The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-17
Take Notice, That the First
Troops Sent to the Front
Are Sent From the State of
Kansas, of Course.
ARTILLERY STARTED
From Fort Riley Last Night
Many Hours Late.
Scheduled to Leave at 6 But
Delayed Till 10.
SAD SCENES AT DEPOT.
Weeping Wives and Sweethearts
Are Left Behind.
Description of Departure B!
Journals staff Correspondent
From the State Journals staff Cores
pOndent.1

from the State Journals Staff Cores
pondent1
Fort Riley, March 17-At 10 O'Clock
last night the special train carrying two
batteries of the United States artillery,
ordered to Jackson Barracks and Fort
Oglethorpe Savannah, Ga-), pulled out
from the depot. The band played the
national hymn, while three cheers and
a tiger for the departing regulars ech-
oed above the sound of the music from
the 500 people around the depot.
After a delay of almost a day, the
Union Pacific succeeded in starting the
train, which was made UP of "a cars.
Eight fiat cars were occupied by the
guns; six cars by the horses; four tour
ist sleepers by the men; one Pullman
by the officers, while five box cars were
filed with stores.
This made total Of $50 men; 10
horses, So TO each battery, and u guns
and caissons
It was mixed train and made slow
two engines, and even this amount OF
power experienced some difficulty in
pulling the train handily.
This morning additional cars arrived
for the battery which leaves today for
Fortress Monroe. The loading COM
menced early and the start was made
about noon, completing the departure
OF the first troops for the front In this
Kansas leads, as these are the first
troops moving toward the seat of war
from any military post in the United
States.
After the train departed last night,
men and women stood upon the plat
form, gazing absently down the track,
as though half expecting the train to
return, but, in reality, wondering when,
if ever, they should again see their de-
parting friends.
The biggest crowd of men, desperate
" swearing mad, seen in Kansas in
many years, were those comprising the
artillery post at Fort Riley yesterday
The men were so mad they walked aim
leSsly to and fro, kicking at clOds and
swearing at everything and every body
in sight. The anger of the officers was
at such a pitch that the principal part
of their thoughts was expressed by
fierce gesticuIatiOns. This unusual con
ditiOn was due to the delay Of the rail-
road in furnishing cars to transport the
artillery south. The cars were sched-
uled 10 arrive from Kansas City at
noon, but they did not One o'clock
came, and no cars. Two o'clock came.
and the situation was unchanged As
time wore on, the suspense increased.
The crowds of people collected to wit
ness the boarding and departure Of the
batteries, moved uneasily about the de-
pot. At o'clock the wagons, loaded
with stores and equipment, were driven
from the stables to the point where the
cars were expected TO be placed. The
artillerymen hitched their four horse
teams to the guns and caissons and
waited-sOme of them until O'Clock be
fore being able to begin loading.
At o'clock the train of empty cars
arrived
Capt. Reilly and Capt. Baxter. quar-
termaster, made a run to the train, and
after a hurried inspection, discovered
that two PuIlmans, ordered for the Off
GERS, were not there. The company had
sent but one
ton, the artillerymen gave a rOusing
cheer. which started their wives and
sweethearts to crying
The engine puned and snorted while
a nervous conductor tried to explain the
delay. A veteran captain, standing on
the platform, looked him over carefully
and with sarcastic emphasis. said;
Were not surprised; the blank rail-
roads are just continuing the nuisance
they became years ago. Wish the gov
eminent was bossing you fellows
That's the stuff" echoed two dozen
cavalry and artillery officers and citi-
zenS standing near
The plan to start Capt. Taylor first
TO Fortress Monroe was changed at >
Barracks, with Company B of the 4th,
and Capt. Anderson with Company F
of the 5th to Fort Oglethorpe. Savan- /
nah Ga, were ordered to proceed for /
ward first.
The site of Fort Riley IS on an emil /
nence considerably above the level Of the +
7 d
intervenes between that point and the /
store houses and commits
sarv department, which are connected I
by a switch A fOur-wheeled engine +
made a heroic attempt to push the I
empty cars up the grade, but couldn't
The train stuck on the incline and the
red-striped uniforms of the artillery Of
hcers were soon mingling among the
crowd. the owners thereof bluing the air
with imprecations. The train was cut, |
and another three-quarters of an hour
was spent overcoming the difficulty
The Impotence Of the regulars in |
creased every moment now and the en-
tire garrison was agog. All citizens /
were ordered off the artillery post |
where the men were waiting for orders
to move. An old man driving a
white mule, enforced this order and the
kept out of his way.
Finally, about 4 o'clock the cars were
pushed up the hill. The six fat cars,
for the guns and caissOns were stop
ped in the coal sheds. which consist of
a long stone building, with the track !
through the center. The six Arms |
Palace horse cars were set in alongside |
the platform of the cOmmissary build /
ing. while the u box cars for the stores
and equipment were left at the bottom
Of the hill
As the clock on the administration
building ehimed 4:30 o'clock, the work
Of loading begun.
The drivers. or driers, who handle the
horses of the battery, Strengthened up
in their saddles; the teauSters who had |
been doing on top of their wagons.