The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-29
BY DAYBREAK.
The Recruiting Office at the
Old Court House
Was Besieged by Vast ThrOng
of Men
WAITING TO ENLIST.
Company "FM" is Given the
First Preference
And the Full Number Filled
Out With Volunteers.
WAITING TO ENLIST.


morning, dreaming of a picture of 1.-The
Charge of the Scotch Greys,'' when he
was rudely awakened by someone
pounding on his door,
What do you want?" cried the cap
tain, from his pillow
I'VE want to enlist" was the
answer, and the captain was up and
dressed and had signed the men in a
few minutes. A council of war was
held, and several Iatter-day Paul Re-
Veres were sent to awaken the COM
pany- At o'clock in the morning the
marched to the old court house and
fell in line to await the coming of the
recruiting officers. They were re-en-
forced by Sleepy-eyed enthusiasts who
came scudding around corners and took
their places in line. AT 7:30 company
M marched into the old court house
and went into bivouac in the drill hall.
The crowd outside the building reached
far into the streets and the company
IN the building occupied three sides
of the room and inside and out all
anx1ouSly awaited the coming of the
recruiting officers. AT $50 the officers
arrived and selected a small room off
the drill hall for their use. In a few
moments they were ready, and at S:45
Private Arnold was the first man
called, followed by Corporal Bailey and
the enlisting had begun. The two were
disposed of in four minutes, and the
next two men whose~> names COM
menced with b. were called. AS soon
as the men that had been examined
returned from the examining room
they were besieged by those who want
ed to know what they do with fell
ler.'
The following are the rules govern
ing the recruiting officers given by
Lieutenant Harry Smith, United States
recruiting officer for Kansas:
1t is the duty of the recruiting Off
Ger to be present at the examination
of the recruit by the medical officer
when one is provided for this purpose.
When there is no medical officer, the
recruiting officer will personally make
the examination.
In passing a recruit, the medical
officer is to examine him stripped to
see that he has free use of all his
limbs; that his chest is ample; that his
hearing, vision and speech are perfect;
that he has no tumOrS or liberated or
extensively cicatrized legs; no rupture
or chronic cutaneOus affection; that he
has not received any confusion or
wound of the head that may impair
his faculties; that he is not a drunk
ard; is not subject to commissions; and
has no infectious disorders, nor any
other that may unfit him for military
service.
In accepting recruits at rendezvous
TrlpIers manual gives the required
standard of qualifications, and is also
the standard for inspection after the
recruits arrive at the depot; except that
the following instructions will govern
in examining the eye:
mo recruit shall be enlisted who can
not see well, at coo yards distance, a
black center three feet in diameter on
a white ground. The test will be made
by means of cards prepared under the
director general of the army. The black
spots on the cards will be circular. four
tenthS of an inch in diameter, and the
recruit must be able to count them with
facility at 20 feet distance
AS each man enters the room he is
dered to strip off his clothing and then
told to hop across the room on one foot
and back on the other. Then the sur
geons listen to see if his heart and lungs
are working properly. Then the candi-
date for enlistment is given paper to
| read. He reads it out loud and any i'm
PROJECTIONS in speech are noted. While
| reading with both eyes he is command
ed to shut his right eye and continue
reading with his left, then to close his
left and continue reading with his
right eye.
Then he must read medium sized type
across the room. The height of each
| man is taken his weight and age. While
the officers are talking to the ones who
are being examined. they note how we'll
| the candidate hears. His chest expan-
sion is taken and he is made to touch
| the floor with the tips of his fingers, if
| he can, without bending his knees.
Those in charge are Maj. James Ora
ham, recruiting officer; Assistant Adju-
| tant General Boyd assistant recruiting
| officer; Surgeon c. M. England and
| Surgeon John NJ. Rafter.
| At 9:15 Gov. Leedy was announced
|
! ceive him.
Present arms." commanded Captain
| Towers, and the 60 pieces came to
present" as if the company were one
man. Gov. Leedy acknowledged the
| salute, the company came to an order,
| opened ranks and Gov. Leedy. in com
| pany with Capt. Towers, inspected the
| company.
| You have nice quarters here said
| Gov. Leedy.
Eyes, but we have no broom" was
| the response and the floor verified the
! statement. The whole building looks
as if troop of cavalry, horses and all,
| had camped in the building for week.
Gov. Leedy stepped to the front of
| the company and said:
| Il understand that when you take the
| field you will be equipped with new
| Krag-Jorgensen rifles. You are here to
/ be examined, not for parade, but to
| fight Spain. The island of Cuba has
| been governed by Spain for 400 years.
| Spain has not allowed the inhabitants
! any rights and have enforced their rules
| by military power. Spain has nearly
| every town well fortified by forts and
| the insurgents have to stay in the
| country. Cuba is so well fortified that
you can rest assured that you will see
| hard fighting and hard service. DON'T
| think it will be a holiday. We had one
call for 80 day men in the civil war, and
! the 80 days lasted four years. Cuba is a
| hot, dry country, and there is more dan
ger of sickness than anything else, but I
| know that every company that goes
from Kansas will do the state honor
and the nation credit"
| Three cheers for his excellency, Gov
| ernor Leedy,'' called Captain Towers and
| the three cheers were given with a viii;
the tiger followed
| appeared on the front steps leading to the
| sidewalk the lines of men waiting to
| list recognized him and he ran the gaunt-
let of cheers as he passed between the
1 lines.
1 a 1r1I9r d nj Ia roar irI,