The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-14
The Town Boys Were Out of the Game
on Sunday.

here at o'clock Saturday morning
and by noon the boys were beginning
to appear on Kansas avenue on a
pleasure-seeking tour. They had
marched all week in the sun and
dust. but were still open for Topeka
engagements, at least many of them
We're.
With two cavalry and two infantry
regiments and two batteries of artil-
lery and a battalion of engineers
camped at the fair grounds over
Sunday there was as much doing out
there as though the state fair was
still in progress. The soldier boys
took full possession of every square
foot of territory out there and made
themselves at home. Within a very
few hours after their arrival they
had pitched camp and three thou
sand men ate dinner and went to
sleep in their tents as comfortable
as though they had been there for a
month.
This was no play time camp, but
was built for business by U. S. reg
ulars without frills or trimmings.
The two infantry regiments pitched
their pup tents in endless rows on
the east side of the grounds along
Topeka avenue. The cavalry oc-
cupied all the quarterstretch while
the artillery and engineers camped
The street car company put on eX-
ira service to the grounds and did as
much business as at any time dur
ing the fair. All day Sunday throngs
of people passed to and from the
fair grounds and the dust hung as
heavy as pail of smoke over that
section of the city.
The people were deeply interested
in every detail of camp and soldier
life and as the soldiers were sociable
and friendly all these were explained
many times over. Old men and
gray-headed women could be seen in
many groups talking to the soldiers
and listening to the latter tell of
camp life and the maneuvers at
Riley. And as for the girls well
there was a man for every girl who
wanted one and many left over.
The soldiers were worn out after
their long march and first night
spent in Topeka, SO but few of them
responded to the call for service
Sunday morning which was held in
the grandstand under the auspices of
the Y NJ. c. A.
In the evening a large crowd en-
Joyed the riding exercise of the bows
who will take part in the big militaTy
tournament to be held at St. Joseph
next week. Some of these stunts
were sensational. Uncle Sam has ex-
pert rough riders in the cavalry and
many OF the soldiers drove two
horses at lightning speed around the
track while standing on the backs
of the animals.
A regimental band gave a con-
cert at o'clock in the evening and
another at Z. These army bands are
the finest in the country and the con-
certs were enjoyed by the large
crowds present
The boys had a bully time in To-
peka. They kept the path hot from
the fair grounds to the business sec
ton Of the city every hour of their
stay here. Some of the boys got full
and there was an argument or two
and would-be peacemaker received
a smash in the nose, but in the main
the soldiers were very orderly and
would be welcome guests here at any
time.
The Elks and Topeka clubs and Y.
y. .. 4. opened their doors to the
ohicers during their stay here and
eRtended every hospitality to them.
The two infantry regiments left
mere at an early hour this morning
one regiment going over the Rock
island in three trains and the other
over the Santa Fe in three trains all
enroute to st. Joseph. Their camp
Kit was sent by freight The cav
airy and artillery will make the trip
overland. the last troop getting out
or town at 8 o'clock