Iowa
Old Press
Fredericksburg News
Fredericksburg, Chickasaw co. Iowa
August 25, 1898
D.A. Jackson, Publisher
Letter from Roscoe D. Randall
Jacksonville, Fla. August 16th, 1898
Well! I will tell you old friends this army life is a darned
funny thing, but its all right, for they don't expect much of a
fellow any way. The first thing in the morningis; "fall in
for roll call, and get called down if your shut ain't buttoned,
and then go on 'extra duty' if you don't answer 'here' when your
name is called. The the fellow with the cornet, he comes out
where all can see and hear him as he blows the "mess
call." Soup, soup, soup; without a single bean. Pork, pork,
pork, without a bit of lean, or words to that effect. We've got
so we all know that call. Then comes, "fall in for company
drill." I "fell in" with the rest, and the first
time I went out I was doing just my level best, when I stubbed my
toe and down I went, and the whole darned company walked right
over me, swearing cuss words all the time they were doing it.
Then the captain stepped back and he says to me "fall in the
rear and keep your eyes open." When we came in from drill, I
wiped the sand off my gun and put it up. Just then, the Orderly
Sergeant marched down the Co. steet, yelling; "Squad No. 5
(that's me) does policing today." Well, I didn't know what
in thunder he meant, and so I said: "I can't go on police
duty without any uniform," but the Sergeant says; "your
clothes are good enough," and so out I went, armed with a
garden rake and shovel. "Just like section work" says
I, and I found out mighty quick that "policeing" in the
army means cleaning up the camp. I had just lost sight of rake
and shovel, when out comes the cornet feller again, tooting the
"mess call" as before. I wondered why they called it
"mess call" but soon found out its because they cook
everyting in the same pot. Well, after dinner, I felt mighty
tired and thought I would try and take a nap, and had just
sprawled out in my tent when along comes one of these chaps with
stripes an inch wide down his pants. When he saw me says he;
"are you in squad No. 5?" and I struck as near a
soldier's position as I knew how and promptly answered "Yes
sir." "Well" says he: "then my boy, you are
on police duty today." Says I: "guess not, Sergeant,
we've got that job done long ago." He says: "Oh no, you
haven't policed around the mess tent yet." So I had to 'get'
again, but it looked funny to me to see one of the fellows with
the stripes on his pants, around all the time bossing the job,
but the boys would walk up and slap me on the shoulder and say:
"you are a fine fellow, have you got any chewing
tobacco?" Of course I couldn't refuse an old comrade. Just
then out comes the cornet chap again, and the fellow with stripes
on his legs comes along saying: "Put up them farm tools and
get ready for batallion drill." Well I got along bully in
that, for they put me in the rear rank and told me all I had to
do was to keep my eyes open and follow the man right ahead of me.
This I did and never made a mistake. I thought I was a soldier
sure when I got so I knew what the captain mean when he shouted:
"four right" "column right"
"March!!" When we got in from drill I thought I will
get some rest now sure, when along comes the fellow with the
stripes again and says: "come on feller, we've got to finish
up that policing." Well, I thought, other things may change
but they don't change the meaning of that word at all, and so we
had another hour of policeing, then out come that cornet fellow
and right behind him the sergeant with the wide stripes:
"Co. M fall in for dress parade." This was something
entirely new to me and of course I thought they wanted me to get
into my new pants and coat, which I did in a hurry and rushed
right out among the boys, so as to be on time once, when another
fellow with stripes down his legs yelled at me: "Go back and
get your gun and get your place in the ranks as quick as you can,
or you will be marked for extra duty (that's policing)
tomorrow." "Its all right this time, but you want to be
more prompt about falling in." I fell right in and all went
off nicely as far as I could see, but of course, being my first
time, I s'pose they allowed a little for shrinkage. Well, we got
in from "dress parade" and had just not nicely settled
down one more, when out comes the cornet feller again tooting
"fall in for mess." which means supper. When supper was
over, I thought, now I'll go to bed, and had just got my blanket
fixed in nice shape, when that tireless tooter again sounded
"fall in for roll call with arms." so this time I got
my gun and "fell in" and "lined up" for
"roll call." Then the feller with stripes again showed
up and the order came "port arms" "open
chamber" "close chamber" (I wondered if he thought
we had loaded our guns when hadn't had a bit of ammunition since
we came into camp life.) "Fall out" was a welcome order
and then I went to bed for sure and had settled down for a
soldier's nap; when one of the chaps with the striped legs came
around with a lantern and says: "Who are you?" Giving
him my name, (and rank) I asked him what in thunder he was going
to do now, and he said he was around checking up those who were
in, and away he went, and I laid down once more quite contented
and had almost got to sleep when the cornet teller tooted once
more. I rolled out lively to see what was the matter, when the
boys told me it was bed time and the bugle was bidding us
"good night", so I rolled in again and was soon sound
asleep and next week I will tell you my dream.
