The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-25
State Journals Correspondent
With the goth Volunteers
Describes the Last Portion of
It's Trip.
TO THE PACIFIC COAST
How the Soldiers We're Royalty
Received.
They Are Being Fitted With
Canvas Suits.
From the State Journals Special cor
respondent

EFrom the State Journals Special cor
respondent
San Francisco, May 81.
The Kansas troops, at this writing
are safely encamped on strip of sandy
beach known as Bay District track.
about three miles from the heart of the
city.
The weather today is foggy and damp
and an odd citizen" tells me that at the
boys camp the same thing may be ex-
pected 365 days in the year.
But the soil is dry and sandy and
vast Improvement over Camp Leedy
Canvas suits will probably be issued
and daily drill of the most rapid and
severe kind given the men.
The dash across California over the
Central Pacific can be Hkened to a fri
umphal returning home of a victorious
army.
In the early morning the various sec
lions of trains, each drawn by two
giant mogul engines, began climbing
the Sierra Nevada range over 1000 feet
to summit Gradually the pines grew
larger. the air chillier
Everywhere around US on the higher
mountain ranges was snow.
Immediately on leaving the summit
the train plunged into a series of snow
sheds of &c miles continued duration
an q ~" Al W al u S4Op0 OI many 1eoC 10
the mile.
1t made view of the passing scene
~ an impOssibility save where an oc-
casional board was knocked from the
sheds.
In these fitting glances a bit of a
mountain lake or passing log camp
was caught Every window in the car
was smut down and doors kept closed.
A special fire engine and department is
located in the tunnel with complete
system and alarm boxes at frequent
At the mouth of the sheds the train
dashed into sunlight and another cline
Great lumber camps with thousands
OF feet of freshly sawed boards were
piled about and hardy woodmen gave
us shouts.
A little lower down a gold camp with
upturned gravel beds of reddish soil
and great sluice bitches was a source
of wonder. The miners cheered the
passing coats of blue" as heartily as
the lumbermen.
These piney woods are conducive to
patriotism And now the train passed
INTO the great northern citrus belt
ana almost in an instant's change came
orange and lemon orchards, healthy
vineyards,an miles and miles of peach
apricot and cherry farms The latter
trees were loaded and the red and black
fruit, swinging SO temptingly nigh,
nearly caused a stampede among the
troops at stopping points which only
the strongest discipline by the officers
prevented.
Three days and nights on bareback
and corned beef-Mother Eve stole an
apple with lesser excuse.
From this point clear through the
rose belt" beyond Sacramento many
garlandS gay. No matter if he were
unkempt and unshorn, or that his shoes |
were cracked and worn with days of
constant contact with Camp Leedy
mud.
His travel-stained appearances was
forgotten
The crowds of hundreds of pretty |
girls and aged men at each station, |
only the uniform of blue knew that |
each trooper was giving his all for his |
country's flag and flowers and fruit |
were showered upon the passing regi- |
ment with unstinted hands.
Rosebushes and orchards were robbed |
OF their products and made more prec-
lous by hearty God bless you boys" |
Bands met the train and the girls be- |
sieged the boys to write their address
In prepared books or to give them a |
praSs button enSouvenir.
Out of the flower and fruit belt west |
OF Sacramento and into the wheat belt |
rushed the train.
Oats were being cut and clear down |
10 the bay was one long grain field
For 80 miles the Central Pacific track
ferry.
Queer little fishing smacks with dinev
sans scudded to and fro Little three
mast schooners backed out from long
eAtenued piers and went sailing away
on their missions and tiny sail boats |
WI Tltn pleasure seekers drifted idly by to |
NiIS Wohderment of the prairie boys
Cnce Lar down the coast line the |
smoke OF gigantic steamer was seen
oraInng across the waters and it brought |
oo Cheer- The boys We're thinking of |
o,oVo miles of sea voyage and Manila
a. oakland the train ran on the pier
81 81 vas transferred to mammoth |
a. y, 9oa1, the largest in the world. if
o Inc regular passenger train