Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1898-05-27
VOLUME NXXII.
From the Front.
FoRT ID. a. RUSSELL, Wyoming
MAY 10, 1898.

Editor ISDEPESDENT:-We are now
stationed at Fort ID. A. Russell
Wyoming. about three miles west Of
Cheyenne. There are ten troops Of
us, in all about 500 soldiers, md the
old fort presents quite lively ap-
pearance. Fort Russell is certainly
quite place and all the boys are
rather attached to it, principally be-
cause Of its many Accommodations,
such as baths, billiard tables and
many different exercising machines
etc. We are drilled twice day for
an hour and aside from the police
duty, to which every private il SUBJ
ject, and an hour devoted to the
School Of soldiers" by the officers, we
are at liberty to do as we will, OF
course not being allowed to leave the
fort. So you see we are not being
killed with ovcrwork.
Our physical examination took
place on the l7tf, and every man from
Nevada, excepting one was passed.
Tho chief OF the examining ply
sicians says TINT this beats all records
known in United States military cir
clcs and he openly stated that i'll the
twenty years he has uccn in the GER
vice he had never before seen such
physical developement ns he found
i'll tile boys from Nevada. We also
have the reputation Of being the best
drilled troop in the fort. so far the
people Of Nevada need feel no shame
for the boys she sent forth TO repre-
sent her III this great struggle.
Col. Torrey has been in to see us
several times since our arrival and on
two occasions addressed us. lie is II
man such ns one seldom meets, for
there IL something abOut him that
draw ono irrcsisiabiy to him. lie is
a man You love the first time you
meet him, he il 40 pleasing in APP
pearancc aud address. Last evening
he called around To see us i'll our
quarters md our captain invited him
to address us, and it does not bcgm
to do him justice TO Say that il WIS
by far the grandest it has ever been
my privilege to listen To. As soon rs
he arose, so mili and yet 30 com.
mandiLE WAS his appearance that
dcath.likc silence prevailed, and be.
fore he had spoken fifteen minutes
every eye i'll the room was streaming
with tenrs. So you can immaciuc
better than ] can describe the pitch
TO which he had worked up his
listeners and also the beautiful words
no must have uscl in doing 40. In
closing his address he usOl these
words: "Comrads we nrc going to
the front. md we are going Ia teach
these Spanish Rous-oi.guns how to
fight. by your integrity we are 90
ing to make tho white in our nlg
whittier. BY your constancy we are
going tO make tho blue, blucr, and by
the noble blood which courses
through your veins md the help Of
Almighty God wc VII mako the rest,
already made red 10y the grand oil
patriots before, rcdder than ever"
Sogrcat wHs his emotion at these
words that he took his sent.
About o o'clock this morning we were
aligned in front Of our quarters, and
il was announced that tho mastering
officer was rendy to muster us into
the United States service. This news
was received 10y the boys with no lit.
Ito joy and in II fcw minutes the mus.
tcring officer came UP, and with our
hats of and our right hands raised to
heaven. we took the oatl and were
made United Siatcs soldiers.
hs fnr M VIC have gone, wc all agree
that soldier life ia all right. All tho
Elko boys seem to tako To il and IL
seems to agree with them, but must
any however, TINT tho biscuta we
wore given tho dny that two Elku
boys were detailed to help IN the kit
chen did not ngroc with our stomnclis
much, Tor 70 tell the truth hard tnck
was not IN II with thom. One Of our
boys ~ describing them III n letter
home said: "Ihey wore about ns
thick M pancakes and heavy mud hard
M rocka. Oh! They wcro TERRIBLE
wc will in nll probability start wost
again in about ton DAYS or go. This
wo nro glad OF. for wo would all much
rather do dmty iu Manila than in
numo fort out here Watching Indians
,,.( To- A
got tiresomU and ON account Of tho
latter being so unhealthy.
Tho government inspectors arO hay.
ing Il hard time getting suitable
horses Tor cavalry use. Wc learned
yesterday that out Of 800 examined
only Gl wcro accepted.
have now written you everything
oi tho least importance 90 will close.
AL the boya senJs regards. am
. Yours Truly
GEo. Is. RUSSELL.