Page:The Overland Monthly volume 33.djvu/94

 that a regimental fund for the Second Regiment, Oregon Volunteers, be raised; also the making and purchasing of such articles for a soldier's knapsack as army quartermasters do not keep in stock.

A room on First Street was placed at the disposal of the society by Mr. Adolph Dekum, and here the Oregon Emergency Corps' headquarters opened May 5, 1898. Capt. R. S. Greenleaf, of Battery A, kindly detailed members of the company to decorate and make attractive the room, loaning for this purpose the historic Centennial flag, which, for the first time in over twenty years, passed from the custody of the company. Members of the battery reported for duty each morning, thus assisting the committee of ladies in charge in many ways.

A telepbone was put in by the Oregon Telephone Company, electric lights supplied by the General Electric Company, and chairs, tables, and other furnishings, provided by the business houses of the city. The Singer Machine Company sent sewing-machines for the use of the Supply Committee, and work began in earnest. Women from every part of the community, representing church, club, and society organizations, enrolled their names and offered their services in the emergency call, showing more plainly than words can describe the broadening influence of these organizations upon the mother-heart of the land. Laying aside prejudices, creeds, and personal affiliations, they became a unit in this patriotic work. Day after day, with aching hearts, but smiling faces, they toiled; the membership grew into the hundreds; subscriptions came pouring in, the sums ranging from one hundred dollars to the dimes, nickels, and pennies of the children.

Word was received that the volunteers of Oregon were to be mobilized at Portland, and on April 27th Brigadier-General Chas. F. Beebe, O. N. G. issued special orders for the preparation of a suitable camp within the city limits. The site selected was the Irving- ton race-track, and on April 29th one hun- dred and sixty-one tents were pitched, the name "Camp McKinley " adopted, and on the morning of April 30, 1898, the first com- pany arrived and active camp-life began.

Members of the different committees of the Emergency Corps visited the camp daily, consulting with the commanding officers as to the health, comfort, and needs, of the sol- diers in their charge. Open house was kept

at headquarters for the Volunteers when in the city, and everything human ingenuity could suggest and loving hearts contribute to smooth the pathway from comfortable civil life to the hardship and discipline of camp-life was done. This was not planned nor worked out by one person, but by united effort on the part of all, whose kindly min- istrations grew out of a desire to cheer and encourage these brave Oregon Volunteers,— the flower of the State,— who had given up home and position, offering their lives to their country in the noble work of liberating an oppressed and outraged people.

Meantime, circular letters had been sent to the cities and towns throughout the State, urging the patriotic women to form auxili- aries for the purpose of raising money to swell the regimental fund, and also help in the purchasing of a flag, to be presented to the Volunteers by the women of the State.

Hood River was the first to respond, with Roseburg, Pendleton, Corvallis, Hillsboro, La Fayette, La Grande, Hubbard, Weston, Woodburn, Astoria, and The Dalles, quickly falling into line. Faithfully have these aux- iliaries assisted in every line of work that it has been found necessary to take up; contri- butions of money and supplies have been given, while in their respective localities a fund has been raised to assist the families of the Volunteers. Hospital supplies of caps, fever-belts, and cordials, are constantly for- warded, and daily letters are received ask- ing for instructions.

On Sunday, May 8th, a patriotic and sacred concert was given at Camp McKinley, to in- crease the regimental fund that the Emer- gency Corps was raising, and the proceeds netted the creditable sum of $1,399.35. The attendance of over ten thousand people was an evidence of their zeal and desire to con- tribute their mite toward the object. The programme was furnished by the First Regi- ment Band, Miss Rose Bloch, and Madame Norelli. It was a scene never to be forgotten by that vast audience, when, at the close of the evening drill, the Stars and Stripes were slowly lowered at the booming of the sunset gun, and the long lines of Volunteers, mo- tionless as statues, listened as the inspiring strains of the " Star-Spangled Banner " float- ed out upon the summer air, while the set- ting sun, kissing the peak of the distant snow-crowned mountain, shed its departing