Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 20, 1909)
TILE OMAIIA SUNDAY BEE: JUNE 20, 1909. S r f .X 'J V How the Omaha High School ADET8 cf the hiirh rhool reg c mcnt, which haa j ist finish! Its moat successful year with th recent en impmitnt, onm..e; tlve drill and military gradua- llon of officers, probably do not realise that some of their places mil be filled within a few yara by the aon of the soldier lada who i-omprimd the first companies of the old Omaha IMi;h's tadet battalion. Tet a backward glance over the hlatory of the battalion, which has recently grown In--) a regiment, will divulge the fact that the organisation of the first com pany of the corpa was effected In 1SSG, twenty-three years ago. and that more than a few of the boya who flint wore the Insignia of the school's military organisa tion are now married men entering the prime of life. Such a etate of affairs la observed, and "vlth It noma the memories to those who are old enough cf the struggle and ad vances, and additions and Improvements, and the occasional failures, too, that have marked the rlss of the early band of blulah gray coated youths Into a strongly or ganized, well disciplined and highly meritor ious regiment of boya who will soon be men and of whom many a proud parent speaks with pleasure. It was riot an eaay path, nor a quick one, which had to be followed through the last dctade and a half before- the present de gree of efficiency and excellence was reached. Only by continued and determined work toward a high standard did the earlier cadets, from the commanding officers down the line to the freshest privates, round their companies Into a progressive march that has only recently led to near-perfection. As would be expected In a military or ganization, "Forward" has been the watch word. Early "trua-srles of Cadets. Uniformed only in a cap and belt, using rickety old rifles loaned by the Grand Army and drilled by enthused but ignorant and Inexperienced cadet officers, the sin gle company of lads who flourished as the corps for two years following the fall of lfisO were the pioneers and forerunners of the present magnificent organisation. After two seasons of drill they gave up the project on account of lack of Interest, there being nothing to hold their efforts to the work. Five years went by without another at tempt at military work on the old capitol hill, when In 1893 the cadev corpa was re organized on a more permanent basis. A commander, to be known as, the com mandantand later, among the cadets, w hen he was not around, as the "Com." was secured. Lieutenant Julius A. Penn, on duty at Fort Omaha, was detailed by General Brooks, at the Instance of the secretary of war, to take charge of the bat talion, which consisted ot that time of four companies, only partially uniformed and equipped. lieutenant Fenn'a designation as com mandant was primarily flue to the "wire pulling" done, for the benefit of the bat talion by Superintendent of 8chools nti patrlck and Congressman Mercer, accord ing to early records, and, if so, they de serve the thanks of every high school boy and every cadet who has been graduated f.ir placing the battalion under suoh an able lender at Its birth. In 18 the first competitive drill was held among the companies and individuals, Company A winning handsome silk flag provided as the trophy and Bergeant Brown of Company C being declared the best in dividual driller. This: Innovation of com petitive drill at th close of each year helped to arouse renewed Interest In the "war department" of the school and made It an aotlve branch of the work for some time. Slnea then the company winnera each year have been as follows. . Company B lSWCompany C IMS Company D company w. Company A W Company E. Conioanv D lWCompany F. W04 .IS .in7 rnmoanv B lPOOCompnny C r',i,.v r iwjuompany j '12 Cnmrjany C LKttCompany A 1S0 During the years In which the Individual drill was held In connection with the con tests by companies, the winners were: 1895 Sergeant Brown Company C 18i-Private Norton Company O lst Hergsunt Moor Company A 1100 Sergeant Scrlbner Company C liwi Sergeant Wulluce Company A ISOA-Sergeant Pelster Company B ltfoi Sergeant Hay ward Company B J1W6 Sergeant Poller Company 11 l:KX Sergeant Ryan Company A lit07 Sergeant Peters Company H lHOSfcergeant Carrier Company D lao-8ereant Robert McCagu.. Company D Medals for Individual drill have been pr ented from time to time, a gold one being donated by the Thurston rifles In and another handsome one by Mawhtnney A Ryan, jeweler. In 1908. also contested for. silver medal is Growth of ta Realment. Th mention of Companies E and F would Indicate that th battalion grew in Is as It did In years. Wuloh 1 just what happened. In 1&8 only