The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-28

Butte to Engage i'm the war against
Spain will shoulder their muskets, say
their goodbye and embark On the pre-
liminary journey to the from on Sat
urday. II has been decided to begin
rendezvousing the LIST regiment Of the
National Guard at Helena on Satur-
day, and h Butte boys will be among
the first to put their names on the roll
of honor when the mastering in Of the
militiamen as volunteers commences.
This was decided upon by Governor
yesterday, and Colonel kessler
was authorised to announce hat the
Butte companies will leave Saturday
for the capitol.
When Colonel Kessler returned from
Helena on Tuesday. evening. Governor
Smith had not been advised by the war
department as to the size of the regi-
ment, or the companies to compose II,
and it was not supposed anything def
mite could be lone until instructions
could come from Washington by mail;
but the Standards Washington dis
patches yesterday morning contained
an official announcement from Secre-
tary Alger detailing the in
which the volunteer regiments would
be organized, and when the facts were
~telephoned to the governor yesterday
by Colonel Kessler, Governor Smith de-
cided there was no occasion to defer ac-
ton till the arrival of the mailed in
structions. He decided to move Com
panies b. Il and G to Helena on Sat
urday and begin mastering in the men
at once n have that much done by
the time the companies from more re-
mote points arrived. Colonel Kessler
was accordingly authorized to make
the announcement thay the Butte COM
panies would start that last day of the
week n was ordered to report himself
at headquarters at once. Colonel Kess-
Ter left last evening for Helena and will
confer with the governor relative to
providing for subsistence and transport
tation. He is expected to return to-
morrow evening to head the Butte SOL
diers as they cave home. 1t is ex-
pected the troops will go by special
train, which will probably leave Sat
urday afternoon or evening.
The announcement that the day of
departure had actually been set was
received with rejoicing by the members
of the local companies and preparations
for the start were at once begun. The
captains of the companies were in
formed Of the number of men that will
constitute their companies. began Sc
lecting from among the applications
they had received the best men to re-
CIuit IL COuiPdhics UP " Tie Iuli Quo-
ia, and will have made all their selec-
tions by this evening. According to the
announcement of the war department.
the regiment may be composed of 10 or
IL companies Inc each company may
have 101 officers and men. The mini
mum number of privates in each COM
pany will be "a and the maximum rs.
Each of the Butte companies will go
with the maximum number. but hat
will not take half the applicants whose
written applications are now in the
hands OF the company captains. A few
more than leave for Helena on Satur-
day may be accommodated. however, as
not all the present membership of the
companies will pass muster on account
of 9 or physical disqualiications, and
as ii is desired to have the full quota
of men in each company it is thought
men to fill the places of those refused
by the mastering officer will be sent
for.
1t is also said that the at
Dillon Is unable to recruit it's full quo
ia, and the same may be said of other
companies. In such an event ii is
thought likely that Butte men may be
called on in recruiting up the compan-
les. AS soon as the companies reach
Helena, Lieutenant Wallace. who has
been designated by the war department
as mastering officer, will begin muster
ing in the men as volunteers, and once
enrolled they will no longer be militia
men. 1t is not known whether the
equipment of the regiment will be
shipped to Helena and the regiment de-
tanned there till II arrives. or whether
1t will be moved as soon as mustered to
some of the points of rendezvous for
volunteer In the East and there
equipped. 1t Is thought by the officers
Of the guard that the latter course will
be adopted.
An incident occurred yesterday which
illustrates the patriotism hat is gen.
orally felt by the people as well as how
the going of the soldier boys tugs at
h hearstrings of the loved ones at
home. Colonel Kessier was stopped on
the street by an elderly lady who has a
boy in one of the companies.
You know my boy is In Company -
she began.
Yes" responded Colonel Kessier.
II wish he was not obliged to co. she
continued.
We'll. why don't you keep him at
home?" asked the colonel.
We'll, you see it's this way" said
she. II ave three boys and when the
would call for volunteers they talked
the matter over and concluded one Of
them ought TO enlist. They decfied to
draw straws to see which should be the
one to go and the youngest drew the
long straw. i feel IL the government
needs one of my boys I ought not to
keep him back. for I know II is his duty
to go. but he's only IS. colonel. and I
wanted to ask you II you wouldn't look
after him.
Tears flooded the mothers eyes as she