Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-04
CIVILIANS FLOCK TO ARMY
Encampment at Fort Omaha Draws a
Multitude of Visitors.
FLATTERING TRIBUTE TO SOLDIER
Various Features OF Great Camp
Prove of Immense Interest,"
Warm Fight on Between
Crack Bali Players.

Fort Omaha was the mecca for thous-
ands of sightseers Sunday. when between
1900 and 10000 people journeyed to the
fort to see the 5224 soldiers in camp. No
dress parades or maneuvers were scheduled,
the only attractions being three ball games
and a band concert.
1t was really rare sight to see the peo-
pie flock to the fort Every conceivable
sort of conveyance was put to use, includ-
ing shanks mare. The street car service
put extra cars on the Florence line in ad-
dition to running three stub cars to and
from Fort Omaha, but these were able to
handle but small proportion Of the
enormous crowd attracted by Uncle Sans
encampment. One-horse shays, carryalls,
private carriages, automobiles, rent cars.
farm wagons and even baby carriages
were used to transport the multitude to
the fort. Besides ali these conveyances,
there was a continuous string of people on
foot the entire length OF Fort street and
Thirtieth from the Ames avenue car.
Three base ball games were plSyed, two
Of them being in the tournament which is
being played off between the soldiers from
the different forts. Fort Omaha, Fort Des
Moines, Fort Crook, Fort Meade Fort
Riley and Fort Leavenworth have teams en-
tered and the rivalry is most intense. Fort
Omaha was at first picked as the winner,
but fell down in the first game Of the
schedule because all it's men had not re-
ported. Fort Omaha still has a chance to
win II Fort Leavenworth does not win four
straight games. In case Fort Leavenworth
goes straight through the tournament, a
post-tournament game will be played be-
tween Fort Omaha and Fort Leavenworth
for quite a stake, as both forts are sure
they have the best team.
Kansans Protest Wells.
Fort Omaha won from Fort Riley Sun
Gay afternoon and the Kansans protested
the game because Wells, a crack twirler
who has been sold by the Signal Corps to
Ducky Holmes, was allowed to pitch
Lieutenant Ware said. however, that the
matter would be all fixed up, as he had an
understanding that he could play both Nc
Gee and Wells. Both were former MEM
bers of the team but have secured their
releases that they may play professional
ball.
Some warm games are scheduled for
Monday. At 1870 Fort Crook meets Fort
Leavenworth and in the morning Fort
Riley will play Fort Des Moines. Tuesday
morning Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth
meet and Tuesday afternoon Fort Crook
and Fort Omaha will play.
The parade grounds we're beautiful, being
lined on all sides by banks Of people and
all sorts OF conveyances. Interest cen
tered in the ball game until the Thirteenth
infantry band began its concert, when
several thousand moved over to that sec
ton OF the parade grounds
All the soldier camps were open for in
spection and thousands wended their way
through the long rows Of tents. The first
group Of interest was the hospital corps,
which is tented near the entrance to the
fort at Thirtieth and Fort streets. Here
an idea was given of how Uncle Sam cares
for his sick and wounded.
The big balloon house was also a center
Of attraction at the post, as was also the
wireless telegraph station. Thousands Of
Omaha people had not visited these before
and had no idea Of the large sums Of money
the government was spending for its signal