The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-17
THEIR FIRST CHARGE.
The Sixth Artillery Swoops Down on
the Santa Fe Lunch Counter.

Four batteries of the Sixth United
States artillery passed through Topeka
on the Santa F'e on Saturday bound for
Manila.
In ali there were about 500 men and
they made their first charge as soon as
the train arrived. They charged the
lunch counters. Hunger drove them to
1T. The ration car was at the head of
the train and between that and the
sleepers two baggage cars, packed with
accoutrements, kept the men from the
grub car as they termed it
They could not eat en- route so the
moment the train stopped, and even be
fore. they jumped to the ground and
made for the lunch counters.
Il want pie"
''Give me milk
''Sandwich and Coffee were some of
the shouts that greeted the ears of the
walters as they beheld a solid mass of
blue coats packed around their lunch
counters. Those who wanted milk rap
ped with their large tin cups on the
counter. Those who wanted pie were
ready to cut and eat it with their ma
chete like bayonets. Manners counted
for naught. Tt was hunger they dis
played instead. After most of them had
been supplied with eatableS it was to-
bacco and cigars with a few pipes they
wanted. Then they were half way
peaceful.
The batteries are travelling without
their heavy guns and will act as in
fantry in the Philippine campaign. The
four batteries, Z, c, G and H left
Washington. D. c., on Wednesday with
orders to sail from San Francisco on the
18th, but they will probably not reach
the coast before the 18th on account of
delays. The officers were complaining
about the slow time on the eastern
roads but are promised good trip from
Kansas City west.
Leaving St. Louis the train was made
up of 10 cars and at Hannibal the en-
CINE was stalled on a grade The train
was then made into two sections. The
first with batteries F and @ in charge
of Captain Sage and the second section
with batteries CT and H in charge of
Captain Homer.
The men complained of their cramped
quarters. All are in Pullmans but
berth is a small place for a soldier to
exercise in so several of the companies
were formed on the depot platform and
In columns of fOurs they started up
Fifth street at a double quick time for
exercise.
Brigadier General Hughes, of the
Kansas National Guard, was sitting in
an easy chair in his office. He heard the
steady tread of the mems feet on the
pavement as they swung up the street
at an easy trot He pricked up his ears
and looked out of the window Just as
the head of the column was in front of
his Office.
BLESS my stars he shouted and his
lace was wreathed in smiles.
There was a papercutter six inches
long in the shape of a sword lying on
his desk. He grabbed it up and STROBE
TO the door, took the position OF an off1-
Ger in review, with his miniature sword
at a. present, and reviewed the troops
as they passed. Back they came in a
few moments. Then the general drop
ped his sword and in a few moments
was Gningling with the men, handing
them out cigarettes and eatables. All
that could crowd around were his
guests.
AS the first section pulled out there
was three cheers Cor the jigadier brin-
de started by the men. The ''jiga-
der" as they called him smiled and
waved his goodbye.
The Sixth artillery is one Of the
youngest regiments in the regular
army. 1t has been organized a year
under the act of congress allowing two
more artillery regiments. The men do
not look like the typical regulars with
Ehe exception of a few. When the reg