The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-25
WEARY KANSANS.
Boys of the Twentieth Are
Weary of Camp
And Are Anxious to Get Away
to the Philippines.
ARE LEFT OUT AGAIN.
Cannot Go With the Third Ma
Mia Expedition
But Expect to Get Away Early
in July.
[F'rom the State Journals Special Cor
RESPONDENT

camp as the pf1VateS and On1cerS, too.
many of them, began to think that we
are to be left behind on the third ex-
petition which sails probably Saturday
Kansas has certainly been misfortune's
bedfellow long enough. This will be the
third expedition to sail away to the
tropic isles while the troops from the
short grass country are still settled
down on this miserable camp ground
OF sand and sea fog. But the fourth
expedition sails July or and that is
the bright star of hope which the KAN
sans are anxiousIy watching now.
Col Funston arrived Saturday and
is now in active charge. He has al
ready made a very pleasant impression
upon his men. Although small of stat
pre-, Col. Funston is sturdiIy built and
looks every inch a soldier in his regula-
ton army coat and white duck trous-
ers- His adventurous life has left him
still a gentleman without the faintest
trace of the martinez.
He thinks the conquest of Cuba will
require about seven months. The
American army will find the Spaniards
are poor marksmen-they fall in battle
shooting, with their faces to the foe
but they fail to accomplish results.
Col. Funston is of the opinion that
the American troops need not fear yell
low fever He regards Gen. Garcia as
ranking above Gen. Gomez as a sold
Ter
The first detachment of the new re-
cruits under Capt. Clark arrived in
camp last night. Among them was
John Steele of the Lawrence Journal
we'll known to Kansas newspaperdom.
Capt. Clark is well pleased with his trip
and has a good word for the Santa Fe
road also.
He had transportation for his men
over that road but at the last moment
Uncle Sam decided to send him over
the Union Pacific and so notified him.
But Capt.Clark bundled his men aboard
the Santa Fe and started. Minnesota
troops We're day ahead on the Union
Pacific but Capt. Clark and troops
reached here last night via Los Ange-
les and the Arizona route while the
Minnesota troops did not reach here
until late this afternoon. 1t was decid-
ed that the Santa Fe made a. great run
as its route is said to be much longer
There may have been worse days
than last Sunday but if so it is not re-
corded in the minds of any Of the troops
here:The widest March wind that ever
gamboled among the western Kansas
SANDS was simply a gentle zephyr be-
side it. 1t Sifted sand into the tents
into the cooking, into the coffee the
eyes and the very beings of the troops
One couldn't tell whether he was eating
potatoes and gravy sand mortar.
Manila and Spanish bullets would be a
pleasure beside it. Especially as the
Spaniards are such poor marksmen
Lieut.. Col. Little has been suffering
considerably for the past week with his
eyes He thinks they are oak poisoned.
They are improving some now. He was
out today with his battalion giving
them some drill work
Brlgadier General King inspected the
regiment Lieut.. Col. Little has been
selected to preside at a court martial
at brigade headquarters, the culprit be-
ing an Idaho trooper
Young SpendloVe of company A. To-
peka, is to have trial before a court
of field officers. He is charged with
disobeying orders of a superior Off
Ger.
Young Jack Astor and his battery of
New York -four hundred arrived to-
day with flourish and struck tents on
the ground recently vacated by Ne
Draska, right across the road from
Kansas. Their equipments are of the
hneSt to be had and six of their nobby
cannon sit pointed right into Kansas
headquarters. While their Honduras
mules mules wander over to the dead line and
general order to remedy the situa-
ton.
A dead line" has been drawn clear
around the camp 16 feet from the fence
and 1t must not be crossed by troopers
save in going to their meals or to the
hydrants to wash. The idea is to keep
them from getting too near the fence
and when the guards back is turned
disappear over the boundary and away
to town. But the boys get over some
how in spite of utmost vigilance of
guards and officers. In fact Sunday
SeN" sums OhCA Tic 4SuCS
like sheep.
Since pay day few passes have been
issued, in fact it is hard to get one and |
the boys take desperate chances to get |
out and in. In this connection one
guard was given a pass for "a hours
freedom for refusing bride of nine |
dollars to let in three troopers in camp |
in time for early roll call but rather |
collaring them and marching them to |
the guard house.
When a soldier overstays his leave |
hnn vii Viii
were sentenced in various stages today |
from 81 to Sc and five days hard labor !
for violating their leave of absence. If |
they continue they will not have enough |
money coming pay day to buy a pouch |
of tobacco.
Thirty-four men are in the guard |
house tonight. The regular tent would |
not hold them all and the poStoffice was
moved from the big tent and seventeen |
run in there for the night. But this
does not indicate a state of lawlessness
by any means The men are drilling /
hard and faithfully every day and the /
officers are doing their utmost to bring |
things to state of efficiency and are
succeeding. 1t is only that the boys
when they get down In the city sue
cumb to it's light and glare and fail |
to return on time.
Since pay day there has been a, ire
business on stamps and the |
camp postoffice and c. E. tent sold over
Sc worth each. Aside from the letters
the heaviest mails are pictures. Photo
graphers fairly swarm around the
camp 1t is paying stroke of business
for the proprietors of the galleries to
send out lady canvassers and their
touching smiles rarely fail to secure
an order.
An incident occurred in Company A /
this week worthy of note. Robert Max
we'll of Topeka lost a $40 gold piece and
a vigilant search failed to find it.
His friends quietly started sub
scription and in a few moments raised |