The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-18
BOUND FOR
The BRINY.
First Letter From the State
Journals Correspondent
Bound For the Philippines With
Col. Little'S Command.
THE 10Th REGIMENT
Stalled in Trego County by the
Engines Breakdown.
How the Boys in Blue Pass the
Time Away.

| (From the State Journals Staff Core
| Spondent)
! On board the Kansas Twentieth Reg
| iment's Special Train at Cheyenne
! Wells, Colo, May 1.-THE Twentieth
Kansas volunteers left Topeka with
| flags and handkerchiefs waving at $50
Monday evening When the trains re-
| ally started those on board bound for
the Philippines felt mingled emotions of
| sorrow at leaving their friends and rel
atives for such long journey. and ex-
ultation over the fact that they were
the vanguard of an army of invasion
into the faraway Asian islands.
The first excitement out of Topeka
for the troops on the first section I'M
der Major Whitman was a breakdown
of the engine at Collyer, Trego county,
Kansas.
When the troops awoke in the grey
dawn of the early morning the train
was at a standstill on a bit of wind
beaten prairie, and there it stood for
two hours with the rear coach across
the switch and no trains were able to
pass.
Finally, about z o'clock, repairs were
made and the train pulled out for the
west.
The captains and lesser officers were
the comforts that the limited larder
would allow.
Breakfast twas served at Grain
field aboard train). The rations issued
to each three men were: Three big
spoonfuIs of beans-Boston baked-a
handful of crackers and three spoon
fuls of corned beef. Arrangements had
been made for hot coffee at Cheyenne
Wells to wash the meal down, but ow-
iTlc fn h0 h11G1a lido of hn (a0f
fee was a minus article.
But there was no complaint coming
and everyone seemed to have their
minds made up to take things as they
came.
The officers Jared perhaps a little bet
ter than the men owing to the fact that
they had supplied their locker before
leaving Topeka.
At Grainfield the second section hove
in sight and at this writing is following
closely.
Good hunks were furnished the boys
with clean heavy blankets and the col
ored porter under a jocose yelled threat
of a blanket tossing did noble and
rapid service in getting the beds ready.
At every stop some eager fun loving
boys roll off the train and take pot
shot at a fleeing jack rabbit for the
prairies are fairly alive with them. The
sportsmen receive the taunts or cheers
of the watchers as their markSmen-
ship is successful or otherwise.
Occasionally gaunt coyote would be
seen sneaking away from the track, it's
yellow body so much in harmony with
the dark brown grass that fusillade of
shots fall harmlessly around and over
it.
There is not as many people to greet
the passing trains in this short grass
country as along the Kaw, but the
patriotism displayed is just as intense
and indeed partakes of a pathetic ma
ture. The cheers come from little
group of section men with a spade or
pick for f1ag-from a passing NOV
ing wagon where a dozen towsy head
ed children peep forth from hooks and
pipe out shrill cheers; again from lit
tie sod house or typical rancher's
abode a mother and her little brood
wave a tattered flag and send a god
speed to the passing regiment.
E. w. ELLIS.