Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-06-05
.MILITIAMEN HOME
Rock island Soldiers and Sailors
+ Return From Bloomington
Encampment.
BRINGING ENTHUSIASTIC REPORTS
Already Discussing Plans to Enter
tain Spanish American
Veterans in 1904.

The Rock Island military bodies
that attended the Bloomington en-
campment of the Spanish-American
War Veterans and secured the next
meeting for this city returned home
this morning. Company y arrived on
a special over the Rock Island at 3
a. m, and the Naval Reserves came in
on the regular train from Peoria at
| 11:15. All returned in the best of
health but Joseph Lundberg, who was
struck over the heart by wad in the
sham battle Yesterday, and j. w. Val
entine, who was burned about the
right eye in the same contest. Meth
er is seriously hurt, though both went
to the hospital for a short time.
Well Treated.
The boys report that they received
the best of treatment throughout
their stay. Company A, with the 9th,
acted as escort to President Roose-
welt Wednesday, and both organizations
took part in the big parade yesterday
morning and in the sham battle in the
afternoon. The latter was the con-
test that attracted the greatest
amount of interest, and was witnessed
by over 10000 people. The regular
troops of the goth infantry and sew
eral Calling guns held an island in
The park, and il was attacked by the
ith regiment and the Naval Reserves.
Ihe latter used their Hotchkiss gun
ma then leaped into the lake and
swan to the island, making a bril-
liant cutlass charge and winning the
enthusiastic plaudits of the crowd.
The Reserves were great favOrites.
After the camp at the business
meeting had voted to come to Rock
island the boys paraded the streets in
squads and gave vent to their enthu-
siasm in variety of yells that fit the
occasion.
Plan for NEXT Yea
The encampment was a big thing
for Bloomington, and it is figured that
it can be made still bigger in this
city with the facilities at hand. Ar
engagements for the encampment will
be primarily in the hands of Siboney
Bay camp of the SpanishAmerican
War Veterans. and already plans are
being made for the entertainment
features. There is a general DISPOSE
tiCn To favor sham battle here, and
il has been suggested that the proper
place to hold il is on Nandruff's isl
and opposite the Watch Tower, from
which place it can be viewed to the
very best advantages.
Details OF En- ,aDpmeut.
The press dispatches give the fol-
lowing account of the doings Incl
dent to the close of the encamp-
ment:
Bloomington, June . Fourteen
thousand persons assembled here yes
terday 10 attend the third annual en-
campment of the SpaniSh-American
War association and witnessed a re-
markable sham battle in the after
noon. Five thousand troops were en-
gagged, each man being supplied with
20 rounds of blank cartridges. The
spectacle was brilliant success from
every standpoint. During cutlass
| fight between a company of infantry
and the Hotchkiss gun section Joseph
| Lundberg. of Rock Island, a member
of the latter command. was seriously
burned. This was the only unpleas-
| ant incident of the day. The grand
parade of all the military bodies and
| bands, together with the civic socie-
ties. was the feature of the program.
Mckinley camp, S. a. w. V, of Chi
cago. was awarded the prize for the
| largest uniformed body. Rock Island
was selected for the next encamp-
ment, defeating Galesburg. The new
| officers elected are:
Department Commander-David Da-
Wis, Litchfield.
Senior Vice Commander = J. j..
Cairns. Chicago.
Junior Vice Commander-Mai.J j. p.
Dusenbury, Chicago.
Adjutant-S. H. NowelI Blooming
ton.
Assistant Inspector General-A. j..
Renoe. Pontiac.
Judge Authenticated Bennett, Jo-
liet.
Chaplain. j. Ferriss, Alton.
Assistant Quartermaster General
w. J. Wilson, Chicago.
Assistant Surgeon General-Bruce
VAIL Sterling, Pontiac.
Worst or All Experiences.
Can anything be worse than to feel
| that every minute will be your last :?