Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-25
KANSAS BOYS ARE SAD.
Twentieth Regiment Sorry That 1t
Saw No Foreign Shore.

CAMP MERRITT, San Francisco, Aug.
l4.-Whatever hope was ever held by
the Twentieth Kansas Of going to the
Philippines has been succeeded by
deep and overpowering disappoint-
ment. The announcement made this
morning that the transports Scaudia
and Arizona had been held back at
the very hour Of departure and that
no more troops were to be sent to the
Philippines left no room for hope.
On Thursday the regiment had been
reused to new life by the promise
from Gen. Kings own lips that it
would be sent to Manila as soon as
transports could possibly be procured
and the disappointment is greater be-
cause Of that promise. OF course the
boys realize that peace with every
concession from Spain that the United
States demanded Is better than war,
but all are very, very anxious to 60.
Company L can boast Of some actual
service, however, even though 1t shall
never wade through blood and listen
to the music OF bullets on the CORY
field. On Friday evening just as most
Of the boys were going to bed an or
der was sent to the first battalion to
fall In under arms. In less than two
minutes from the time the order was
given, Co L was on Its way to the
parade ground where the battalion
was to assemble. Not a man knew
why he was called out, but every one
did as he was told without question
with the result that our company WAS
out Of camp before the Others had
formed. When the company reached
the street 1t was confronted by an
angry mob Of over 1000 mon who
had assembled to click" the New
York regiment out Of Its boots.
Captain Watson at once deployed his
company as skirmishers and moved
them down the road with fixed bayo-
nets, the mob giving way though with
bad grace before the sharp steel
Some were disposed TO resist and one
member Of the Iowa regiment, was
wounded in the temple with a bayo-
net. The prompt and determined
action Of Company l. broke the spirit
OF the mob and order was restored
after Captain Watson had cleared the
street.
The trouble began when several
members Of the Kansas, Iowa and
Tennessee regiments attired them
selves in masquerade costume and
set out to scare the New York guards.
They quickly grew in numbers and
some one suggested that they "clean
out the whole camp" All were will
ing and Company LIS skirmish line
was strung across the road just in
time to prevent nasty fight. Al.
though outnumbering us ten to one
the mob was unorganized and conse.
quently easily dispersed.
There has been bad blood between
the New York and other regiments
ever since the N. Us were moved
from Camp Merritt to the Preside
because as their colonel said Camp
Merritt Is not fit camping ground
for such men as these, implying that
his regiment was made OF little
finer stuff than the others. The Ten.
nesseeans are especially bitter in
their hatred OF the "swelled east
erners."
Since we moved TO our new camp
on the Preside reservation we have
been having much easier time. The
tents have been lloored and we have
been given bed sacks and straw to
sleep on. Redwood lumber is plenti-
full and the men were given all they
wanted to use in the construction OF
tables, benches etc. The fog hardly
ever visits us and the sick have de-
creased in number.
Three days Of last week we're con-
sumed in brigade drill and on Thurs
day Gen. Kings brigade, the Iowa,
Tennessee and Kansas regiments,
passed in review before Gen. Mer-
riam, making magnificent showing.
1t was then that Gen. King told us
we were to be sent to the Philippines
and the regiment shouted itself
hoarse. On Friday and Saturday we
had sham battles.