Yours Truly,
Roscoe D. Randall
Co. M 49th Reg't Iowa Vol.
Haugen Nominated.
At the Congressional Convention held at New Hampton, Aug. 24-25,
G.N. Haugen of Worth county was nominated on the 367th ballot.
The Updegraff forces seeing that their candidate could not be
nominated went solid for Mr. Haugen. ON the last ballot it stood
as follows:
Haugen - Worth, 14; Winneshiek, 32; Fayette, 29; Clayton, 26;
Mitchell, 20. Total 121.
Blythe - Allamakee, 23; Cerro Gordo, 20; Chickasaw, 18; Floyd,
21; Howard, 16. Total 98.
Personals.
-Silas and Rufus Potter went to Minnesota Saturday on a business
trip.
- Mrs. Geo. Wells of New Hampton spent the Sabbath with Charles
Simpson and family.
-Miss Edna Lowe of Sumner is visiting with her friend, Miss
Maggie Copeland this week.
-C.A. Mohling of Bremer county visited with his son, W.H. and
family Friday of last week.
-I.N. Ellison left Wednesday for Renova, Minn., where he will try
and get a job with a threshing crew.
-Mrs. R.W. Kiddar returned Saturday from Bird Island, Minn. She
has been vsiting a sister at that place.
-Miss Millie Hubbard of Oelwein is visiting at the home of her
grand parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Mark.
-Miss Ada Mohling and Miss Pearl Davis of Tripoli visited at the
home of W.H. Mohling Friday and Saturday.
-Miss Flora Monks after several days pleasantly spent visiting at
the home of her aunt, Mrs. L.A. Stearns, returned Saturday to her
home at Rockford, Ill.
-C.W. and F.G. Van Gordon and wives of Hixton, Wisconsin, arrived
here Wednesday and are visiting at the home of their sister, Mrs.
H.B. Carpenter.
-E.F. Beebe, he of washing machine fame, was in Fredericksburg a
hew hours Saturday afternoon. He is now working the territory in
the vicinity of Elma.
-Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Coup and F.S. Sloan and Miss Lizzie Young were
Clear Lake visitors Sunday.
-S.H. Holcomb has been on the sick list the past week and
arguments in Fredericksburg have been at a standstill. His many
friends will hope to see him out soon.
-Leslie Eldred of Sibley, Iowa, formerly a clerk in Taylor's drug
store, came up Monday to attend the Dobson - Calkins nuptials.
-F.E. Thorne left for the Chicago markets Friday to purchase a
big stock of fall and winter goods. Before returning home he will
go to Pecatonica, Ill., where he will visit a few days.
-Tuesday a son of Wilbur Simons' fell out of a wagon and
fractured both bones in the left arm. Dr. Johnston was called and
reduced the fracture and the boy is now getting along nicely.
-Miss Maude Schanck returned home Saturday from an extended visit
with relatives and friends at Mason City, Algona and Ft. Dodge.
