The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-27
SOLNERSMOVEON
They Will Encamp at Silver
Lake Tonight.
Large Crowd Enjoys Last Nights
Band Concert.
HUGHES HELPS OUT.
Loans His Saddle Horse to
Major Kirby.
Col. Hall Joins the Regiment
in Topeka.

The military atmosphere which how
cred down over the city yesterday
cleared this morning upon the de-
parture and the breaking Of camp of
the Eighteenth infantry which pro-
eeeded on its way to Fort Riley.
At 6 o'clock this morning the long
line of infantry started upon its march
to Silver Lake, where it encamped this
room The maps give this morning s
hike as 2 miles, which is seven miles
shorter than the hike of yesterday
when the three battalions marched
with but brief halts from Hoyt to To-
peka.
The Eighteenth expects to reach
Fort Riley by the first of the month
almost simultaneously with pay day.
The finances of most of the soldiers
We're decidedly on the ebb yesterday
The returns from the last pay day had
been practically exhausted and visitors
to the camp were importuned to buy
blankets and the rubber ponchos, the
necessities on which the average sol
der realizes when he Is hard up.
Wooden blankets are a very popular
article of sale and a number were dis
posed of. These are the personal
properly or the soldiers.
To the soldier as much pleasure
comes in camping near a good sized
town as to the townsman to whom the
man in a uniform is rather a novelty.
The messes always take a look up
when the city markets are within
reach. Fresh meat appears on the bill
of fare and sometimes tomatoes and
other delicacies. The items appearing
on the menu for the evening mess
looked very appetizing as compared
with the hard tack tales of the soldier
in actual campaign. French fried po-
tatoes appetizing stea.As and even jam
were the portions of the man who
camped at the fair grounds.
Towards evening the soldiers were
feeling somewhat hilarious. The Weari-
ness of the days march had worn OFF.
the refreshing GOODNESS of the evening
was settling down and the animal spir-
its of the soldiers were alive. A num-
Der OF soldiers who enjoyed the diver
sion were seized and put through the
blanket tossing experience A dozen
soldiers grasped the edges of a blanket
and holding on firmly tossed their will
ing victims high into the air, repeating
the performance until they were tired
out.
People drffted out ali afternoon and
when the band concert by the regimen
tai band of "a pieces was given from I
o'clock to a large crowd was on hand
to greet them. The military band al
ways pays Win q vim ana QaSn winch
IS enjoyable. The commander of the
regiment, Col Chas. B. Hall, Joined the
troops here after a furlough spent in
Maine Up to his arrival the Il COM
panfes were in the command of Major
Henry Kirby. Major Kirby's horse was
injured by a picket rope and went lame
and was shipped back to FIT Leaven-
worth yesterday. J. W. F. Hughes. adj
jutant general of the K N G., loaned
his saddle horse to Major Kirby who
will continue TO use him until his ar
rival at Fit. Riley.
But two of the soldiers gave out in
making the hot long hike of yesterday.
The hospital corps took care of these
two. The men are becoming gradually
Injured to the hardships Of the long
marches and the carrying of 70 pounds
of equipment consisting of one-haIf of
of underclothing rubber poncho. rife.
blanket, and so rounds of ball cart
ridges.