Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-06
ON THE MUSTER ROLL
One Battalion, Of Illinois Militia.
men Now in the Service Of
Uncle Sam,
ZEN RAISE A QUESTION OF CASH.

Governor Wants Another Amendment Of
the Call-Unearthinc the Facts About
That Gun Cotton - Camp Is Mighty
Damp-Wisconsin Boys Going Through
the Examination MilI-Nine Days Work
Ahead-Pingrce Wakes Wroth-Iowa's
Camp.
Springfield, Ills, May 6.-The First
and Second battalions of the Fifth regi-
ment have been examined by the medi-
cal officers Cf the United States army,
and the First battalion has been mus
tered into the service. The work of ex-
amining the members Of the Third regi-
ment as begun at the state house. it
being too cold to undertake the task at
Camp Tanner. The members of the
First battalion of the Third were the
first to be accepted. Several OF the
men now in camp have raised the ques-
ton as to when they will get the pay
due them from the state. Unless the
money s borrowed 70 pay the troops
they viii not receive their 81 per day
until July l. Another question to be
decided by Governor Tanner is whether
the boys are entitled to 81 per day or
81. During the time of strikes, etc, pri-
Yates are allowed s., but when in camp
on the regular annual tour Of duty they
receive but 81 per day.
Tanner Telegrariis Secretary Alger.
Governor Tanner has telegraphed Sec
retary AlCer asking him 70 again amend
the call for troops from Illinois so as to
include an engineering corps of eighty
six men under Captain u. T. Reed, of
Chicago. 1t is rumoreG that General J.
w. Vance, now in the office Of the state
superintendent of insurance here, is to
be appointed colonel of the Fourth regi-
ment, to succeed Colonel Washburn, of
Nandalia, resigned. Rain falling for
two days necessarily has made Camp
Tanner a very disagreeable place. The
weather is exceedingly cold for this
time of the year, and the boys are hav-
ing anything but a pleasant life. Near
ly all are suffering from severe colds,
but making no complaint. Otherwise
the health of the camp is excellent,
there being only six serious cases. most
ly pneumonia. The grounds are so
muddy and wet that rubber boots, rub
ber overcoats, etc, are in great demand
and merchants handling such goods do
ing a large business.
That Roll of Gun Cotton.
The arrest of William T. Atkins. of
Chicago, on charge of being a fugitive
from justice promises to clear up the
dynamite story. Major Stuart, of the
postofiice serEicet is assisting the post
commander in running down the mat
ter. Atkins is former ChicagUan, and
was fired out of the First ten years ago.
1t was alleged. for purloining some
medals. He is also wanted in New York
for the robbery Of Harkness. who has a
brother in the First. When searched
Akins' kit had a full set of burglar tools
and masks and some police stars. When
the troops frat went into camp. General
Barkley received q letter warning him
against Spanish spies. No sooner had
the roll of gun cotton been found than
Atkins, who appeared as a citizen. came
forward as a government detective and
volunteered to run down the perpetra-
tor of the gun cotton plot. His answer
on another charge now leads the COM
mander TO believe Atkins placed the
explosive simply to get an excuse to get
into the volunteer service in order to
work a graft