The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-04
FIRST TROOPS FOR CUBA
THREE HUNDRED ENTHUSIASTS AT A
CRIMINAL COURT MEETING.
Part of Crowd Suspect Grocer Beach
Had an Orange-Picking scheme
Up His sleeve.

There was no end of war talk at a meet
ing attended by about three hundred men
at the Criminal Court room, last night and
eighteen men put down their names to the
roster of the first company to be organized
in this city with the avowed purpose of
helping the Cuban cause. Another meeting
is to be held Monday night, when officers
of the company will be elected. Those en-
listing last night took an oath OF enlistment
prepared and administered by Dennis
Beach, who says that he has a grocery
store on Meek street. The oath reads, YER
batim:
March 3, 1SsS-Indianapolis Marion coun-
ty This day of our Lord take the othe as
american citizen and with a uplifted hand
to God gree to be onest and true to my
comrades in all that may happen to our
onest cose in behalf of my fellow man in
the struggl for the independence of Cuba as
a volinteare soljur sow help me Cod
Mr.. Beach read the oath as If the fate of
nations hung on his action, and for mo-
ment or two subdued the noise and rest
lessness around him.
Just what are the plans for the embark
ment to Cuba is kept deep secret by Mr.
Beach. He vouchsafes no explanation of
where the money is to come from, nor
where the party is to sail from. He talks as
if he had received some very mysterious
communications from the Cuban Junto but
will not show them nor repeat their con-
tents He was the author of war-scare cir
culars calling for the meeting, which were
cast broadcast over the city yesterday
reading: 200 Men Wanted! Volunteers for
the Service for the Independence of Cuba
There will be meeting held at the Crimi-
nal Court room tonight, Thursday, at
o'clock on the Auspices of the Cuban Junto.
"A in.
vited'
The meeting was chaotic. No one seemed
to know just what to do. Mr. Beach evil
IDENTIFY was prepared to run things. but an
excited individual with the voice and ges-
lures of an inebriate thought it would be a
good thing to have a chairman. His efforts
were applau6ed. Some one suggested Chas.
w. Brouse. Mr.. Brouse explained that he
had simply come out of curiosity, although
he was a Cuban sympathizer. He said he
knew nothing of the purposes for which
the meeting was called, but would be glad
TO aid to the extent of presiding. He called
for speeches and resolutions. Mr.. Brouse
said he had thought seriously of going to
Cuba for year. and doubtless would have
done so but for persona! reasons that held
him here.
when the President calls for troops
said he, 1.-The responses will be so great not
half can go that would, so we must get
ready early If we want TO go 10 help the
Cubans in their struggle for liberty. This
sentiment was loudly applauded, and the
excitement of the moment aroused the
aforementioned inebriated individual to
make a defamation of the spread-eagle
variety. For one he wanted to enlist, not
as a filibuster, but as regular soldier,
and asked to have his. name put down first
There was no doubt, he said, but that the
Maine was blown up by a plot When we
declare war" he GRATED, 1t wont mean
Spain alone, but the whole world. We must
not make no mistakes, and when we say
let lose the dogs of war the hounds VIII go.
Gaughter.) Mr.. Mckinley is a Republican,
and a gentleman, and statesman ana
Washington than we do here tonight.
More laughter and noisy approval)
AN ORANGE PICKING SCHEME.
Mr.. Brouse suggested it might be we'll to
appoint a committee to draft resolutions,
but no one responded. Mr.. Beach opposed
this in an aggrieved voice. He said that 1t
is against the laws to tell people they were
going to Cuba, but it would be all right to
volunteer to go in case actual hostilities be-
gan between Spain and this country. SAID
he: IF we were to start to Cuba Che pro-
pronounced it Cuby) we might all be locked
up although I don't know about that in
the present state of sentiment. 1 have
brother in Florida who has an orange grove
of seven or eight hundred acres. Oranges
have got to be picked and more planted"
said he with a knowing smile. Wen get
there all right. There is no need to adopt
resolutions. After we get our company we
can elect officers and have our own resolu-
lions. The men can drill If they want to.
/ know man who was in the regular army
five years and he will show us how. Tne
doughty grocer informed the crowd that he
would never take tnem INTO DANGER IL Iney
would follow him.
tits just scheme to get lot of us down
to Florida to pick his brothers oranges"
said one colored man in the crowd. who
did not understand that was simply a clever
ruse Mr.. Beach had hit on to keep any
one from knowing what the company was
being formed for. This idea took, and sew
they were there to show their patriotism
An old soldier in the audience counseled
elaboration. Let no young man start I'M
til Uncle Sam gets ready. and when he
calls for you go at once. 1t would not be
wise for you to give up your positions until
the time has really arrived. | think inside
of ten days you will all get an opportunity.
You will all find plenty to do. There will be
fun and some things that will not be so
funny"