tour companies war uniformed completely, but a nun. Cj ( wit fe Company B. had been organised for boy ' . . , . .. who could not afford uniform. Later It became on of th beat drilled in th bat talion, winning th flag two year In suo oesslon. In 1904-05. Early In th aohool year lDOb-OL,. there were seven companies, but at th end of th year th number bad dropped down to five again, and then ran up to six within a yar, at whloh point th organisation was kept until th year just closed, when Ight companies, making two battalion, were formed on regimental line. This did not tnolud th signal corps, begun in the fall of 1901; th hospital oorps, which also originated about that time, and th high school band, from which th first music poured forth In 1900. Company Z, a glrla' club modeled on th plan of a cadet company, with captain, lieutenants, sergeant, corporals and the main body of member known aa private, oooupled a prominent plaoe In high school affair for seme ear, until It wa broken up by Principal Waterhous and the fao ulty a being toe "exclusive." During th .VV-. J; UNRULY .:; '. ; ' .:. :, . ; - r ,"..; ; 7 -rTV-v ir y . o ii my h ' i srhrffi fifth ' 'f. ' . i ' : ' J'V1 ; I .. ' ; - . JT "" ""' ' "j :7V'.1 : t;f:;;:; olosing weeks of cash school year the "Z" girls adopted different companies to sup port with their cheers, pennants, fudges other feminine enthusiasm, and with ineir interest and attendance the competi tive drill waa made a success each year. Another feature of the military organlsa- tlon was the C O. C, as every cadet thelr enlor atudles, their homes and sweet knows It. The Cadet Officers' club, organ- hearts nd ca8t their lot with Old Glory, lsed In ISM, was a union of the commis- to helP bring It through the fray, stoned oadet offloers to boost the battalion, na young soldier, a former cadet In the and It handled such affairs' aa the arrange- Omaha battalion, who not only won hon ment of camps, competitive drills and other or" nd medals for himself In the war, business of an Important nature. after giving up the completion of a unlver. - . slty course, but whose distinction In the Sow Have Been Service. army waa such that he has successfully Not only In the mild pursuit of slight followed the profession ever since, has military knowledge, but also In actual war- risen to the rank of captain In a highly fare, the Omaha High school cadetp have proved themselves brilliant On the pages i m.iorjr rw written me ueeo 01 vmana boy In the bloodshed and fighting follow- Emp Yung" Leag-ue Organized to Drive (Continued from Page On.) olor worn by th Japanese mniAimrm when In ti rlaM Aa - . . 1 1 V. m oldlers when In the field. A a result, he was taken for a Japanese, and narrowly escaped with his life. Th rebel who cap tured hlra Insisted he was lying when he told them he was a missionary and an American. It wa only hi fair hair and blu eyes that enabled him to hold them back, until some more Intelligent Korean arrived and convinced hi captor that he was speaking th truth. Another mission ary who was t avllng in blaok clothes wa also attacked and had a narrow escape. Rebel an Oar Conaal General. Borne of the Emp Yung operate In th mountain, not far from th capital, and pleasure parties from Seoul are often tn danger. A fw month ago Mr. Thomas Sammona, the American cohaul general, took a picnic trip with hi wife and son Into th mountain near her. They went In ohalrs and jlnrlnkishaa, and hi son, who la now a student In Harvard univer sity, led the procession. He was dressed In khaki, and a band of five rebels caught lght of hlin. The leveled their gun and i ; ! i " JAJPANSSB KLXHXirr THAT XS rUOODXNtt Omaha High School No. 1 General 'lew of Camp Davidson at Ashland. No. Company A. Captain Herbert Ryan, Winner of the Competitive Drill. No. -Individual Drill, winners; from left to right: Robert MoCague, Company D, first; Warren Howard, Company B, second; Lelund Wykert, Company D, third. No. 4 Orens Parade at Oamn Davidson. No. 6 Principal Graff, Lieutenant Haskell and Prof. Woolery at Camp Davidson. No. 6 Cadet Officer at Camp Davidson. BOMB VIEWS OF THE BOYS WHEN AT WORK. lng the destruction of the Maine In 1894. With the call for volunteers Issued Ty President-McKlnley In 1898 many a small, under-aged lad yearned to Join a company for Cuba, or later the Philippines, while not a few of the older cadets did leave technieM branch ot the service and has for the last two years been commandant or me eaaet or tne onool whlon h once attended himself, 1 Captain W. H. Oury. ordered th party to atop. Mr. 8ammons had a bunch of flower in her hand and h waved tn t th ,uppoBlng m friendly Koreans. In the meantime the consul general came up, and It was only with difficulty that he was