The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-16
START TODAY.
Troops Leave Ft. Riley at 6 p.
M. For the Coast.
Scenes of Departure by a Jour-
nal Staff Correspondent.
is MUCH ENTHUSIASM
Among the Old Service Men of
the Batteries.
Households Broken Up and Fur
niture Being Moved.
OFFICERS FAMILIES
viii Not Accompany Them to
Savannah and Other Points,
But Are Breaking Up Their
Homes Ready for Emergencies.
(From the State Journals Sta
Correspondent

(From the State Journals Staff
Correspondent
Fort Riley, March 16-Cars for the
transportation of the artillery to the
Atlantic coast were sent from Kansas
City this morning. Loading begins at
Fort Riley at o'clock this afternoon.
The battery for Fortress Monroe goes
at D. m. via the Union Pacific to Kan
sas City, thence over the Burlington.
Big Four and Chesapeake and Ohio.
The battery to New Orleans goes south
over the Fort Scott and Memphis. The
one to Savannah goes over the same
route to Birmingham, then over the
Southern railway.
The movement of these batteries
costs $1,000. Lieut.. Treat, chief of the
ordnance, in New York on furlOugh, ar
rived this morning in response to a tel
egram from the commanding officer
and released the ordnance. Only the
loading of the trains remains to be done
and the artillery force will be moved
tonight in three special trains.
Everything is in confusion and order
lies, messengers and workmen are rush
ing in every direction, at this writing.
Guns are being placed aboard cars, to-
gether with camp equipage.
There is no reason, under ordinary
should be concentrated near the south
ern coast" said Colonel Wallace F.
Randolph, commanding the forces Of
artillery stationed here. today. Except
in case of anticipated war, there would
be no such action taken,'' he concluded.
While the officers and men are reti-
cent and non-cOmmunicatiVe, the pre-
vailing sentiment here is that the United
States is on the verge of q war with
Spain, and the veterans among the reg
IL, L. -sr,-+
the young men, particularly the pri-
Yates, there there is much misgiving
but there is no turning aside. Every
man, high or low, utterS but one
thought on the common subject, and
that expresses patriotism and a love of
the flag which has been fiuttering wild
ly in the stiff Kansas breezes over the
garrison during the past few days.
RumOrs of everything imaginable have
been flying thick and fast from. the Of
ficers' club to the barracks and back
again and the appearance of an order
ly, moving in great haste, creates a
hum of excitement from one end of the
garrison to the other. Although every
thing is done with the utmost precision,
the men seem prepared for any emer-
gency despite the unmistakable signs
of excitement. The odd moments for
two days, have been spent in making
wills, writing farewell letters to rela-
tiveS and friends, and otherwise ar
ranging for the journey which many
think will be their last This is one
there are sun-burned boys in the artil-
lery uniform who are thinking of moth
ing but fight They are hunting trou-
BILE. Some of them while working
around their dear" friends, the fero-
cious old guns, pat the long, dangerous
and death dealing instruments fondly,
and exclaim:
wait till we get this olE iron in ac-
tion. Then the Spaniards will wish
they had been gettin' ready to go, in
stead of monkeying with Uncle Sam
THDc crJT1 RIO of ha lTrff
handsome residences of stone overlook
ing the barracks, are in a confused
state. Carpets have been torn up; the
pOrches are piled roOf-high with boxes
and crates; curtains and shades are
down, and scores of men are rushing
to and fro packing and otherwise pre-
pairing for the going away. The Off
GERS families will not accompany them
but housekeeping is being abandoned
by the wives of artillery officers
The three batteries of artillery are
in readiness. Each man has his cloth
ing and equipment ready to start at a.
moments notice. The caiSsons and gun
carriage have been touched up to a
''Sea-green, color, which by the way
is also appearing prominently upon the
residence of Colonel Arnold, post com
mander. Huge piles of blankets tents
ammunition and everything necessary
for modern warfare, are visible in the
artillery quarters and storehouses. The
one thing necessary to put that portion
of the post in action, is the receipt of
equipment and stores. This has been
expected for two days. A number of
the cars-but not all of them-necessa-
ry to transport the batteries are aIrea-
dy in the Union Pacific yards at juno
ton City and will be sent in on the
switch at Fort Riley, where but one
battery can be loaded at a time, owing
to the lack of sufficient track room.
Twelve cars are necessary for each
battery. The four guns and caissons re-
quire three fiat cars; the horses two
cars; three baggage cars; two tourist
sleeping cars and one Pullman sleeper
the latter being occupied by the Off
GERS.
Even the long service men were sur
prised yesterday afternoon when an or
der came, instructing that the guns be
transported without being taken apart
The removal of the three batteries
leaves vacancies which are now being
filled by recruiting. The change has
also been responsible for several promo
tions which will follow the report of the
examining board, composed of Colonel
Randolph Capt. Reilly and Lieut.. Nc
Combe. These officers will not go with
the artillery at this time, but expect to
join the command upon the completion
of their official duties as members of
the examining board.