The San Francisco call., 1898-06-19

and for the most part from in and about New York, although some hail rom Montreal, and one or two from Detroit. A fine, healthy, intelligent set
 oI young fellows they are, too. They average between 25 and 30 years of age Among the vacations and professions represented are eight lawyers, several | doctors; the late superintendent of the Presbyterian Hospital, New York City: United States marshal from Texas. a barber from the West and men from
 the regular army and the artillery, and over half dozen boys whose fathers rank high on the list of United States
 millionaires
 AS soon as the organization had shaken hands all around a vote of
 thanks was sent to Mir. Astor In an appropriate resolution they told him of their appreciation of the chance his munificence had given them; they said they hoped to be an honor to the coun- try and to the name of their benefactor.
 which they proudly bore, and that they should always remember the Maine.''
 Of late days the men have found time to form a glee club, dgnified by the name of Astor Battery Glee Club It's orchestration include three violfns, four banjos, three guitars and two mandolins, which the members are expecting to take with them to camp.
 
 a rescued Irish collie. He is the pet of
 the battery and answers to a list of
 names worthy of royal imperial blood.
 His collar bears the following inscrip- 1 ton:
 "ASTOR BATTERY, U. S. A. We Remember the Maine.'' | Thanks to the voluntary contribu- tions of his mates, he is to go to the front with full uniform, excepting only | ha 6oJ ,1l.o~ | MT. Astor has been most generous in l giving orders for the personal equip ment of the men. Each man receives two uniforms, one the blue cloth of 1 light weight of the regular artillery, a
 brown campaign hat, brown canvas
 leggins and gauntlets. The other uni l form is of brown canvas stuff known
 as kaki cloth, trimmed in scarlet, | pockets and shoulder straps included 1 With this canvas suit Is worn a cork | helmet-white-Such as Stanley wore | during his African sojourn. Similar l helmets are worn by the British ser
 vice in the far East These helmets
 are water proof, with top and side ven- | tilation. A protection hood which falls I over the shoulders is made to adjust to 1 each. The entire headgear weighs
 only seven ounces. The outfit further 1 includes three suits of underclothing l three blue wooden shirts, six pairs of
 socks, three pairs of canvas leggins
 two pairs of tramping shoes, six hand ikerchefs and pair of buckskin gaunt- let gloves.
 ], The men enter for three years ser I vice and receive $15 SO a month A ru- T nor has 1t that the day the battery ] moves each man will receive $10O in V gold.
 The field equipment includes twenty l horses and 100 mules and six Hotchkiss
 rapid firing guns. Each man carries Ea self-cocking Colt revolver of the lat ] est pattern with a shooting bullet of I 40 caliber and five chambers; and !, Saber with long curved blade, the reg i ulation artillery saber.
 | The six HotchkisS guns are known as | three-inch mountain guns, throwing a l twelve-pound shell. These guns are
 very powerful little weapon, especial l ly designed for mountain service The Hotchkiss is a French gun; the l factory Is in Paris. It Is thought by
 experts to be superior to the Krupp
 make, though similar in construction
 The breech mechanism is strong and | simple and is operated by the turn of | lever, sliding the breech block to the
 right. Each gun is forty inches long and alone weighs 204 pounds, with car
 fiage but little over 300 pounds. When
 ready for action the gun stands thirty
 inches from the ground. It Is in two 1 pieces-gun and carriage. Four men are required to handle each of the two parts and they manage each piece with ] 1Efdasshapdle bars and loops of rope