The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-11-16
co. | MUSTERED OUT
Soldier Boys Glad 20 Exchange Their Uni
forms for Citizens Togs.
MUSTER OUT OFFICERS oHEERED.

The appearance Of Lieutenant Conrad,
Of the Third United States Cavalry. ae-
companied by three clerks, was the signal
for an outburst Of applause on the part of
sixty or more members of Compsny l
who congregated at the railroad station
last Thursday morning for the purpose
OF seeing whether the Lieutenant had se-
tuslly kept the appointment telephoned
from Johnstown.
The soldier boys followed the muster
out party to the Hotel Vanuear where
they gave three lusty cheers, thus mani
Testing their delight at the prospect Of
being speedily retired TO citizenship.
After spending five weeks in Somerset
without employment of any kind, save
answering roll call at 9 a. IN. aud p. m,
a majority of the members of Company l
were heartily disguised with their lot
Every day. in fact almost every hour
during the preceding three weeks, had
been filed with rnmors concerning the
coming of the muster out officers. but all
Of them lacked confirmation until Lieu
tenant Conrad telephoned from Johns
town that be would arrive here on the
Thursday morning train.
Lieutenant Conrad and his clerks de-
voted the afternoon to examining aud
correcting the rolls and seeing that the
discharge papers we're all in proper
form.
Major Washington Haverstick, of the
United States Army, who had been de-
tailed to supervise the muster out of four
Companies of the Fifth arrived on the
$40 train, and Joined Lieutenant Conrad
at his hotel. A big, black, iron-strapped
box arrived on the same train, and when
STATION agent Bowman learned that it
contained So. 900 in crisp currency, and
that he would be responsible for its safe
keeping until the following morning he
asked Major Haverstick to receipt for it
and take it with him TO his hotel The
Major declined to assume the Express
Company's liability aud Agent Bowman
was forced TO ask the officers of the First
National Bank for permission TO place
the box and its contents in their vault for
safe keeping over night. This secured
Lieutenant Eek detailed corporal and
guard Of eight men To spend the night in
the bank, in order that the treasure might
be securely guarded until the paymaster
was ready TO pay the $4,000 or 5000 COM
ing TO the memb bers Of his company.
At nine o'clock Friday morning the
members of Company l fell in line on
Main Cross Street, where they were de-
tailed in squads OF six to visit the third
floor room in the John ii. Uhl building,
where the paymaster was waiting 10 cash
them off. After each man had received
the amount coming 10 him he was handed
his discharge papers by Major Haver-
stick. It required less than one hours
time TO pay of all of those present.
The soldier boys who live in the south
Of the county took the 10 o'clock train for
home, while those who remained in Som
erset, with few exceptions, visited cloth
ing stores and boot and shoe establish
ments where they invested portion of
their wages in new ''togs."
Later in the day the muster out officers
visited the homes Of one or two members
of Company l, including the home Of
Captain Kooser, aud mustered out those
who were unable by reason of sickness TO
be present at the general headquarters
The muster out officers went from here
to Johnstown, where they mustered ont
Company II, the same afternoon.
During their enforcedstay in Somerset
the members Of Company / conducted
themselves in manner that firmly con-
vinced the public that they are body of
gentlemen and are in every way worthy
of the praise that has been 50 literally be-
slowed upon them.