able to show th men that they were American and to keep them from firing. Had these Emp Tung don as many of their felolws fre quently do, that I. shoot on sight, th boy would have been killed. Korean sad United states. This attack upon the consul general had nothing whatever to do with the feeling which many patrlotlo Korean now hold In regard to our country. Until the nreaant they have always looked upon us ss their best friends among the nations. It wa our government whloh made th first treaty that opened their land to the world. This was In 1882, when Commodore Shu feldt cam here with a fleet and had a conference with th king. In this treaty It wa stated that If other powers dealt un justly or oppressively with Korea that the United States would Interfere and try to bring about an amicable arrangement. Th ..V: KORXA. Boys Work and Play at Being: Soldiers Cadets in Camp As year by year passed, with only an or dinarily successful competitive drill at the close of the school season to act as a beacon light to best effort, the Interest of the boy soldiers waned and those In au thority cast about for some new feature to improve and encourage the drillers. They found It In the first annual encampment In 1902, which consisted of some real camp life for the battalion at the close of the year's work. From that time till the pres ent, the camp having been held every year. Interest has not lagged, nor does It prom- lae to do so unless the encampment feature la discontinued. Extract from Two Camp Diaries. I BY A FRESHMAN PRIVATE. First Day Got to camping ground after walking about fourteen miles, more or less, carrying gun that increased in weight with each step. The tents almost grew Korean conatrued this a meaning that wa would aupport them against any other nation In preserving their Independence. Before the emperor was deposed he sent commissioner to America, asking our aid against th Japanese, and the commis sioner were not received. Many of the people look upon this aa a breach of in ternational faith and feci that w have old them out to Japan, It was this that largely caused the as sassination of Steven. He was an Ameri can In the employ of the Japanese, and was then on his way to Washington, as they thought, to put another nail in Korea's coffin. They were woefully mls- ken' for Stevens, like his master. Prince Ito, was one of the best friends that the Korean people have ever had, and he was laboring to give them Independence Under the protection of Japan. I understand that the recent visit of our fleet to Japan was another thorn in the flesh of Korea, as In that act we seemed to have allied ourselves with their enemy. The first report of the fleet w hlch was dis tributed over Korea was that It was coin- lng to recapture this country and put the retired emperor back on his throne as well as to conquer Japan. Another story published last fall was that 8.000 American were coming to Korea to spy out the land and prepare the way for a big force, w hlch should punish Japan. This, when sifted down, proved to be the small company of men and women who have since arrived from England to or ganise a Salvation Army movement In Korea. Koreans Mut Stay at Home. Notwithstanding this feeling, many Ko reans would now like to go to America, and they bitterly resent the provisions of the Japanese which prevent their leaving the country. They are not allowed to sail for th United States from any of the Korean ports, and If they should go to China they would be kept from sailing to America via Shanghai. Some of the people want to go Just because they cannot. One of the b!g problems of the Jepanes government in Korea Is the control of their cum of the overcrowded western part of th Japanese empire, whose civilisation I far below that of th eastern coasts. It comprise all such characters as go to our tplnlng camps on th noise of a big gold erlaoovary. There are gambler and row- and in Competition out of the ground, they went up so fast, and I soon got lost among them In trying to steal a march on the cook and "mooch" some crackers from the grub tent. - Second Day Didn't sleep a wink last night. Wish I had, as our captain says we have to drill four hours a day and get up before 6 a. m. Some guy stole my white belt and I had to carry my bayonet scabbard on a piece of suspenders. Third Day Tried to run the guard last night, so as to buy some mosquito dope in town. Got nabbed and had to peel Wuds all day. Made It nice for the cooks. Fourth Day Visitors' day. Mamma brought me some real food, which , soon disappeared, either into me and the oth ers, or else our camp boxes for future reference and stomach ache. Fifth Day The cold gray dawn of the morninsr after. All the folks from home went back on the special