The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-10

yesterday. There b in this city an OF
scs for the express purpose Of mastering
and examining applicants for enlistment
In shs army. II would have been an easy
matter for shs authorities TO have sub
jsctsd ali Of the guardsmen from west OK
shs mountains TO q physical examinasson
az severe AZ was required at Camp Rog-
sss, before they had left their various
places OF employment and spent nearly
two weeks OF their time In camp at South
Tacoma In many instances farmer lads
had sosd out their small ranches. en-
tiresv c.assng Up their business AFFAIRS
at ssome, IA the expectation that the re-
ausresuents OF q National Guardsman
would be amply sufficient for the volun-
seer service. Their rejection In especially
hard on this ciass OF men. ~ they had
every reason to believe that the present
year would De a most prosperous one. and
had they not been practically assured OF
an opportunity to serve their country.
the chance OF being turned down by the
regular army officials.
Mention might be made Of young Sc
attic guardsman who has served for six
years as a member OF the guard, and By
faithful work. active service and strict
attention TO business had become one Of
the most valuable and proficient men In
the First regiment. although only attain
Ing the rank OF corporal, and who had
in the last two years received two medals
for Workmanship N target practice. He
was thrown out by DIR. Phillips for .
trifiing defect In his ief. eye. His right
eye was fully up to the standard. yet a
little near-sigltedness was detected In the
left eye and he was rejected BY using
both eyes his vision was as good as that
of the examining surgeon himself.
Another case occurs TO me that is d.
rectiy In point. that Of the quartermaster
sergeant Of Company b. He Is one OF the
mos; enthusiastic and loyal members OF
the company and has for years devoted
much Of his time 20 the guard. If consid-
cradle sacrifice 20 himself. and who just
prior to the departure OF the companies
for Camp Rogers worked for days and
nights In getting the company's equipment
in presentable shape. His iabors cost him
needed sleep and all opportunity for recre-
alton. and ordinarily he 3 as hearty and
wiry a man as there is In the company.
He fell just a pound below the require
ments Of weight and was rejected without
chance 10 make his application good.
eral pounds in excess Of the required 40
pounds.
story Of Sergeant.
Another striking case Is that OF a
service stripes earned by arduous work
and faithful performance of his duties
At the time OF the fishery troubles on the
Columbia river. The young man In ques-
ton for ninety odd days performed nigh.
duty on this occasion. sleeping in his tent
but one night out OF five. and thereby
proved himself capable OF the most severe
and trying exposure. The objection TO
him was tina. he was three pounds under
weight. Other men were taken who were
not up to the requirements, however"
One OF the men who fell below the re-
quiremsn,s said yesterday that 1t was gea-
orally understood among all OF the mi
litiamen that the physical examination
through which they had passed before be-
ing mustered into the National Guare was
all that would be required Of them: that.
IN fact. they would be mustered In at
Camp Rogers as a company and not as
individuals.
Another guardsnan, 30 whose eyeslght
Dr. Phillips took positive exception. ex-
plalned his failure by saying that he had
been up all night on guard duty and had
just come of watch when summoned 10
take his place In the physicians tent. His
eyes. ha said. we're heavy and duh from
loss of sleep, and because OF the fact that
with one eye he could net distinguish le:-
ters Il quarter III an inch in size at a dis
tancs of twenty feet he was thrown out.
There Is brighter side 10 the picture
than This. however. II IS found In the Joy
Gus welcome received a. home by more
than The ma iority OF the returned guards
men. Then there Is the compensation that
Genes with the reflection that service In
Manila may be made more arduous and
trying on aecoun; Of the change in climate
and IN combating the disorders incident to
tropical country than In doing glorious
hattie with the SpanIsrds. II wanted 10
fght the Spanish" said one of those who
failed. mot Is go 70 Manila ard light
thu cholera or smallpox. Anyway. the
war wifi be over as soon as Sampson
sends Algoaso's squadron IN the Atlantic
10 join his late ships In The PhlIEup.nes.
50 I'm no. so sorry after an.'