The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-05
mo NEAKLNG TAKEN
Uncle Sam is as Strict as Life
Insurance.
HOW HE GOES ABOUT IT
With an Eye on the Pension
List of the Future.

Guthr1e. o. T.. May l-(SpeciaI y
Uncle Sam doubtless appreciates rns pat
rioCsm that actuates the youth of me
country IN their anxiety to enlist 70 dght
against Spain, but the civil war laugh,
him lesson which is now bearing frui,
in the shape Of pension roll which Is
che wonder and establishment of the CIV
ti=ed world. To engage in the mix-up
with Spain a man must have some quail
hcauons other than simply to exhibit n :
patriotism. and II no is accepted into the
service IL Is safe to predict that he Will
not De sent TO the hospital after the frs;
days march. or discharged for physical
incapacity. to turn up in later years as
an ornament 60 che pension list
The present examination which the Ok
Iahoma recruits are being subjected TO is
as severe. If not more so. than a life in
surance examination and of the hfty-nve
mon who had been examined up to noon
today but twenty ght met all the re-
! quirements and were accepted for the SER
vice by Lieutenant Capron, the recruiting
oficer. The lieutenant is attached to rhe
| Seventh cavalry. Clusters famous regj-
ment, and he is che ideal of the cavalry
man, with his broad shoulders and hips,
narrow waist. clear. piercing blue eyes
and blonds mustache.
| When the recruits were lined I'D on
parade last evening Dor Lieutenant Ca
pron's inspection, no was rather disaD-
pointed in the material presented.
They are too young and too light" he
said.
Just then Jake sweitzer passed the
group aud the lieutenant remarked:
Now there's the kind of men we want
men with broad shoulders and hips and
of sturdy build
The rapidly with which the recruits
were rejected this morning attested the
correctness Of the leutenant's casual in
spection last evening. The rejected ones
were mostly city boys, though. and the
principal reason for their turning down
was the cigarette habit
When It came the turn Of the country
boys TO submit to examination the lieu
tenants face frightened, as with critical
eye he viewed their solid muscles. clear
white skins, bright eyes and complexion
and broad expanse of shoulders and chest.
Especially pleasing to the recruiting Off
Ger was the sight presented by a young
indian, William Pollock by name, and a
sergeant in the Pawnee company. When
stripped for the examination the Indian
looked for all the world Ike a piece of
animated bronze statuary, perfect in
every detail.
The rig1dity OF the examination was an
unpleasant surprise TO che recruits and
many of those VINO came here with their
fathers and political influence to secure
a commission were Afterwards using the
same influence to be received as privates
But Lieutenant Capron in his kindly way
explained that the regulations are mex
orable and. deeply as he regretted to DIS
appoint the boys he was obliged TO follow
his Instructions to the letter
Many otherwise splendid specimens OF
young and robust manhood were rejected
because Of varicose veins, which, the lieu
tenant explained. were liable 20 burst
at any time in the hardships OF the ser
vice and render tho soldier unfit for SER
vice.
The examination IS being held under the
direct supervision of Lieutenant Capron
and three surgeons. DIR. Harry Walker
OF Oklahoma City. and Doctors Barker
and Cottersl Of Guthrie. pass upon the
physical qualifications OF tho candidates
The canGdaee Is called into the room
one at time and stripped 10 his inner
most Undertaking. Lieutenant Capron
asks him a series of questions concerning
his past occupation, general health etc,
and If the cursory inspection is sausfac-
tory ne is ordered to disrobs entirely. AS
naked as when he first opened has eyes in
this world the candidate steps upon rhs
scales TO be weighed. Then ne is stood
up against the wall and his height meas-
ured and eyesight tested. The latter con
sists In being able to distinguish letters
Of the alphabet at q distance Of twenty
feet Next the candidates lung expansion
is tested and heart action carefully noted
All the time the surgeons are thus en-
gagged Lieutenant Capron IS looking over
the prospective soldier from al points Of
view, feeling his limbs for fmperfections
just as though he were sizing up a horse.
II accepted al the end OF this examina-
ton The candidate dons his clothes and I
for the next Ave minutes IS engaged with /
an orderly sergeant IN answering series /
OF printed questions which are prop3ursd- /
ed under the regulations.
The recruits for the nrst body Of SOL /
derry that Oklahoma has the honor 70 /
send TO the front for actual duty were
given a rouslng ovation last night a. ehe +
PythlAn hall The place was crowded u 4
the doors by sso O'Clock and The cheering I
grew uproarious when the FIRST regiment /
band began pulling OF patriotic airs. A. 4
8 Is O'Clock the soldiers "f>.i y" al Camp !
Steele and marched 70 tie halls Despite /
the rain a go0dsy number OF ladies' were
present. Patriotism was a. white hest