train and w the Japanese oies, arunaaras ana loarers ana men who have left their country for their country's good; and there are business men of shady reputation who are glad to make money In any questionable way. It would not be fair to say that the whole Immigration Is of this nature; but a goodly part of It is so, and aa usual the bad men and women pu:h their way to the front. The faces of many of the Japanese one meets are not friendly. They stare at you as though they thought you had no right in Korea, and make no bones of brushing against the foreigner, or crowding him to the side of the road. It there la resentment there Is sure! to be trouble, and if one is off by hlmnelf end away from the police, he may have to fight for his rights with the odds all against him. I know of foreign men and women w-tio have been struck by drunken Japanese, and there are numer ous instances where the Korean servants of forelKiiers have been Ill-treated by Jap anese coolies. Money Whnrks and Lssl Grabbers. Ii is from this element that the so- called outrages of the Japanese upon th Koreans come, and at present the situation Is such that It Is difficult to hold It tn check. The Koreans are simple, and a Japanese will loan money to them on tholr houses and lands on condition that he la to have the property It the debt Is not paid. These loans are at high rates of Interest, such as have always been common In Korea. I hear of mortgages at 10 per cent a month, and about the lowest rat i charted by any one outside the banks la 25 per cent yearly. Such Interest rate oon est up the property, smd It goes Into the 1 ai 1." of the Japanese. In the past the Koreans have been loaning money to their f.'llows on condition that the prop erty should be given up without sale In case the loans' were not paid. By the new laws of the Japanese this Is forhlildnn, and sal km muyt be made, the surplus over the rit-tit fiolng back to the debtor and the ordltor gettinr; nly the amount of his loan and the lntne.it accrued. Most of the Koreans do not know of this new law, and an unscrupulous creditor can often take a $10,0u0 properly for a loan of 5,049 or leas If th man cannot raise th money in cash at the time it la due. I understand that Korea 1 overrun with money lender Just now, and that much o guys had to keep ,up appearances by dls- posing of the rest of the eatings they brought. But they didn't taste so good after the folks left, and the effect today Is still worse. Then, to make things worse yet, a bunch of sophs, the wise fools, grabbed me and tossed me In a blanket. I felt when I got Into the air as If I might get separated from all the junk I had eaten. Last Day Gee.! but It's fierce to think that stuff's off till next year's camp. We broke camp early and got home In time for a late dinner, which tasted like a lost brother feels when you shake hands with him after he come back horn:. Il-BY A CAPTAIN. First day: Things look good for the best camp of my four years of drill. The men are In fine shape for getting down to work for that flag, and the weatber looks as If It might not rain more than once a day. Out of Korea ine town property nas aireaay peen mort- gaged. It Is estimated that at least M per cent of the houses of Seoul and other Korean cltiea are so Incumbered. On of th Korean paper estimate the mort- gages of Seoul at 80 per cent and states that the Japanese go about and offer to make loans to any of the property owner who are willing to take them. This propo- sltlon is most attractive to the simple Korean. He borrows without thinking how he shall meet his debt when due. The In terest accumulates and he loses hi prop- rty. Inded, th. prospect 1 that the beat Korean lands and house will find their way Into the hand ot Japanese through methods like these. FRANK O. CARPENTER. rK 7f -7'r '7 - V V."?.,, -.v: .v ,rA' Vi . I i ..vv.;-'.v-;'. ':.-.-.-'yv1 ' . 1 ': .v- OFFICIAL WHO HAVB r The Com. ha ona great Ideas for ra nlng the outfit and Is liable to take all the kink out of the rookie (green prlr ate-) with ode day' drill. Wrote her (meaning the company sponsor) to com down to camp on visitor's day. Second day: Had the deuee of a tlm putting the freshmen to bed last night. They Insisted on singing lullabies and tell ing stories ot what they were going to do to the sophs, until I had to soak a bunch of them with cook detail work. Then th rest went to sleep and dreamed of th death of Caesar and th buriat ot exami nations. Third day: Oot a letter from her. She' coming alright, with a big basket, a lot of fudge, some cheer for the company and I almost forgot, her folks and mine. I was Officer of the day today, and some sport, too, with th right to wear a fancy leather sword belt, boss the camp and watch