The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-08
FAREWELL To
SERVICE, SAY
OREGON MEN
The Regiment Mus
tered Out.
MEN AND OFFICERS PAID OFF
Lively Scenes Out at the Preside
During the Breaking Of the
Northern Boys
Camp.
MEN AND OFFICERS PAID OFF

of the Second Oregon Volunteers were en-
acted yesterday. The men were gwen
their discharges. they were all paid OIL
and by nightfall the camp that has been
so busy was almost deserted. Most OF the
men spent the night In town. A few came
back 10 the camp and spent the night
there after passing the first hours or free
dom in the city, but out OF the whole reg
iment there were not more than one nun
bred TO be found in the tents two hours
after the last company had been mustered
out.
Before the actual mastering out OF the
men began General Summers lined up MS
regiment and addressed his soldiers he
spoke of the cordial relations which had
existed between the men and their OH
GERS, the Willingness of the regiment 70
obey orders ana perform any DUTY ana
of the record it mad made. he then APP
pealed to the men to remain together uhtlI
they should reach home. He Wlsneu 70
take the regiment back to its own STATE
just as it had left a year ago, AMI ne
asked the men TO stay together ana not
to separate at the last moment.
Then the last piece of work was taken
up Each company was formed in line
and the mastering officer called the roll
and verified the papers OF every man as
he answered TO his name. Each man was
handed his discharge. and then tbs COM
pany was marched before the payniaster;
who closed each mans account anu palq
him the balance due him. General sum
receive his pay and his discharge.
There were over 100 men mustered out.
and they were paid altogether over fls0.-
900. or an average of about 1927 The men
were paid for one month and seven Gays
service since last payday, TWO mouths
extra allowed by Congress to every man
serving outside the country during the
war, a balance due on clothing allow aIlce
and travel pay home.
The men are not satisfied with their dis
charges and there is vigorous complaint
taking shape among the better element Of
the regiment. Every discharge bears in
the blank for the performance of duty
the words honestly and faithfully" No
distinction has been made between the
good and the bad and there is no blank
for conduct or character as is In the dis
charge granted to men leaving the regu-
lar service The men of the Oregon regi-
ment say there has been nothing 10 show
who Of the regiment have tried to keep
up the reputation Of the organizatio and
have done their best to fit themselves for
their duties. No distinction has been made
and the proficient believe they have the
right to have their efforts to make good
soldiers of themselves made OF record in
against the single classification of the
men, and this will be presented TO Gen
eral Summers 1t is probable that the
matter will be taken before the Governor
of Oregon and that he will do something
in the matter.
AS soor as the first company had gone
through the mastering out mill signs Of
departure began to appear on every side.
In the vicinity OF the post an astute bust
ness man had laid in stock of trunks
and upon these the men made an assault:
His stock was barely sufficient to stand
the sudden drain upon ii and before long
there were trunks all over the camp, al
in different stages of packing. 1t was an
nounced to the men that trucks would be
in readiness this morning to cart the bag
gage to the ferry. but the men would not
walt They sent for wagons Of their own
and all day loads or trunks and boxes
blocked the streets leading from the Pre-
sidiO. Lieutenant Knapp, quartermaster
of the regiment. had ordered eight trucks
TO report at the camp this morning, but
as he saw the amount of baggage grow
ing less and less he COuntermandsd the
order for eight and made it three. Il is
hardly probable that even three will be
filled by what is left. The tents are
empty, the property is nearly all away
and the deserted company streets are be-
ing patrolled by guard from the Penn
sylvania regiment.
this morning in time to form in line at l
O'Clock to march to the ferry. 1t is OPP
tional with them, of course, but General
Summers says he will have full regi-
ment in line. They will be escorted by the
band of the Nebraska regiment and the
Utah artllerymen They will have no
arms but will carry their colors. The
march will be down the streets by which
they reached the Presidio-down Lombard
street to Van Ness avenue. to Golden
Gate avenue. to Market street and to the
ferry The regiment will march on board
the Oakland boat a once and on the
mole it will take the special train which
will be waiting there. Then with a whoop
and a hurrah the boys will off for Ore
gon.
General Summers expressed the pro-
foundest gratitude and appreciation of the
way in which he and his regiment have
been treated by the city of San Fran
cisco. 1t will be one of the bright spots
in the history of the regiment, he said,
and he spoke for every one of his men
when he said they would never forget it.