-J.C. Thorne left for Devil's Lake, North Dakota yesterday where
he will remain until after the hay fever season.
-Fred Swale and wife of Mentor leave today for Missouri where
they will visit with Mr. and Mrs. Walter McFarland.
-Mrs. Benj. Clark who has been making her home here with her
parents for a few months went to Chicago Friday having secured a
position as stenographer for the same house that employes her
sister, Miss Florence Case.
-Mrs. W.L. Borst and children of Independence visited from
Saturday until Wednesday with Joe Copeland and family.
-Miss Mary Copeland and Leo Copeland returned home Monday from
Volga City where they had been visiting for several days.
-Mrs. W.H. Mohling and little daughter, Lydia, accompanied by
Miss Della Sohle of Bremer, Iowa took the passenger Tuesday
morning for Palatine, Ill., where they will visit with relatives
for a couple of weeks. W.H. looks lonesome already.
-Mrs. E.C. Young who has been visiting with relatives at Humbolt,
Iowa for several weeks returned to Fredericksburg Saturday.
-Mrs. R.W. Kidder left Wednesday for her home at Salt Lake City,
Utah. Mrs. Kidder has a host of warm friends in Chickasaw county.
-Earl Gates and Ike Mahoney of New Hampton were 'Burg visitors
Saturday.
-C.H. Sherman returned from Minneapolis Tuesday accompanied by
his son Neil. Neil who had his wrist broken recently is getting
along nicely.
-The Baptist Aid Society will serve a ten cent supper, at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Howe, Friday, Aug. 26th. They most cordially
invite all to come.
-Mrs. Benj. Inman of Des Moines was the guest of Mr. and mrs.
Frank Courtney over Sunday. Mrs. Inman is a daughter of the late
Mrs. Addie Mourer.
-Mrs. Wilford Smith left Sunday evening for West Union being
called there on account of the serious sickness of her borther,
Mr. Van Sickle. Mr. Van Sickle is the husband of Mr. and Mrs.
Potter's daughter, Mable.
-Lost: A fur trimmed collerette with plaid silk lining somewhere
between Fredericksburg and Williamstown. Finder will please leave
at News office. Bertha Dayton.
Dobson - Calkins Nuptials.
At New Hampton, Tuesday August 23, 1898, occurred the marriage of
Miss Floy Calkins of Fredericksburg and Mr. W.A. Dobson of
Waterloo. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Pottle at the
Congregational parsonage and was witnessed by Miss Bertha Dayton
of this place and L.M. Eldred of Sibley, Iowa. Miss Calkins is
the only daughter of our esteemed townsman, J.G. Calkins, and has
lived here many years and enjoys the esteem of all our people and
they will wish for her a happy wedded life. Mr. Dobson, the
groom, is a traveling salesman for a hardware house and is in
every way worthy of the girl he has chosen as his wife. The young
couple took the train for Minneapolis immediately after the
ceremony where they will visit a few days and will then come back
to Fredericksburg and from here go to their future home at
Waterloo. May peace happiness and prosperity attend the union of
this couple is the wish of the entire community.
Iowa News.
Davenport, August 20 - As a result of a quarrel over a debt,
William Miller is a corpse and his slayer, Charles Stegall, is at
large. Trouble has been brewing for some time and culminated
fatally when the two next met. Warm words were at first exchanged
between the two men who afterward clinched. During the struggle
which followed, Stegall drew a knife and gave Miller his death
blow. Both are colored.
Winterset, August 22 - William Delane, a farmer living northwest
of Winterset, was engaged with some other men in shelling corn.
Delane was working inside of a crib built of poles, when it
unexpectedly gave way, falling on Mr. Delane. He was dug out and
it was found that one rib was broken and one lung crushed. He
died a few hours later.
