train
carrying the goth Kansas regiment
went through, each making stop to
load up with coffee for the men. Each
section carried a battalion. Major
Whitman had charge Of the first;
Major Metcalf, the second; Major
Buchan, the third. Lieut. Col. Lit
tie in command Of the regiment rode
with lBuchan. Each section consisted
Of horse cars, baggage cars, day
coaches and tourist sleepers for the
privates and Pullman car for the
officers.
mn ri f*Wf* ff&rIT$fF.
The history Of the day was exciting
for the men. The men were called
at Camp Leedy an hour earlier than
usual and began packing up at once.
The bugles blew assembly" at ll0O
o'clock and as the last notes sounded
the white tents fell with one motion.
They were rolled up quickly and hus-
tied onto drays together with the
Sibley stoves and cooking utensils.
The men were without knapsacks
and when the order came to march to
the train they fell into line with their
blankets slung around their shoulders
in old time army fashion. Shortly
before the column started the clouds
parted and the sun shone for the first
time in two days.
1t was the Abilene company's first
movement in heavy marching order
and loaded down with luggage as
they we're they were made to 60 at
double time part Of the way. 1t no
doubt served to "harden" the boys
but the painting, perspiring crowd
that boarded the train was Of the
opinion that it could do very well
without that kind Of hardening pro-
cess.
The Abilene boys had second and
third cars Of the rear section. Smiles,
tears and cheers followed the boys as
the long trains putfed heavily away
from the capital. The soldiers re.
ceived the best Of treatment from the
citizens Of Topeka but all were glad
to get away from the dismal mud
and dampness of Camp Leedy.
A jostling, impatient crowd Of two
thousand people which had listened to
the band concert and many Of whom
had waited nearly all day for the
train, was at the depot The first
section was received with bonfire,
shotgun salute and music-it was a
little premature as Abilene's COM
pany was not aboard There was
cheering and hand.shaking just the |
same-but the crowd wanted Company |
L. When it came then there was
fun. Lieut.. Col. Little in uniform
came out Of the Pullman and went at |
once to q hack where his father and
mother were waiting for him. He
stayed with his mother throughout
the stay, but constant procession Of |
friends crowded by the door OF the
vehicle to shake hands with him. Ed
makes q handsome soldier, not a reg
ular at Fort Riley could hold candle
to him. His uniform becomes him
and the soldiers say he makes splen-
did officer, working hard for their in
terest. He took his father with
him as far as Denver, and his last
greeting to Abilene was kiss thrown
to his mother as be stood on the
platform when the train pulled out.
Ed was the whole thing Of last nights
show and was success in the part.
The Abilene boys are happy. Earl
Bohannon and two others are In the
hospital, sick with measles, but the
others are all right barring some bad
colds. Their families brought them
big baskets Of supplies, their best
girls gave them flowers and kisses,
the G. A. R. gave them cigars and
they left Abilene in good cheer and
with pleasant memories.
Captain Watson ranks third among
the captains Of the regiment. His
company has had little drill, but 1t