The San Francisco call., 1906-07-09
QUARTERS SECURED
BY YNATIONAL GUARD
BuildingSAre Rented and
Fitted Up Temporarily
for Officers and Men
PLAN FOR ARMORY
Soldiers Hope to Obtain
a State Appropriation
for Lease of a Site

For many days after the fire the
soldiers OF the National Guard in San
francisco cared not whether they had
an armory or not for they were in
actual service in the protection Of the
citizens and their property; but since
they have been recalled from that
duty they have been looking around for
locations which will for q time answer
for srmories.
The Page and Cough streets armory,
that was occupied by the First Infantry
Regiment: the Ellis street armory, in
which the First Battalion OF Coast Ar
tiuery and the Signal Corps met. and
the armory of the cavalry. Troop \.
were all destroyed by the fire.
After the Withdrawal of the guard
the ofhcers and members OF the local
organizations concluded that 1t was
time 20 look about for quarters
Brigadier General Koster. command
Ing the Second Brigade. who had com
moolous Offices in the Crossley build
ing, established his headquarters in
his place OF business on the Potrero, at
Twenty-third and Illinois streets.
The First Infantry secured a large
private residence on the southwest cor
ner OF Waller and Buchanan streets,
and since obtaining that il has rented
two other buildings for the use of the
officers and the men. To put these
buildings into condition for the pur-
poses OF the regiment. the officers con-
trtbuted $50 each and 81 each was
given by the $50 men. This money viii
make the new quarters habitable until
the regiment is able TO re-establish
permanent military quarters.
HOPE TO ERECT ARMORY.
In this temporary rendezvous a club
room has been established in order TO
enable the officers to enjoysa noon day
mess A quartermaster's department
and cOmmissary department also have
been fitted UP and rooms have been set
aside for the companies 10 assemble in
The several companies lost in the fire
everything they owned but guns and
belts and the uniforms they wore
Nothing IN the officers quarters was
saved.
It is expected that at the next ses-
sion OF the Legislature the guard in
this city will be able 10 secure an ap-
preparation with which II will be pos
sible 10 procure a block of land on a
long lease and erect thereon an armory
large enough TO house all the COM
panies under one roof.
Under present conditions the COM
panies Of the First viii not be able
10 have indoor drill. but the regiment
has two blocks on Buchanan street
andsthree on Waller that are level, well
paved and excellent for drill purposes
manding, to keep the regiment in per-
feet military training.
ARTILLERY RENTS BUILDING.
The First Battalion of Artillery has
secured large residence at sol Cole
street. corner OF Page in which to
hold forth until such time as perma-
nent quarters shall be obtained. The
four companies Of this battalion. which
owned the armory at SIS Ellis street
D-Tr
lil@S the First Infantry. did not save
Rrything except what the men wore
when they left the armory to go on
duty. This place is being put in proper
snape for the purpose for which il is
10 be used and will be ready in the
course Of the week. The place is to
be fitted up with all the requisites for
officers and men. except a drill room
This viii have TO be conducted on the
street
The men Of the several organizations
in this city who served after the fire
are anxiously waiting for Colonel D.
A. Smith, disbursing agent for the
State, TO come around" and hand out
the amount due each officer and man
The reason Of the delay has been
trouble in inducing the banks to ad-
vance money on the credit OF the State.
but IL is believed that this viii all
be adjusted in a few days and that on
the 18th inst the guard viii be paid.
LEASE ELLIS STREET SITE.
The First Artillery armory site on
Ellis street has been rented TO a firm
on a three-year lease at $1,000 year.
The only vacancy that exists in the
list OF commissioned officers in the
First Infantry at this time is that of
captain Of Company A. Ballinger hav-
ing resigned.
Colonel John ". Guthrie is one Of the
oldest national guardsmen Of the
State. He was born in Natchez. Miss.
on the last day Of the year 1S4s. He
enlisted a private in Company A.
Fourth Infantry, of this State. June 9.
1863 and was gradually promoted to
sergeant, second lieutenant. first lieu
tenant captain. lieutenant colonel of
the First Artillery and colonel of that
organization. and on January %. 1863
be was elected colonel of the Second
Infantry. He served as colonel for
thirteen years and was placed on the
retired list April IA. 1896. When he
was placed on that list the adjutant
general OF the State said Colonel
Guthrie has served long and faithfully
as a commissioned officer Of the Ma
tional Guard, having held commission
continuously since September 10. 1870,
and he was at the date of his retire
ment the ranking colonel on the active
list
MAJOR SMITHS RECORD.
Major D. A. Smith, senior major of
the Fifth Infantry. who was recently
elected colonel Of that regiment TO sue
ceed Colonel ]. T. Hayes. is an old
time national guardsman. VINO entered
the State service in the capacity Of
private. and in his more than twenty
years of service has risen from the
lowest TO the highest rank in the reei-
ment, grade by grade. having devel-
Oped all the qualities OF a firgt-class
soldier The new colonel is a great
stickler for duty. as laid down for the
guard in accordance with the lines pre-
scribed by the United States army reg
ulations as far as applicable to the
guard. He is well versed In military
law and has on many occasions been
consulted by officers. not only OF his
regiment but Of others. who asked him
10 pass upon questions OF military law.
He says proudly that no decision he
ever gave was turned down.
BREAKS GLASS AND THEN
nm mo