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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 1906)
JT. 1TLE OMAHA' ": SUNDAY BEE! ' SEPTEMBER 2, 1906. Nebraska National Guard in Summer Instruction Gamp at Fort Riley 7 v sj -sfv- j, V- , - v1"- .ek . 'J' ' r ' 1 it CAMP OF F.ii.iu villi;- fiinni. .lull. I street to country road, from soft 1 mlltfira.. It hra.a Kail, in DAU A. Ml of, hay on the hard ground, from dlnlna: table to Ian. and doiena M otfter extremes vastly more trying to the Inexperlenced-thls was the transition in jeM than twenty-four hours for most of the thousand odd young Ne braskans hen they, as the rank and file f tha Flrej and 8econd Infantry regiments f tha Neblraska National Guard, with tha trtlllery, engineers, signal corps and imbulancel deUchment, went to tha military feservatlon at Fort Riley, Kaa., Kit first week of August, to participate In the carnp of Instruction 'established there by Uncjfe Sam for his soldier boys.' Pale of face, sfoft of hand, they left their homes; browri as Indians and calloused they re turned. It was, of course, only a vacation Jtrlnfor many of them, and looked UDon as a ark. But. before the course laid out them had been completed, the patrio tism and military seal of many a kahkl clad youth . was stretched nigh unto tha breaking point, Hard Work for G-ardssae. j For tft ten day at the camp of Instruc tion waa not like the regular annual en campment of the National Guard. Uncle 3amuel did not arrange (hat immense camp jnerely to furnish a few days' sport for I'.ot of energetic young men, with only a .Semblance of military discipline. No, in 7 4 N;RjSKA BRIGADB AT FORT RH.EY, KAN., AFTEH A HARD MARCH IN FRONT OF BRIGADE HEADQ U ART E R8. How the TTTT.W nld Nt Turk vu stirred LI to the very center during I tha last week ' bv Nebraska. It 1 1 wasn't only tne ianaing ot. William Jennings Bryan that made Father Knickerbocker sit up and look about, although that was the main oc casion for the uprising. ' The real Interest centered around the "home folks," ' who gathered there to give a western welcome no a western man. What these fellows did for New York is still being told In ths (newspaper, and from the Battery to the Bronx the old town was given a thorough going over. Not a . bet was overlooked. by that bunch ot live wires, but everything was played wldo open clear across the layout, and If there was piker In the lot. he hasn't been heard from as yet. Former Councilman Dave O'Brien waa the advance agent for the push, and he had things pretty wull het up before ths boys all got .there. On helr arrival he took Mayor Jim. Dahlinah in with him. and from that time till the. day of departure Dave and, his piccolo voice and Jim and his lariat were the most talked of things In New Tork. But these weren't Mie whole 'how, not by a Jugfull. Mayor Brown, i Mayor Hunker, Mayor Ward, Mayor Bin ! key. Mayor M'atake, - Mayor Qerlng and Mayor Fteitag, Mayor Ullg and Mayor jMcCrae, each and all of whom aided In .keeping the name of Nebraska to the front 'during the week. Then there -was a crowd of unterrlfled wheelhorsea " and., hard . workers who pulled from morning till 'dewy eve, and back again for the peerless leader and anything else in sight. All of j these combined made matters. move Just a little bit swifter than seemed good for ths eyes of the New Yorkers. . , Ths pictures published herewith are from photographs made expressly for The Bee 'and anew Mr. Bryan and the home folks ! on. ths tug after he had been captured j away from the reception committee and taken among tils own people. The well IX IX ... 7 THIS NEBRASKA. BRIGADE! AT FORT deed. The boys were sent down there to work and learn and to their great credit, let it be said, work and learn they did with less grumbling than if It had been their regular chosen dally toil at full man's wages. Under broiling sun they climbed steep and rocky hills, pushed through tilgh weeds and brush, got wet In creeks and rain and dewy grass, charged over fields when the very rocks sitzled in the heat, until the more tender dropped to the ground to be picked up by the ambulance, unable to keep up with their comrades. Still, seldom a murmur down the whole long line of tha country's Independent citizen soldiers. All over the Union ttiese scenes have been and are being enacted this summer. Within easy reach of every state, regular troops have been marched to concentration points, there to meet the militia and together flghr Imaginary battles and live actual army life in a camp of instruction. Hard Night oa Train. Tha dates set for the Nebraska troops to go Into camp at Fort Riley were from August t to IS, inclusive Accordingly on August I the military organizations of the state boarded trains and met at Lincoln, from where they were forwarded In six trains to the camp. Companies L of the First, and G and I of the Second regiment, the three Omaha companies, left the Burlington station in the afternoon, arriving at Llncol'. before night, and lay there until long after dark, before the Journey was resumed. It was the first 7 r it Home Folks Greeted W. J. Bryan in the New York Harbor known smile of Mr. Bryan Is squalled by ths complacent smile of Mayor Jim, and the sxpanalvs grin ot Councilman Dave Is too well known In Nebraska to need Identi- ;7RU BRYAN AN0 . .", N- r... , '-'-- ...... .rr . - , -.v .'vi:- 4 '. ' jS j" v ' U i lv - ecs. mi -7'h . 