The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-04
ARE NOW IN CAMP
Wichita Volunteers Leave For
Topeka.
FIRST ON THE TRAIN
Was Capt. Everett--P PATHETIC
Scenes of the March.

A special to the Eagle from Topeka
says: The Wichita company Of eighty
four, under Captain V. l. Everett, arrived
here today at 1855 p. m. over the Rock
Island The company was welcomed by a
drum corps organized by Captain A. C.
Fuller, city ticket agent of the Rock
Isil~d ROAD, which escorted them to the
state house, where Governor Leedy made
q speech to them. From there the COM
pany marched TO Camp Leedy and were
assigned to the eighth row of tents of the
First regiment. Tomorrow they Will re-
ceive their guns and uniforms.
Wichita's company Of volunteer soldiers
left on the morning Rock Island train for
Topeka yesterday. The members of the
local G. A. R. posts. led by the martial
band escorted the boys to the depot. A
big crowd of spectators and interested
relatives and friends gathered at the com
pany's temporary barracks the old Her
man & Hess building, ard the crowded
march of people was extended TO the train.
No sooner had the order been given by
Lieutenant Bell to form into line than sobs
began to break. and an occasional hand
kerchief was brought up 10y a sister or
mother or friend to the eyes that would
get moist in spite OF the brave effort to
restrain the tears until the train should
start As the old veteran with his limping
heavy tread and the young volunteer with
elastic step and erect form filed down the
broad avenue in the rain there was loud
greeting and farewell of friends-there
were heavy hearts. Mothers walked in the
street, trying to keep near their boys in
the first steps Of a march that might end
in blazing battle in some remote coun-
try where the stars and stripes are not
floating yet.
One mother had two boys going away.
She watched them in the march to the
train. She kept near them till they got
TO the depot. When the long train steamed
into the station she put her arms about
the boys and wept. She didn't speak.
Not once did she crowd the lump from
her throat enough to say even goodby
She only wept. with her sons in embrace,
till the conductors "all aboard" came like
harsh fate. and in their tears they kissed
her and stepped to the coaches. She
watched them through her tears till the
train was gone gliding into the distance
dim with the quiet rain, which came gent
ly, as if in sympathy, upon the sad multi
tude and upon the long cars that carried
the boys away.
One Of the boys had two sisters. They
followed close. They held to him on the
platform. While the tears came fast they
talked to him of the trip and the future.
He tried to be brave and not cry, but at
last when the last goodby was said, the
tears came. Down his cheek they flowed
and fell with the rain drops on the plat
form, but his voice never faltered.
Judge w P Campbell talked for a few
minutes. The volunteer select choir sang
the song, ION to Cuba" written for them
by Mrs. Furlong.
The train stayed nearly five minutes
longer than usual. When IT pulled away
the martial band played The Girl Left
Behind Me-"
Captain Everett was the first to
climb onto the train. He was fol-
followed by che privates and. walking
through the car. he stepped down onto the
platform again to see if all were on. The
conductor waved his hand and It was all
over.