Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-11-17
AT THE ARMoRY.
Soldiers Paid OF aud htany Muatsr'
Out. -

Out. o4
Thirty eight thousand dollars were
paid by Uncle Sam TO tho soldiers OF
tho First and Second Battulions of the
First Delaware Regiment in this city
yesterday and about 700 retired from
his service. The companies mustered
out are g, D, +, +, II, |, X and L.
Perhaps 30 of the men will go into the
regular service. N
The mastering out ceremony was
begun ut the .Armory, Twelfth and
Orange streets, yesterday morning. The
companies lined up in tho street and
one was admitted to the drill floor vi u
time At the west end of the hall was
a row of tables at which sat the pay
master, Major Houston, and his two
clerks and S. Weston, the clerk for the
mastering out board, which comprises
Major Andruss, Capt Settle and Lieut..
Alexander. After a company had lined
took his position beside its command
ing officer who called the roll. Each
man, as his name was called, advanced
five paoes to the front, and two lines
were thus formed. By this method it
was ascertained whether every man
was present. In order to receive his
pay, it is required that man be
present, unless prevented by illness. il
absent without such good excuse he
is liable to charge of desertion. Very
few men were missing. About. IL men
in the regiment are ILL five of them in
this city and six elsewhere, which
speaks we'll for their health. 4ggts
After the calling of the roll, Major
Andruss took his seat near the end OF
the row of tables, and the commanding
officer Of the company sat at the head
and called the names Of the men. When
each name was mentioned, one clerk
announced the amount Of money coming
| to the man, the paymaster rapidly
counted it out, another clerk inserted
the amount at the head of his discharge
paper, and Clerk Weston handed the
| paper to the soldier.
The amount received by each enlisted
man varied from $50 to 1916, and
averaged about S65. This amount is
larger than that at other pay days, for
the reason that the soldier gets all that
is coming to him. He is paid for the
furlough of 30 days, which expired
last week, and the days subsequent to
that, his ration money for the same
| period and the balance of his clothing
| money. The ration money is % cents
day while on furlough, and rs cents
day while on duty il the soldier pro-
vides for himself; but il he eats at the
governments expense he receives no
ration money. The clothing allowance
for six months is 1853. Whatever cloth
ing man draws is charged against his
allowance, but as a general thing, there
was balance of $50 to his credit out
of the total amount. The figures of
today's pay give an impression that the
soldier is better paid than would
appear simply from the statement Of
his wages of SIG so a month or what
ever the amount is which he receives,
Col. Gordon and the regimental staff
are also mustered out OF the service,
Some of the officers have not yet re-
ceived their certificates showing that
they have accounted for all government
property and they will not be paid
until they do receive them. 1t will be
only a matter of few days, however,
when they, too, have been paid off.
Officers receive simply their salaries
and no clothing or ration money.
Col. Gordon will resume his place In
the regular army, or he may he sworr
in as major of the Third Battalion, a:
ne holds the governors commission fol
Regimentai o9uartermaster Harr,
| Y. Bootes will leave this city to-day
for New York to report for duty a;
clerk to the quartermaster Of the trans
port Massachusetts,. aL-.L
Six of the companies were paid of
before dinner, and the other two wert
paid of in the afternoon.
| Yesterday w. ID. Palmer, tickle
agent at the French street station o.
the p, w. & b. railroad received re-
quest from Col Gordon, asking that (
special rates be granted the out-of- tow
soldiers from this city to their re-
spec.ive homes. Mr.. Palmer tele
graphed for instructions in relation t.
tho matter and 1t is expected tina
ratio of half fare will be granted tn,
men who are dosirous of returning II
their homes. 1if
The Third Battalion Of the regimen
is still on furlough and the mastering
out board will continue on duty t,
close up its affairs. 1t is to report oil
December 10th and BIO mustered on
tho following week.