The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-04
ARE ANXIOUS TO FIGHT
The Butte National Guard Full
of Enthusiasm.
BESIEGED BY RECRUITS
Marching Orders Are Ardently Looked
For-They May Be Sent to the
FRONTAL Proportions
Have Been Made.

AS RANSSAt "a pass W
actual hostilities between the United
States n Spain they are not in the
ranks Of the three infantry companies
which have their headquarters in Butte.
The waiting order issued day before
yesterday from the adjutant generals
Office to the officers commanding the
various companies Of the National
Guard of Montana was received by the
members Of the guard in Butte with
much enthusiasm, and the members of
Companies r, G and + are to a man
anxious to go to the front. Their fear
Is not that they will be called on, but
instead that they will not, and the en-
thusiasm Is not confined to the guard,
for the captains Of the three Butte
companies are besieged ny would-be re-
cruits who would like to be In it il
there is going to be any fighting.
The captains of the three companies
were seen yesterday relative to the~con-
dition OF the commands for active SER
vice in the event orders to take the field
SHOULD follow the waiting orders
already received, and IL was found in
each instance thai preparations have
been made very quietly for two or three
weeks In anticipation of the present
orders and Of marching orders which
W dTueltly lOUkeO IOT.
capt. w. l.. Hill OF Company F., Ihen
seen, said: w are making no espe-
cial preparations just now and will
merely publish the orders received on
drill night in order that the men may
hold themselves in waiting. All other
preparations we could make have been
made. For some days i have been
making such repairs as were necessary
in anticipation of ORDERS, and all that
remains to be done is to notify such
members Of the company as are absent
from the city. At present we have 50
men In the company n enough re-
cruits are anxious to join to bring the
membership of the company up to its
full quota Of go men. In the event we
should be called out. We could, IL per-
mitted. recruit all the companies here
up to 100 men OF over. The orders re-
ceived will be published by the captain
OF companies on their first drill night.
the men will then leave their address
In the event they change their residence
in order that they may be readily found
in case of an emergency. The men who
are absent from the city will be notified
and nothing car be done in the way OF
preparation that has not already been
done, except to drill regularly, the
thing which is after all the most i'm
portant. The men are all anxious to
go, and IL we are called out Butte will
send three as good companies OF men
as will go from any state in the union"
capt. +. w. Wynne Of Company q
repeated practically the same state
ment as Captain Hill: Our men are
all ready and anxious for orders to go
to the 'front.'" said he. "and If necessary
we could really start on "A hours no.
tice. l feel, and the men of the COM
feel that there is going to be war.
and as far as possible the men have put
a mir In Ia ~ 10 nAIIa 49,. A..
at any time. / have been expect
orders for some days. and have
made such preparations as could be
made in advance of orders. Including
the members of the company who are
out of town we would be perhaps rs
men short of a full company should we
orders to go to the front, but we
could recruit the company to the full
number and more at almost a moments
judging from the number of
men who have intimated that they
would like to join"
Capt. Charles Gardner of Company
b said his command was ready. 100
If desired, to go to the front
the order comes. The same |
spirit is manifested by the men. Last
evening quite a number of the members
OF the guard were congregated at the
armory and all expressed themselves
as ready to go and only fearful lest
should not get the opportunity. !
of the men would find IT difficult
to leave their families. but from the
among the members of the
guard II is doubtful IL there is a man
among them who woul be left ehind
The feeling of the men is illustrated by
a remark made by Lieut.. Ben T.. Calk-
the regimental adjutant of N First
regiment, who was seen last evening /
He aid
Il dom know how 1 could leave my !
but IL we get orders to go. /
shall find some way, for I shall GER
tainly co.
Lieut.. FAINT Calkins last evening
to the captains of all the COM
of the First regiment a copy IF
he waiting orders published I'm yester-
Standard.
Drill at the armory will be of a par
interesting character from this
on until IL is known whether or
not the militia goes to war. Company
! drills tonight and Thursday night.
b Tuesday and Friday, and
Company r Wednesday and saturday, I
it is expected of every member Of
The guard who is in the city tha: he
will be present on the night his COM
oany drills.
There is to be an election Of a Iieuten-
Int in Company G tonight. and ow ,ng
20 the circumstances there IL much
rivalry for the Office which. n this
lime, Is very much coveted. The e.ec-
lion will undoubtedly De of an interest
ng character. !
The ardor of many of the militiamen
was somewhat dampened yesterday by
/ doubt as to the a meaning of the
orders received. which grew out
,f a rumor that was circulated during
day. According to the rumor. the
order did not mean that the militia is
be sent to the front at once in the
went of an outbreak Of hostilities. but.
hat the soldiers stationed at
he regular army posts would be rushed
% the front n the militia companies
tent to man the posts. at least for a
lime. Two OF the militia captains were
hot disposed to take any stock in the
but one said il was about what
he expected and vas very Indignant.
was Captain Gardner of Company
He aid:
You can just state tina IL IL is the