4 i. iv . rv ..... .. . v . U ' . ' 1 HTLET, KANSAS. night out for the boys and a tiresome one in the uncomfortable sleeping quarters, and they loked forward eagerly toward morning, when they should reach camp. The night had been warm and clear when they left Nebraska and car windows fud been left open. But when daylight cam) and the first tired soldier opened his sleepy eyes, It was to give the alarm that it was raining, and those on the windy side of the train rose to find at least a portion of their clothing soaked. It continued to rain nearly all morning, boding 111 fov the time to pitch tents. At last camp was reached, and in the faTn and deep mud the boys went at the work of hauling the equipment to where the respective company streets were as signed. In an Incredibly short time, whera before waa but a bare slope of ground, stood a city of newly-Issued kahkl Sib ley tents, laid out in perfect order. Next the men dug dra'n ditches to keep the water out of their cloth houses and oil their streets. Camp Routine Commences. The Nebraska guard reached camp on Saturday, and nothing further than get ting settled was attempted until gua.-d mount at 6 o'clock p. m. The next day was 8unday and this also was given over to getting accustomed to being In camp. A drenching rain in the forenoon put rn end to the plans for church and gave the men an opportunity to test the efficacy of the trenches they had dug, ON A nOT AFTERNOON GENERAL J. flcatlon. City Clerk Dan Butler looms up In one of ths pictures and in the other Editor Newbranch seems to be taking him. self seriously. Ths hitherto irrepressible :7'. i 'AW - DiHI AN ON THE NEBRASKA DELEGATION'S TCO. Monday morning the men were given two hours of battalion drill. It was evidently the Intention of the officers to break the men in gently, for they were hardly taken out of the company streets for the morning drill, and In the afternoon were only marched to a field adjoining the militia camp for another two hours of close order work. On Tuesday they were taken still farther for extended order, and on Wednes day the same, the marches being gradually lengthened. In Battle Array. Thursday was the big day for the Ne braska troops, for they were then to par ticipate In an extensive battele exercise with the regular Something like 10,000 men, Including every branch of the serv ice, were arrayed on both sides. To the old soldier of civil war days the sight of the long lines of marching men and guns. the trotting troops of cavalry, one after another, and the lumbering artillery, must have set his blood running anew with life. The men were sent out In heavy marching order, except for blanket rolls, which they were allowed to leave behind. And well It was they were relieved of this additional burden, for the day proved extremely hot, and those bald hills afford no shade to suffering man. Rations for one meal were taken by each man and blank ammunition was issued. The opposing sides were made up to the "blues" and the "browns;" that is, one side wore the khaki blouses and the other bluo shirts. Umpires went with them, they and all "noncombatants" being obliged to wear prescribed insignia or run the risk of capture. Tho usual time for reveille at camp was I o'clock, but ou this morning the soldiers were awakened at 4 o'clock, at which time It la still dark, and by o'clock they were H. CULVER AND STAFF IN FOREGROUND; FIRST REGIMENT AND BAND' ON LEFT. BECONt HBGIMENT AND BAND ..'' Richmond doesn't appear in either of ths photos, but it will be nqticed that some of theNew York reporters are very busy getting what Mr. Bryan is saying. Other - 't ; m - -.J n j 0 on th march. Tor hours thy tnarcheil, halted and marched as-ln, drployed, Bkulkpd. Brclutd. rtrAtMl. rrmmlmtt ftnd climbed, while the lun poured IU heat down upon them mercilessly, but It was about ,w,- h.fn, th- -.ti. w.- ,n. the commands on both sides had been, fight ing strategical battles, as positions and the actions of the troops must count for nearly everything when real bullet, are Progress of the Fight. As tha afternoon wore on the battle be- came general. Cannon roared, artillely Orove up at a gallop, wheeled, poured forth a volley, and a. quickly was gone again; cavalry appeared suddenly over a rise and in beautiful lines charged madly on lines of blue or brown, to be beaten back or go through as might seem most likely; In fantry deployed and long line, of men moved slowly up hill and down on the other side, crossed valleys and began climbing sgaln In the advances,, halting to fire at intervals as they neared the enemy, and at last, as though their lives depended upon their work that day, charged and yelled until an onlooker might think they were really bent on shedding blood. It waa very pretty and blood-stirring to look at But so far as the Individual pri- vate soldier was concerned he knew very Omahans, while the subject of inspections little about what waa going on. He ran is mentioned, to know that an Omaha coin or walked or. lay down, or shot, hi. blank pany .was given the distinction by the cartridges, as he was ordered to by his regular army officers of being composed of officers, but didn't know whether the day the finest bqdy of men, who put up the was being won or not His work was prtix-,' best appearance as soldiers, had