The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-22
PAY DAY COMES.
$4,000 Distributed Among
Kansas Boys at Camp Merritt.
Lieutenant Callahan Receives
an Elegant Sword.
ALL ANXIOUS TO SAIL.
Camp Life is Growing TiresOme
to the Volunteers.
OrVille Knight Buried With
Military HonOrs.

[From the State Journal Special Cor
respondent
San Francisco, June II.
At last pay day has arrived and all
this forenoon the companies have been
marching up the line in front of the
paymaster's tent drawing their two
months pay. 1t was a glorious sight.
These pay days are a great thing for
the people of San Francisco. Kansas
alone gets over 100000 nearly every
cent of which will be spent in this city.
A telegram reached here yesterday
to the effect that Col. Funston would
reach here Saturday and at once as
sumo active command.
Lieutenant Callahan today received
an elegant sword from Junction City
admirers. 1t is valued at $50 and is
beautiful piece of workmanship.
The Topeka company has hired two
cooks, now paying them SO each
month, pro rata. This they receive in
addition to their salary as soldiers.
They are Payne and Willets.
Col. Little was ordered to dispose of
his horse tomorrow as it could not be
taken to the Philippines.
Life at the camp is not so tiresome.
There is much to vary the monotony
but q, spirit of unrest pervades the vol
urteers and all are anxious to get
away
Everyone expects to be sea sick and
is searching high and low for infalible
remedies. But there seems to be but
one remedy and that is for the thing
to come and go.
Brigadier General Charles King is
a familiar figure around camp now. He
called at Kansas headquarters today,
two or three kodak fiendS catching
snap shots of him.
One of the busiest men in camp now
is Sergeant Major Dodge. Together
with making out pay rolls and keeping
up daily reports ne has world of grief
on his hands.
A late order that has gone forth is
that every private must wash his feet
once a day and keep his rife well clean
ed up. 1t is an idea of the department
that under these circumstances a SOL
der can put up a good fight.
ate dinner today with Captain
Buchan's company Each man had a
half loaf of bread, couple of potatoes,
a chunk of fat meat with gravy and
coffee At supper a really good piece
of fried pork steak. one boiled potato
with Jacket on, gravy, bread and cof-
fee was served. Clad Hamilton was
carving and eating a small section of
pie he had purchased from vendor
very cOntentedly with his knife but
requested that his friends at home not
know it. Hot waffle men and dealers
in candy, pop corn and fruit haunt
the edges of the camps and sell their
wares very reasonable
They are receiving an ovation around
this camp this evening. Guards will be
doubled and few passes will be allowed,
but all the boys are talking of going
to the city to blow themselves.
A letter of advice was issued from
headquarters today notifying the men
that they could be paid in cash or gov
eminent checks, which they pleased;
that the government checks could be
sent home to their folks: or that the
men could deposit with officers for safe
keeping. The circular further stated
that: we were perhaps soon to go to
distant and foreign land and it would,
perhaps, be a long time until pay day
again. 1t urged the men to be care
full
When Col. Little was absent from
hung a bunch of white cherries with
kind regards. They were a solid bunch,
probably a foot long and wonderfully
large An unofficial note of thanks was
returned.
The body of Albert Fergus was re-
turned today in zinc coffin by express
to Yates Center, his Kansas home.
Corporal Elder of Company K re-
ceived a paper today from Chicago
from a lady friend. This was the in
scription:
please take this paper Uncle Sammy,
Where California skies are balmy;
Where San Francisco swells in pride,
And the Twentieth Kansas doth abide.
This package rush to Company K,
Or if they've gone to knock 'em silly,
Please forward it to old Manila"
The postal clerk added:
Twill give me pleasure this to do,
Friend of the corporal, brave and true.
Be you sister, sweetheart, pap or