A suitable badge was adopted and a membership list opened, affording all patriotic women an opportunity to enroll their names and become active workers of the corps. Regular meetings were held at the armory once a week, the executive committee meeting at the call of the president as often as the business of the society required. Being now in readiness for work, the question arose as to what should be done and the most practical way of doing it. To this end the military board was consulted and valuable suggestions received from General Charles F. Beebe, Colonel James Jackson, Colonel B.B. Tuttle and Major Daniel J. Moore, brigade commissary, O.N.G., each advising 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. Captain 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 telephone was put in by the Oregon Telephone Company, electric lights supplied by the General Electric Company, 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 $100 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 27, Brigadier-General Charles F. Beebe, O.N.G., issued special orders for the preparation of a suitable camp within the city limits. The site selected was the Irvington race track, and April 29 one hundred and sixty-one tents were pitched, the name, Camp McKinley, adopted and on the morning of April 30, 1898, the first company 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 soldiers 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 ministrations 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 auxiliaries 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, LaFayette, LaGrande, Hubbard, Weston, Woodburn, Astoria and The Dalles, quickly falling into line. Faithfully have these auxiliaries assisted in every line of work that it has been found necessary to take up—contributions 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 forwarded, and daily, letters are received asking for instructions.
On Sunday, May 8, a patriotic and sacred concert was given at Camp McKinley to increase the regimental fund that the Emergency Corps were raising and the proceeds netted the creditable sum of $1399.35. The attendance of over ten thousand people was an evidence of their zeal and desire to contribute their mite toward the object. The program was furnished by the First Regiment 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, motionless as statues, listened as the inspiring strains of the Star Spangled Banner floated upon the summer air, while the setting sun, kissing the peak of the distant snow-crowned mountain, shed its departing rays like a heavenly benediction upon these sons of valor.
May 11, 1898, the first battalion consisting of Companies A, B, C, D, Second Regiment Oregon Volunteers, under command of Major C. H. Gantenbein, by order of the War Department, left for San Francisco and one week later, May 16, Companies E, F, G, H, I, K, L and M, under command of Colonel O. Summers, broke camp and proceeded to join the others at the Presidio to await transportation to Manila.
To the captains of these respective companies, the Oregon Emergency Corps gave one hundred dollars in gold coin as an emergency fund. To Major M.H. Ellis, commanding regimental surgeon in charge of the Hospital Corps, was given one hundred dollars, also eight hundred yards of flannel for bandages. In addition to this, contributions from other sources made the available amount fully two thousand dollars.