their clpally to carry out what he had been runs, equipment, and tents in better shape,' drilled in before. The battle exercises were than any other company in the two regi more for the benefit of the officers, and to ments. This honor was given to Company them they were of Infinite good. The first L. (Thurston Rifles), of the First regiment, day's encountor lasted well on into the on two separate occasions following inspeo aftirnoon, and when at last, toward mess tlons, and Captain Btehr. the company time, the boys came trudging back.' they commander, was. congratulated upon the felt that, in spite of the awful heat and standard of bis organization. ' the miles and miles of marching, to say A sight which was new to the militia nothing of the running on the stony and which attracted them so much as to slippery hillsides, they had ' had aa expe- nearly lnterfero with their own work, was Hence which they would net have missed ths sudden , change when the "general" even had they known in advance what' was blown. oa Wednesday. Instead ot a . .....!.' faces familiar enough In Nebraska will be noticed In ths pictures. Ths special train with ths Nebraskans :777 7; V?V7'7::'v7;:V;,'7.7'v , ' - ; JiRYANS hardshlp waa entailed in the (raining of It. , On Friday the entire camp waa aguin routed out at 4 o'clock In the morning aud by o'clock waa on the move,, but thla time with only canteens and haversacka. The problem to be worked out that day demanded a great deal of marc on the part of the aoldlers, but It w-a cloudy and rained a little, to they stood It better than On the previous day. The marching Bd countermarching, deploying and ad- J'nclng occupied nearly all forenoon ai: the battle opened in earnest about 11 o clod Mid .'clock. Just as the blues were preparing for a lust general advance and charge, the shrill notes of the bugle at the chief umpire's .a ihortly afterward compny 0f- fleers were ordered to examine ammunition belts. ' It waa then learned that boll ainmu. nltlon n,d bn fired on both .Idea. Further operations were called oft and the several commands "! back, t0 ,can,P- .Th th" 'Bt baUlo exercise in which the v Thurston Rifle. Win Credit. Saturday was payday and brigade Inspec tion, and the. latter ordeal proved al most the hardest task asked of the boys to perform, particularly as they. were uri. able to see the necessity of marching two miles under a broiling sun, . loaded down with gun, haversack, canteen, blanket-roll nd everything they had belonging to tha state, to a field where the two regiments lined up, when a field of ample slse adjoined their camp. It might be a matter of pride to many on board Is now on Its way horns, with a tired but happy party on board. Ths whole affair Is unique In the annals ot American affairs, for never before did a 1 JKJ U FIRST SPEECH IN AMERICA AFTER JUS tests- ' i , W Z-ySKjf&'Xb&s;t. 7 ' r A O v J v y iirtfSnTv - . - - . 7 . -.77 field of tightly-drawn tents, almost as far as the eye could reach, It changed In a twinkling to a field of poles with the (an cloth folded upon them. This was done In the morning to allow a perfect airing of the ground under the tents, and In the late afternoon, they were replaced as be fore. The mllltla were ordered to move their tents Into the company streets for the day. ' Tip from the Regntars. One of the greatest sources of benefit for the mllltla boys was the association with the men of the regular army. Tha regular, made free to enter the mllltla camp every evening, and while they often laughed outright at the errors of tha awkward "rookey" at guard mount, they taught the citizen soldiers many tricks of the trade which they had learned only through years of service. They taught many of the boys how to care for their guns, and groups of regulars and militia men could be aeen in every company street at night, earnestly discussing the art of be ing a soldier In a most friendly manner. Ths citizens admitted frankly that they knew but little about soldiering, but said they were- there to learn, and the regulars never let pass an opportunity to help them. The picture shown herewith of the bri gade of Nebraska infantry waa taken on the return of the two regiments from ths Ogden flats where, in a scorching sun, they drilled for two hours, marching to ' and from the field, a distance of about two miles, with but one rest each way. Ths men were very tired and longed for ths order "dismissed," but were obliged to draw up in front of brigade headquarters, while the photographer on a specially built tower, secured an exposure. Hundreds of stories, humorous and Otherwise, could be related about the ex perience of the men at Fort Riley this year, but camp incidents are very much the same from year to year, and fall to Interest from frequent repetition. The In cidents may be Just as serious, the ex perience Just as fearful to those involved as they were the . first time the world ever hVd a sollder, but they have lost their power to Interest. . But let this bs said. If anyone thinks that the Fort Riley instruction camp was only a Joke the Ne braska boys worked some down thera i ON RIGHT; PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN V private citizen get such a greeting from hl fellow countrymen, and as a reception it la likely to stand a record for a long Um .. - vv i JOURNEY, '.,'' ' ? V ;: i
