Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-10-06
AT CAMP HAMILTON
"Alkali Ike Created a Sensation in
Kansas City--Regiment Re-
ohristened the big A."
new WORKERS GIVEN LESSON
Eleven Regiments in Oamp-Beautiful
Place and New Mexico Boys Satisfied
Company officers 0vershadowed
by Field staff.

ltSCOG, Dul NolSiiGl 49,
any such proceeding, stating that 1t was
in his estimation, entirely necessary
to transform the baggage cars into stock
cars. In consequence, the boys were
| forced to transfer their entire affection
to ''Yavapai Mag" the black bear, and
numerous eagles and dogs. 1t was
thought e%xpedient to steal a few more
dogs along the route, and before the
train reached Lexington, dogs of every
birth, color and temperament We're tied
to the car seats. The Santa Fe Compa-
| ny picked up a remarkably line pug uos
| somewhere, and enough frowsy ours to
| gladden. the heart OF a wholesale sau-
| sage manufacturer.
An hours stop was made in kansas
| City, and crowds OF curious people gaz-
| ed at the denizens of he wild n
| woody" A woman whose curiosity
mastered discretion, approached Cor
| poral Duncan and asked:
"Are all these men from the far west?'
Yes, ma'am," he replied.
MY! I am surprised. Some Of them
| are very good looking
Eyes, ma'am.'
What is your name?
'Alkali Ike, ma'am.'
In her haste to back away the lady
nearly fell into a basket of lunch which
a friend had brought one of the volun-
teers, and in less than five minutes
knots of admiring people We're gazing
with awe on the famous Alkali Ike.
The sobriquet racket at once became
popular with the Santa Fe company and
Tarantula Jims, Parson Petes, Grizzly
Bear Rubes INT What-the-hell Bits
became as common as the Arizona vol
unteers. The New Mexican correspond
ent now bears the handle Truthful
| r, - yVbt1a II ID mt Cn a"nnrnnri0tp
as Saint Peter" or something OF that
sort, it will do, and will prove efficient
in the nom de plume line. 1t will be a
relief to use pronouns N save lodging
Eover a ten-acre field of the English Ian
guage in an endeavor to say something.
Truthful James will also hide the
identity of the writer more e~ffectually
than a bomb screen.
The New Mexico and Arizona battal-
ion were last night rendered an enthusl-
astic reception by the Oklahoma and In
dian territory boys. 1t seems that the
18th New York has been running 1t
over the Oklahoma and Indian terri
tory battalion and they were glad to get
re-~enforcements. AS soon as our fell
lows learned Of the state of affairs they
marched in a body to the New Workers.
grounds, whooping and yelling like a
pack of Indians. They took all the fight
out of the New Workers in about ter
minutes and the big Four" as the ter
~ritorial regiment Is named, is now cock
of the walk in Camp Hamilton.
The Oklahoma and Indian territory
battalion contains a majority Of young
white fellows and about the same per-
centage of Indians that the New Mex
leo companies have Of Mexicans. They
report that the New York regiment is
composed of "shanty Irish,' wharf
rats and "Bowery toughs." They are nc
50 tough" now as they were before the
New Mexico and Arizona boys arrived,
The Oklahoma and Indian territory
gang seem to look on our contingent as
a big brother, and they take all manner
Of pride In us. The big Four" is &C
knowledged to be the crack regiment
of the amp (For "crack" read
"cracked.") After blufing the New
York regiment, the big Four marched
to the camps of the Sd Mississippi and
I'd Missouri, and gave them three cheeaErss
iflafr, ID Asii6SYfis6SEirr1 Brigade, under Briga-
dier General Andrews,
Later. the boys called on every cap
tain, major and colonel in the regiment
and insisted on speeches. Lieutenant
Colonel Mitchell, who had doubtless
heard Of the mission of the big Four"
in going to the New York camp, said he
hoped u boys would not allow the New
York regiment, of which he had heard
SO much, whip us. Captain Fall arose
to remark that If any Of us permitted It,
we should enceforth remain outside the
camp lines, blu on looking over the as
semblage, he believed we could clean
out not only one New York, but any
two New York regiments in existence.
During the excitement guard lines
We're swept away, and no attempt was
made to quell the big Four 1t would
have been useless. Later the boys Wis
tied the Kentucky and Engineer regi-
ments. They gave it out all along the
line that the big Four was ANNOUNCE
ing its supremacy. They certainly sus-
tanned the reputation which preceded
them.
The most ludicrous reports are in cir
culation among the other regiments
anent the big Four 1t is said that
the boys are cut threats, train robbers,
horse thieves and desperadoes. The In
dian volunteers are supposed to have
innumerable scalps to their credit, and
it is thought that the Mexicans were re-
cruited from the Mexican banditti.
One of the Massachusetts boys asked
me If the big Four were all full
bloods. He has since been wondering
what the reply, "All bloods, but not al
ways full" means.
There r IL regiments stationed in
Camp Hamilton. 1t Is a beautiful spot,
and the territorial boys are apparently
satisfied with their new surroundings.
The other regiments are kicking "to
, beat the land" Inc want to be mustered
out. They have spent five months in the
service and have been quartered in
Chickamauga. OF one New York regi-
ment, less than one-third answer to roll
calls. They have not seen active field
work, but many have died and others
deserted. In some instances the boys
leave camp and remain away nine days,
then return. This prevents them from
being classed deserters. They take their
guard house dose, then slope again
when they are released.
IT Is almost impossible to get to town.
But few leaves Of absence are granted,
and the guard is strong. A provost
guard composed Of n company rom
tinually patrols the city. It is said that
the Lexington people are very kindly
disposed toward soldiers and will give
them anything that they desire. pro-
vided they have the money to pay for It.
The physicians state that this Is al
oy1aadippIv hao1thv poIno The NiVyto-