Des Moines, August 23 - The state board of control has given out
its decision in the case against H.W. Rothert, superintendent of
the Iowa school for the deaf for the past eleven years, which
Judge Kinne and ex-Governor Larrabee have been investigating. The
board clears Supt. Rothert of all charges against him and
re-elects him.
Carroll, August 21 - Burglars broke into the residence of John
Smith and stole $175, his watch and chain and a revolver. Mr.
Smith's "North Star" saloon was also broken into, but
nothing was missed. The store of A.C. Maneman was also broken
into and all the clothing taken, amounting to nearly $500 in
value. No clue to the burglars.
Clinton, August 20 - William Davis, superintendent of the Clinton
Bridge and Iron works, accidentally shot himself while cleaning a
revolver in a room at the Windsor hotel. The bullet entered his
heart and he died instantly. He came here a month ago from
Pennsylvania and leaves a wife and parents. The remains will be
taken east.
Clinton, August 20 - The Northwestern Overland express and a
freight train collided at Beverly Junction. Engineer Sill was
badly injured and Fireman White was hurt. Both engines and
several cars were wrecked. No passengers were killed but several
were slightly injured.
Reinbeck, August 21 - The storm here yesterday morning was very
severe and was accompanied by a terrific electric display. A barn
belonging to Charles Burgoon was struck by lightening and burned
to the ground. Seventeen cows were killed.
Des Moines, August 23 - W.E. O'Bleness, state labor commissioner,
is very ill with congestion of the brain. Mr. O'Bleness' illness
is the result of a bicycle accident which occurred about three
weeks ago. He was thrown from his wheel, struck his head on the
curb stone, and was unconscious for a half hour or more.
Bancroft, August 23 - Corporal H.G. Davidson and Musician Milton
Miller have arrived home from Camp Thomas. Both are quite sick.
In their company, F of the Fifty-second Iowa, but one
commissioned officer remains on duty and at one time only sixteen
men were able to respond to roll call.
Cedar Rapids, August 23 - Will A. Hull, paymaster at the Sinclair
packing house, with is wife and two children, had a narrow escape
from a frightful death and are not completely out of danger yet.
The ate toadstools, mistaking them for mushrooms.
San Francisco, August 23 - The Fifty-first Iowa is being prepared
for Honolulu. Requisitions for white duck suits and other
clothing suitable for wear in the tropics are being sent in. They
have received knapsacks and new bayonet scabbards.
Iowa Condensed.
In the preliminary examination of Sherman Wilcox for the murder
of John Kasina at Chelsea a few days ago the defendant was
committed to jail under the charge of murder. The examination was
held in Tama, because it was not deemed advisable to take Wilcox
to Chelsea while the people are wrought up. The evidence against
Wilcox was of a damaging nature.
The Iowa, Minnesota & Northwestern railway company, with
headquarters at Mason City and a capital stock of $200,000, has
been incorporated at the secretary of state's office. The
incorporators are A.C. Frost of Chicago, president; David Secor,
of Winnebago City, Minn., vice-president; W.E. Brice, Mason City,
treasurer; J.S. Lindon, Clear Lake, secretary.
Iowa Patent Office Report.
We have secured the allowance of U.S. Patents as follows: To J.W.
Newbrough, of Dakota City, Iowa, for a combination tool adapted
to be advantageously used as a claw hammer, and adjustable tongs,
a vice and screw driver; to C.M. Hinsdale, of Newton (upon appeal
to the Examiners-in-chief) for a check-rein holder consisting of
a single piece of leather having a crescent-shaped incision to
admit a rein and to produce an integral tongue that is provided
with a hole to admit a check hook. Atty. L.L. Mosher, of
Indianola, has been allowed a copyright for his system of
abstract of title in which he tells how to prepare an abstract of
title to lands in the United States. His large experience in the
business qualifies him to give advice in such matters.
Thomas G. Orwig & Co., proprietors of the Iowa Patent Office.
[transcribed by S.F., February 2008]