The St. Louis Republic., 1900-07-17
Story Circulated Among Soldiers
at Springfield That Mckinley
Would Call for Troops.
CLAY C. MCDONALD ELECTED.
Chosen Senior Major of the Fourth
MissOuri-Battery \ Shows
Excellent Form-Rain
Cpsets Plans.
BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.


second day in camp vas occupied by the
troops with drills and policing the various
company quarters. General Clark and his
staff officers were kept busy Issuing sup
plies and working or other details about
headquarters. The bad weather. which
greeted the soldiers on their arr;va! in
Springfield Sunday. Continued all day to-
day. There were ftful showers, accom-
panied by high winds. throushout the day
These conditions had the effect Of keep
ing visitors away from camp. Special bat
TALON maneuvers. which were 20 have been
executed To-day. were abandoned. In the
afternoon. there were company drills. The
men were put through the open and extend
ed order movements at double quic6-
Though most Of the companies have not
been through these drills since they were
mustered out OF the Federal service, the
show made was good.
Battery As Excellent showing.
Battery went through the mounted
drills. The horsemanship displayed showed
plainly that the men have lost nothing Of
the skill which made the organization IA
nous during the Spanish-American War.
The bareback riding vas especially good
The men practiced mounting and dismouat-
u
q number OF bumped heads, but 20 one was
hurt bad enough TO require the services OF
Lieutenant Pimn. the battery surgeon
AT cts .. m the entire brigade passed in
review before General Clark. Each regi-
ment was headed by band or drum and
trumpet corps. The troops passed the re-
viewing officer at q quick step 10 the ac-
compartment OF martial music with colors
flying. The cheers and applause with
which the pageant was received uttested
fully to is worth. This afternoon there
will be a parade of all the troops through
the principal streets of this city.
Camp Routine.
Following is the order OF calls used in
camp:
First call. $50 a. m: reve!ile. $50; as
sembiy, $40; mess. 6; fatigue. $50; sick
call. I: first call for Grill. 7:!5: assembly.
: :225: roll recall. 3: first call for guard
mount. e:45. assembly, $50; AdjCtants' call,
s:45: assembly. $50: First Sergeants' call,
IL; mess. noon: school call. p m; first
call for drill. 2:2v; assembly, e:i0; recall.
4: mess. 6; first call for parade. 6:ie; as
sembly. ESQ, Adjutants' call. 6:55: tattoo.
N:50. taps. II.
The principal drawback to Camp Bell is
the chigoe. This small insect. which abounds
in the Ozarks. Is present in unlimited guam
titles on the camping ground. No thickness
OF boots and leggings avail5 anything in
keeping him out. Everybody In the camp.
from the brig ade commander down 10 the
company cooks. has been attacked. All the
known remedies have been applied, but
nothing seems 20 bring relief.
A patent scratcher has been invented by,
private In Battery A. which has become
popular throughout the camp. Quite a
number Of men have come in contact with
poison ivy and are suffering from the ef-
fecis OF their acquaintance. but the gen.
eral health Of the camp is perfect. The
Hospital Corps complains that 1t has moth
ing Whatever TO do. No sickness OF any
kind has been reported a, headquarters.
Reiley's Nose BrOken.
Private Kelley. Company of the FIRST
Regiment. had hts nose broken this MORN
Ing with a baseball. Kelley was playing
catch and was thrown a very high ball.
While the sphereoid was in the air
Colonel Sinclair happened along and Kelley
at once drew himself up TO attention. He
saw the ball coming. but, rather than
move a muscle before his salute was
returned. allowed it to strike him. This
account Of the affair was given your cor
respondent by IN 0:iicer of the First Regi-
ment, who said. however. that he Was not
absolutely certain Of the truth of certain
details of il.
Mcdonald Elected.
The line officers of the Fourth Regiment
held an impromptu meeting to-day. at
which they elected Major Clay C. Mcdonald
Senior Major OF the regiment.
Captain A. V. Adams. brigade Quar-
termaster. was called TO his home at
Adrian. No.. to-day by the illness of his
son. The Captain was ore Of the hardest
workers and will be greatly missed at
headquarters.
Tomorrow night brigade headquarters
and portions OF the camp will be lighted
with electricity This innovation in State
encampments was the idea OF the citizens
OF Springfield. who believed that coal oil
L..
their military guests. All day a large
force Of men has been at work stretching
wires and placing the lights.
Excitement About China.
There was a rumor in camp this morning
that the President had called for 1900 men
to serve In China. This created considera-
bic excitement. and there was much specu-
lation among the troops as to whether or
not the Missouri militia would be called on
Much of the spare time of the men Is spent
in discussing what they term hot air ru-
mors"
The person who originates the most ar
guable report. whether founded on fact or
not. is voted a good fell5w and enjoys great
popularity until some one else produces a
better one.
The commanders Of regiments have been
generous with passes. Those who are not
on duty experience no difficulty In getting
to town. Throughout the day and up until
l0:30 at night the streets are throngeI with
soldiers. The square, IN the center of the
business district. is especially popular with
the men. Booths have been erected there
In which are displayed the usual fake
curios'ties seen at country fairs. Among
these is one Bernardo. the wild girl from
the Philippines. and Miss Uno. who eats
live snakes. These shows do a thriving
business with the fun-loving militiamen.
who make 1t point to take in everything
there Is to be seen.
A detail Of buglers blows tattoo on the
square at 1870 o'clock. which is a signal
for all enlisted men to return to camn
Lights are put out when taps are sounded.
J. WON PAPIN.