The Portland daily press., 1898-04-28

They Are Ready for Business and Will Go
to Augusta on Monday With Full
Ranks-some of the Scenes at the
Armory Last Night.
There was suppressed air Of excite
lnent at the Armory last night, where
every company room was crowded with
men discussing the situation and making
arrangements for going into camp on
Monday. Out in the big drill shed the
signal corps was at work and wig -wag
flags were waving in each corner of the
big hall. Lieut. Butler who commands
the signal corps has twenty men ready
for business, four new recruits having
been recently mustered in to take the
places of those who refused to sign an
agreement to volunteer into the regular
service. The signal corps of Maine,
thanks to the efforts of Lieut.. Butler,
is an organization which the national
guard has good reason to be proud of.
The men are very proficient in flag
signalling and can do good work at night.
They lave had considerable experience
with the Photograph and telegraph. and
with few weeks of active service would
give good account of themselves.
Last night the Armory was well filled
with spectators who assembled to watch
the drill. 1t certainly is. a most interest
ing one to witness. In the four corners
of the hall were squads of men wig
wagging messages to one another under
the direction Of sergeant or corporal.
In the center of the hall was placed
signal lantern which was being operated
by two men while the squad at the other
end of the drill shed were engaged in
translating the message which was being
sent by means of the red lantern. The
signal men all wear campaign dress
and look very business like and as if they
were ready for any amount of hard work.
Lieut.. Butler is worrying great deal
at present because he fears that the signal
corps may not have chance to see any
service. The call for volunteers did not
mention the signal corps, nor were the
signal corps mentioned in the call from
any of the states. Lieut.. Butler fears
that his corps may not have chance to
go to the front with the infantry and he
is very much disturbed by the prospect.
All of his men are ready for service and
only want chance to show what they
can do.
Up in the company rooms of the Armo-
ry the kmen were all eagerly talking over
the chance for service and great deal of
enthusiasm. was manifested by them at
the prospect Of going into camp on Mon
day. The company officers have welded
out those members of their companies
who do not intend to enlist in the volun-
teer forces when they reach Augusta, have
eliminated those who have families and
who do not want to go and also those
who are physically disqualified. The COM
panies are recruited up to their full limit
and while there are many new men they
are all good ones and will be just as good
soldiers in few weeks of active camp life
as those who have been eliminated. All
Of the company officers in Portland have
been obliged to work hard to get,,their
companies into shape and some of them
have had their lives made miserable dur
ing the past. week by the over anxious
parents and employers who have not
looked favorably upon the idea of having
their sons or workmen go to the front at
this time.
The companies have secured cooks,
shoemakers, BARRIERS and carpenters, ac-
cording to the orders Of the Adjutant
General and on Saturday night will be-
gin to pack up ready for business.
The plan now is for the High School
Cadets and sand to escort the Port
land companies to the depot Tuesday
about half past one O'Clock.
The companies will be in heavy march
ing order and each man will carry those
articles which the regulation provide that
he shall carry and nothing more. The
company cooks will go to Augusta on
Sunday and have things ready for the
men when they get into camp.
The companies on arriving at Augusta
WILL march at once to camp where the
tents will be all ready for them. In each
tent there will be stove and the men
will be as comfortable and we'll cared for
as they would be at home. Maine is to
put into the field aregiment 1900 strong
which will do credit to the state and it
will be composed of rugged healthy
young men who know what is expected
OF them and who will be ready for any.
thing.
HE Is WELL QUALIFIED TO SERVE.