other work. Fourth day: They the visitors arrived tat and my whlto ducks almost lost their creases from anxiety. She looks swell, with a dress made In the company color. Had no drills except guard mounting inU dress parade. After she and the olhets left, we officers hnd a banquet In my tent, with cots for tables, palls for chairs, bayonet for candlesticks, pieces of wooden plate for eating tools anil the visitor's leaving for grub. Kept on eating In the dark after tups end the Com. didn't get next at all. When nothing more was left to eat w decided to turn In. Fifth day: Wish the visitor hadn't brourht so much to eat. Thoy made us all see Cicero and Virgil, also Chaucer nnd other ghosts last night. The doctor's tont did a land offlco business this a. m. Had chickens on the half shell for dinner to day. The cook called them boiled eg, but he was Just acting fresh to lllustrvt a prehlstorlo condition of the "egns." Sixth day: Kun and work closed today and we packed up for "home, swert homo." Some great camp, all right, and the com . pany Is all ready to win the flair. Think I shall sleep all day tomorrow to make up for lost time. Roster of the HesMment. On Friday evening of the last week, with the graduation of the class of 1909 from th school forty-two (?) commissioned officer of the regiment were given their diploma for satisfactory completion of four yenr cadet drill. They comprised the personnel of the regimental, battalion and company Htaffs, which Is as follows: REGIMENTAL STAFF. Cnptsln and adjutant. Claude Neavles. Cnptaln and quartermaster Will Hayne, Captain and ordnance offloer, Frederlo McConnell. Cnptaln and commissary, Lawrenc Frlcke. FIRST BATTALION. Major, Sam Carrier. First lieutenant and adjutant. J"' k ltowen. Second lieutenant and quartermaster, Hert ITene. Companv TV Officer In command, Sam Carrier; lieutenants, De timer, Ma lor Parish anil Ileyn. Company C Captain. Sigurd T.arm n; lieutenants, Ruffington. Nelson and Black- Company O Captain. Harry Druckerj lieutenants, Sears and Entrlkln. Companv 1 1 Cnptaln. Jo Nonne; lieu tenants. Frederlckson, Younor and Brodky. SECOND BATTALION. Major, Max Flothow. Fli-Ht lieutenant and adjutant. Stanton Salisbury, Second lieutenant and quartermaster, Fred Meyer. . Compnnv E Officer In command. Major Max Flothow; lieutenants, Buchanan, Carl son and Egan. , . . Companv B Captain. Don Wood: lieu tenants. Babbitt, I'rentiBS and Larmon. Company A-Captaln, Herbert RV"". lieutenants, Rlchey, Carpenter and Aycr gg. Company F-Captaln. Howard Roe; lieu tenants, Roberts, Rogers and Kellner. CADET BAND. TTnder the direction of Al Falrbrother, an Omaha High school alumnus. First lieutenant, George Klewlt. Second lieutenant, Arthur Marowlt. Third lieutenant, Alma Rannle. During the last few weeks of th school season Captain Oury, the commandant, was away under orders from the War de partment leading his company ot signal corpa regulars overland to Fort Riley. In his place was First Lieutenant W. N. Has kell, signal oorps, Fort Omaha, who ably filled the place left temporarily vacant. Tear Was Successful. One of the mot successful years of drill, with decidedly the most successful en campment and competitive drill, ever hold, by the Omaha High school cadets 1 Just over, ao that more than ever can th mothers and father of the oldler lads think with pride of their sons. Just a Miss Anna T. Adams, on of th high school teacher, thought of th boy whn Admiral Schley was In Omaha after his famous campaign off Santiago. The cadet battalion acted a part of Ad miral Schley' escort on th occasion of hi first publlo appearanoe her. Miss Adams was an interested speotator during the parade of th troop and carriage past the reviewing stand where ah sat. It hanDened that the high school cadets marched in the procession next to th seo- tlon ot th parade In which th admlaal wa. "Why, where 1 Admiral Schley T" queried Miss Adams, after th carriages and cadet had passed. "I didn't see him." The truth of the matter -was that In hr absorbed Interest In th high ohool lad h haa "ntlrely overlooked the honor ueBt nd centr1 fl8rure of th procession. juri so H is wiin mo mgii sunoui caaeis. In th estimation of the fond relatives and friends whose Interests are their. Th boys may not be the best In th world and thelr drin may ,ailly b, ,urpaed In very respect by th regular who barrack In the nation's forts, but th cadet are Our Boya That makes th difference. . .... . .' ' . .v' )'':''7..:'j77i f ' (' .'.'-'-i $ LOST THEIR JOBS. 15 If, 4 'd ee in 4s Ith the Ita, iter fe :f low to i'Of writ-1, ok 111 k Ick. for th in, Pt wn c. th lng (nto (vas nt rth tad ,DW- Ith the lade iah )han fave and ap, me pes. Jth me tiad th (or top r " (Uch ))ln Keni i by I hi nth Ifih,