The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-29

companies were Crowded With
Friends of the Boys Who Will
Soon BE Starting for the Front
Get Along Well.
Wars stern call to duty sounded in
the armory early last night, and as the
bugler's shrll notes Of Assembly died
away, fine-looking men formed into
squads and prepared for an evening
of hard work. They were recruits and
were as we'll appearing a set Of men
as ever applied at the armory for ad-
mittance to the crack company of the
Minnesota state guard.
The armcry was in state Of turmoil.
Excitement was at fever heat. After
the building was filed to suffocation
with visitors, crowds Surged around the
door applying for admittance, until it
was necessary to place a guard at the
entrance to prevent a crush.
Although 1t was Company D night
the rooms of the other companies were
crowded with militiamen who wore an
air of intense expectancy. Some were
busy strapping up their blankets and
getting ready their equipment for this
mornings march to the fair grounds.
Officers, in groups of four or five, de-
bated among themselves over the prob
able date of their departure for the
seat Of war.
Col. Bobleter could have marched
from the armOry last night with a for
midable array Of soldier boys, if an
order had been received.
Every enc appeared in the best Spir-
its. The pianos in the company rooms
were all kept going, and the old struc-
ture resounded with patriotic songs
and desultory cheers.
Lined around the big drill room were
hundreds of men, women and boys,
who watched the maneuvers of the re-
cruits with absorbing interest, and
loudly appiauded the boys as they
wheeled around in surprising good
form, considering their short training.
There were seven squads on the pol
1shded floor, commanded as follows: A
squad of nine men in charge Of Sergt.
kahlert, seven men under Corp. Kirch
eight men under Corp. DAYTON, eight
men under Private Downs, ten men
under Corp. Krembs, ten men under
Private Bach. Second Lieut.. Tenn
brood was in charge of a squad of six
teen men in the company rooms up
stairs.
The squads marched and counter
marched They wheeled and right
wheeled, and went through all of the
foot movements. They were all new
men, but manifested their interest in
the work, and showed an aptness that
pleased their officers
After an hour of squad work "as-
sembly" was blown and the men form
ed into company formation, four sets
of tours, double rank. Capt Metz took
command and as he strobe out into
the center of the auditorium he was
greeted by vigorous applause. Lieuls
Merrill and Tennbrood served in their
respective positions.
Maj. Bean was out to watch the re-
cruits of his old company, and ex-
pressed his pleasure at the showing
made by the new boys.
Why" said he, sit locks as if the
company will still be the crack organi-
cation on the field of battle as well as
on the parade grounds at Lake City,
Capt. Metz gave the command;
Right forward tours right" and the
recruit company started out on it's first
company march. They marched around
the hall in almost perfect time, and as
they wheeled to the command of
"Fours right the hundreds assembled
broke out into generous applause, for
the movement was executed finely
An hour CT hard drilling told upon
both the men and officers, and when
the command to fall out was given a
number of the privates threw them
selves on the hard floor, content to Law
there and discuss the war news rather
than to do their chatting standing up
Very few of the men wore uniforms.
and the majority Of them drilled in
their street cloths. Their appearance
was not so martial as it would have
been had they been attired in the
regulation blue blouse and trousers
Such military unconventionalities as
the appearance of white fedora in
line next to derby, and a pair of glar-
ing striped trousers alongside pair
of bicycle knickerbockers, did not effect
the enthusiastic reception accorded the
recruits by the assemblage. Each man
seemed to have had a friend or two
in the crowd who gave him the glad
hand"
Although every one seemed happy,
there was a vein of seriousness be-
meath the outward manifestations Of
merriment. All appreciated the fact
that they were attending rehearsal Of
company Of men who were going to
what may be death. They were to
face the grim reaper for their country s
sake, to risk their lives to uphold the
honor of Old Glory.
There were no jokes uttered at the
few breaks made by the recruits during
the drill, no jeers at some badly rat
tied soldier who wheeled to the right
when he should have wheeled to the
left. Even Young America, who was
d. CliC u. HlOlS III SlIOlS lOICS, Hdu llO
criticism to offer, for he sympathized
with the boys who were doing their
best to prepare themselves to do bat
| tie with the Dons.
Capt Metz, after the drill was fin
| ished, said to circle of friends:
Chose boys did nobly tonight. I
was surprised at the unity Of their
execution Of the commands, and it will
not take long to put them into first
| class shape"
The company rooms presented busy
| appearance all last night. On the floors
were stacked the blanket rolls of each
| private, and the men were busy clean
| ing up their accouterments. Up to a
| late hour the armory was crowded with
| guardsmen.
SONS OF VETERANS.