The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-06
FIRST TROOPS ARRIVE
Four Companies Report at Camp
r. B. Smith.
BUTTE TRAIN DELAYED
They Did Not Arrive Until 8 p m Had
Their First Meal IN Camp-A New
Company Organized-The SEN
ators' Warm Telegrams.

Helena. May Camp r. b. Smith
became a fact to-day upon the arrival
in Helena of four companies of the
national guard, who tonight are occu-
pying a white city by themselves three
miles northwest of town. adjoining
Central park. The troops that arrived
to-day and went into camp were ID
from Butte. The Madison county boys
arrived about l o'clock this morning
on a special train from whitehall Ii
was not expected that they would ar
rive before Friday. but there seems to
have been a mistake in dates some-
where. which brought them to the rem
devious sooner than expected. Their
orders told them to leave Virginia City
not later than Wednesday, unless re-
ceiving orders to the contrary. They
accordingly made their preparations to
leave on that date.
Tuesday night they received q splen-
did send-off from the people of vir-
ginia City, and Wednesday morning
they started overland in wagons for
Ironrod, the nearest station on the
branch of the Northern Pacific. AS
they were leaving Virginia City. came
the orders not to start Wednesday. IL
was too late, however, for they had
been given a farewell and made up
their minds IL would never do to turn
back. Captain Ref said he guessed
he would not be disobeying orders to
continue toward the rendezvous. All
along the road To Ironrod the company
received many manifestations OF the
patriotism and friendship OF the citi-
zens. At Lavina they Were received by
the school children. They were enter
tanned at dinner at Sheridan, while a
warm greeting was i'm store for them
at Twin Bridges. At Ironrod they found
train awaiting them and they soon
proceeded to Whitehall. where they
had supper and then were rushed away
toward Logan. reaching here at the
time mentioned. They went out to the
camp grounds at noon. and were busy
the balance of the day helping put up
tents and otherwise prepare the camp.
The special train from Butte bearing
Companies b. + and G. reached Helena
about o'clock this afternoon. The
journey from Butte had been a tedious
one because of delays and a long wait
after arriving on the outskirts OF Hell
ena. There were two delays on the
trip over the mountain. one of quite long
duration near Clancy. caused by the en-
gine breaking an eccentric rod. IL was
first announced that the Butte troops
would arrive about 9 o'clock and would
certainly come uptown for dinner be-
fore going into camp. At O'Clock the
railroad company announced that the
train had been delayed i'm getting out
of Butte and would not reach here be-
fore 4 o'clock. That hour passed. and
still they did not come. About o'clock
the gaily-decorated train pulled into
the lower yards. where for 40 minutes II
was side-tracked awaiting the move
ments of other trains. Then IL was
deemed too late to come up town and
the train was run out towards the
camp on the Northern Pacific. The
troops filed out of the cars and. head
ed by the Boston & Montana band.
which struck up lively air. marched to
the camp, arriving just as the members
OF the other company We're eating sup
per. The Butte boys had eaten scarce
ly anything since breakfast. barring
lunches. They looked longingly towards
the Virginia City camp. Major Cook
informed Colonel Kessler that he had
"A lot of hungry men on his hands and
hoped they could eat at once. The COM
manding officer said they would have to
draw their rations from the commissary.
waiving his hand towards the large tent
removed from the body of the camp.
AS soon as ranks were broken the new
arrivals assisted in putting up the re-
naming tents. and after helping them
selves literally to a pile Of hay that had
been provided for mattresses they drew
their rations and ate their first meal in
Camp Smith.
Soon after the Butte troops arrived
Colonel Kessler detailed Captain Ref
OF ID company as officer of the guard.
and darkness found the camp surround
ed by few sentries.
The discipline OF the camp will be a
trifie easy for a day or so. until all of
the companies are on the ground. when
the rigid rules OF army camp life Will
be enforced. The Butte boys were in
a happy frame of mind over the splen-