The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-11
HAD A .eH1GH OLD TIME.
Twentieth Kansas Smoker One of
Good Cheer.

Between two and three hundred sur
NlVors OF the Fighting Twentieth Kan
sas regiment gathered at Hamilton hall
Iast night following the sham battle
at the lair grounds to celebrate the
closing of the ninth reunion of the reg
lment- Arrangements had been made
Tor an informal event and everything
came of as advertised The affair
was opened by a speech by the retiring
president, Captain Clad Hamilton to
which marked attention was paid
Ihen there We're other speakers in
Guiding Colonel Wilder S. Metcalf, Col
T. g Little of Abilene, De We're Raj
ter of Holton and Captain William J.
Watson of ~Pittsburg. The effect of all
OF the speeches following that of Cap
tain Clad Hamilton was lost in the
smoke of the smoker and the noise in
cident.
In many ways the gathering resem-
bled reunion of the boys of 81. though
perhaps not as many battles were
fought over again for the boys of the
twentieth are modest set of fellows
VINO look lightly upon their expert
ence as soldiers. Then there is the diff
ference in ages though many of the
members of the fighting Twentieth are
almost as grizzled as the veterans of
the civil war. 1t is true that these
exceptions in most instances are pre-
maturely aged.
There were number of the regiment
who participated in last nights smok
er who plainly showed the effects of
their service in the Philippines. Many
walked with a limp and the pinched
faces of others told of the hardships
which they endured While serving their
country under the southern skies.
After the feeling of formality had
been dispelled every one turned loose
and wandering musician took his
place at the piano and struck up the
regimental song, "A Hot Time in the
Old Town The veterans were off in
hruV FNcr-
the street cars had stopped running
the echoes of the big hall told of the
lung power of the members of the
Twentieth Kansas.
There was champagne there. though
the statement may prove a distinct
shock to Chief of Police Eaton and
County Attorney John Schenck. To
relieve the embarrassment as quickly
as possible the statement is made that
none of the bottles were opened. for
there were but two of them. Colonel
E. C. Little was to blame for the
draught of the blue bloods making its
appearance at the reunion and he open
ed the case which contained the two
bottles as he prepared to speak.
Mine years is a long time to wait
to repay a debt of kindness" began.
Colonel Little, but that is just what
1 have done. 1t was just about that
long ago when across the sea and in
foreign cline 1 received a favor from
two of the boys of this regiment who
are present tonight and 1 am going to
repay the act with interest.
Those were troublesome days, time
when men needed a stimulant occasion
ally. We were preparing for long
march and my canteen was as dry as
it is possible for a utensil of that kind
to get when far from the seat of sup
ply. l was not feeling good and realiz-
ed that 1 was in predicament and
while l was bordering on the condition
of Mt color hearers
regiment came up to me.
1.-TWO young men, Johnson and Lewis.
started with our colors and carried
them half around the world and
brought them home an honored trophy
of the Spanish American war. But that
is another story. If you will let me
have your canteen a few moments |
Will see if it cannot be reflled,' is
about the way one of the young men
preached the subject. The canteen, in
the condition that it was. was of no
use to me and I was willing to take
chance on anything however hopeless
it might seem.
THE color bearers of the regiment
disappeared and a little later came to
me with the canteen filed with slim
ulant which might have saved life. 1
could do nothing for the Doys then but
1 told them that I would some time
repay the loan with interest and that
is Just what l propose to do tonight
two bottles of champagne for them.
One of the interesting talks of the
evenisS, most of which was lost in the
smoke of the smoker was made by
Captain William ]. Watson of Pitts
| burg. Captain Watson was one of the
illfated of the regiment who was DOOM
ed to all but death in the far away
western isles. He was shot through
the lungs at the battle of Marliao and
left on the field for dead where he was
afterwards found by a comrade and
carried to the regimental hospital
where he fingered between life and
death for weeks.
Recovering somewhat he was sent
to his home in the United States on a
sick furlough and before he was well
enough to return to his regiment Ceace
health he was made a captain in the
Fortieth infantry and returned to the
Philippine islands where he again fell
his leg and that is the reason he
walks with a slight limp as he wears
an artificial limb while the genuine is
buried across the water. He draws
small pension of his disability and is
one of the honored citizens of Pitts
burg and at the present time postmas-
ter
The smoker last night was all that
could have been asked by the members
of the regiment as a fitting end OF the
most successful reunion that the mem
bers of the regiment have ever held
Next year they will meet at Sauna, tnat
section of the state having furmshed
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