Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-28

mounting any obstacle, but in no field of
human ingenuity does he rise to his
standard in this respect more thoroughly
than when he essays to convert himself
from an awkward plowboy, unsophisti-
Gated rustic, plodding workman, I'M
skilled clerk or green miner into a bust
ling, bristling soldier, ready to do and
dare in any capacity marking the man
alarms. The progress made here in
that direction is marvellous. When the
seven companies quartered here first
arrived. they We're to all intents and
purposes, raw recruits. 1t is true that
many of them had secured some previous
knowledge of drilling in National Guard
duty, but to drop to the actual con-
ditions of field service, with its com
plement of hard beds, harder ''chuck'
and hardest drilling was an experience
well calculated to dampen the most pa
triotic ardor. The drills-before break
fast, after breakfast, in the forenoon. in
the afternoon, guard mountings, dress
parades, drills, drills, drills. Drills in
front of aem, drills behind them, drills
to the ri2* of them, drills to the left of
them. dr1 ID the 700. BY squads, by
sections. by companies and by battalions,
by heavens they drill till the muscles
weary and the spirits drop. But the
superb results of it all are daily mani
tested by a more proficient bearing. No
ebay feet mar the superb alignment
after executing fright front into line"
''on right into line" company right
turn" etc. The splendid work attests
pride and enthusiasm on the part of the
privates and studious application to the
manuals by the officers. Some have
+ IN actual service on the field in this or
her countries, but these previously ex-
rienced ones are in a HOPELESS minority.
The Various Companies.
The companies at present quartered
in Whipple Barracks were recruited in
Albuquerque. Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Las
Cruces, Phoenix, Prescott and Tucson.
Officers, men and hospital corps will
number about 500 souls. The remain
ing companies belonging to the regi-
ment are quartered at Fort Reno, Okla,
and will unite with the Whipple Bar
racks contingent at San Francisco.
Whipple Barracks.
Whipple Barracks are located within
one mile of the city of Prescott, almost
in the center of Arizona. 1t is a ten
company fort go men to the company
and arranged to accommodate two cav
airy and eight infantry companies. At
present the barracks have the appear
ance of being o~vercrowded by the seven
companies stationed here. The parade
ground is scarcely large enough to &C
commodate the line of soldiers during
dress parade. The altitude is about
5000 feet above sea level. The bar
racks are located IN a large plateau
which is surrounded on all sides by
small hills. The buildings are in a
fairly good state of preservation. Whip
pie is within easy striking distance of
Pacific coast points.
Historical Features.
The revived old fort is fairly bur-
dened with "reminiscences of frontier
days and Indian warfare, and is tableted
with signs of stirring history which
edify and thrill the stranger. On the
west side of the parade grounds is the
old stone guard house in front of which
guards were picked off by Indians lurk-
ing in the hills. Sentry boxes still bear
the bullet holes which were formed BY
lcaden messengers of death, and here
and there spots are designated where
the life blood of gallant defenders of old
glory oozed forth and dyed the hot
sands. 1t was near here that frequent
and fierce battles took place with the
Apaches. Navajoes and other warlike
tribes. No wilder and more desolate
country a be imagined than this
trackless waste of sand hills and river
threaded PLAIN, desert-like in character.
1t once swarmed with ruthless red
tiends, but the intrepid and hardy blue
coats called them to account for numer-
ons crimes and drove the remnant of
the murderous bands to their reserva-
tons
Tout Ensemble,
But to return to camp life. As a
whole the men present a singular APP
p%earance, which can only be accounted
for by one who can explain the vagaries
of American character. Nothing but
patriotic impulse could form such a con-
glomeration of tastes, minds and pecu-
liarities. The dress of the troops Is a
parody on uniformity. Knowing the
utter futility of a~rraying themselves in
good clothes. a majority Of the men came
adorned in ''any old thing" 1t is not
uncommon to see a person dressed in a
frock coat and derby hat, sandwiched
between one whose costume betrays the
cowboy, and another whose natty uni
form proclaims the university scholar.
Whole companies are seen with no coats
whatever and the appearance of some
causes n to instinctively grasp his
pocketbook, and wonder if the fellow.will
ask for a handout. Every type and con-
dition of life are found, from the city
swell whose "long suit" is social or club
life, to the innocent farmerl lad who sees
in Prescott a veritable metropolis. The
few ~"knapsack ducks" or former serv-
itors under Uncle Sam are easily distin-
guished from the recent acquisitions by
their upright carriage and puntilious
observance of military etiquette. With
the a~lacrity of a lightning stroke they
spring to attention on the approach of
an officer and salute with a grace that
puts to shame the most charming obeis-
ance Of a polished ball room idol. A
majority of these men are non-com-
missioned officers and the captains have
in them models of correct department
combined with military skill-living les
sons of etiquette for the new recruits.
Camp Cookery.
II motharS oould coo thar hovs IL, tbo