The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-16
HOME, SWEET HOME.
Return and Banquet to Co. ID at the Clifton
Last Tuesday Night.

been absent on duty 10 days. The citizens of
the city on learning that the boys were to ar
rive at that time turned out and paraded to
the depot, headed by the members OF the
company to the number Of 9, who were al
ready here, with Fitzgerad's band, to extend
a hearty welcome to them. As the travel
stained and weather tanned members marched
down to the armory they were greeted with
applause, and after having repaired to their
headquarters and laid aside their weapons of
warfare, were given dinner at the Clifton
which they enjoyed heartily after having sub
sisted SO long on rations at the camp. In the
evening grand banquet was rendered them
by the citizens at the Clifton, at which many
of the more prominent people Of Ottawa were
present. They marched into the dining room
of the hotel in single file and after having
been seated, Willis's orchestra poured forth
the strains of the Soldiers Return The
banquet was especially Il noteworthy event,
not alone on account of its exceptionally fine
bill of fare but also on account of the many
brilliant speeches, witty hits and laughable
sayings of those called upon to speak. Mayor
Allen presided and extended to the company
a right royal welcome home. He said that
they were boys 40 longer, but soldiers, and as
such had proved and acquitted. themselves as
gentleman and the city of Ottawa was proud
of them. He then proposed the health Of Co.
d which was drank standing. Capt. Blanch-
ard replied in neat little speech. He said
that the members Of his command had done
their duty like men and that they had reflect
ed credit on their city while away. The cap
tain concluded with hearty thanks to the cit-
zens for their expressions of good will tow
ards his company. Henry Mayo, on being
called upon, said that it, unhapily, became
necessary to call upon the military power to
enforce the civil authority and that this was
owing to the mixed class of our population.
He said that he understood that some member
of an organization in this city had said that
they would boycott" the store in which any
members of Co. ID were employed unless they
were discharged. The soldiers, he said, had
only responded to the call from the state and
it was their duty to obey and do their duty
Jas. ii. Eckles was of course, called out, and
made one his enthusiastically eloquent
speeches. D. A. Cook was the next speaker.
He extolled the galantry Of our home compa-
ny and said that its conduct on the field
enabled the members to prove their courage.
He proposed that an honorary membership lie
formed and called upon Capt. Blachard for
his opinion who responded that that was eX-
actly what he had often desired The project
was then put to the members Of the company
which was responded to by unanimous
AYE" The expense of keeping up the or
ganization was $500 year and the state paid
of that sum $500, leaving the remainder to be
furnished by the members of the company
The honorary membership would give the
company, Capt. Blanchard said, a strong moral
| backing, and the members would feel that
they had the sympathies of the business men
| if such an arrangement could be effected and
this moral and financial encouragement was
Just what was needed. Messrs. Cook, Snow
and Wdmer were appointed committee tC
go and see those present, which was done anC
As names were appended to the list of honorary
membership Of Co. ID. During this time Ma
jor Wdmer was called upon and his speccl
was loudly applauded. He said that he was
glad the boys had come back without firing {
shot, which showed splendid discipline, anC
that they were men of courage and that they
showed it by their GOODNESS when surrounded
by danger. Hon. VIM. Cullen, Of the Ottawi
Replbiican was then called upon and made
some solid, sensible remarks. He was fol
lowed by DR.. X. f. Dyer, who related his eX
percnce as an army surgeon in the late war
Ed. Nattinger, of the Times, was called upol
and testified to having been an eye witness t.
many scenes in the camp at Lcmont, and tina
the BOYS acted as old soldiers and obeycd ey
cry order without flinching. The health o
the ladies Of Ottawa was then proposed by tn
chair, who called upon d. McDougall for re
spouse, which that gentleman gave in hap
by and eloquent vein. The captain, AS st
ouel to Mr.. Mods remarks, said the ladie
had not been forgotten while in camp. Or
derly Sergeant Hull had rugged up post
office out of some cigar boxes, and in FEY
minutes thereafter they were full OF letters al
addressed to the ladies'. 7. NJ. Bowman wa
him of company he once commanded, Gale
the Shabbonies." The walking was sue
that some of them, he believed, had no
returned yet. Tie hit was receive
with great laughter, it reminding man
of the audience of the return of tn
Shabbona base ball club after its disastrou
tou. many years ago. Thos, f. MacKinla
and Lester II. Strawn made brief responses
Burler Alderman, of Co. ID, brought out Ad
K. C. Stevens, of the GloJe, by a call on thr
instrument. He was fearful Of return o
his old enemy, that accursed neuralgia, an
did not dare to make any extended remarks
However, before sitting down, he eulOgise
Can't. Blanchard and said that he was Of til
right stuff TO make brave soldier and thu
one of his style, build and looks could Away
be relied upon. That was his experience
The speaker was applauded at great lenst
on his remarks. An order was then read b
Ord. Sergt. Hull com msnding Private j. /
Eckels to report at once at the north door
| tho dining hall and relieve COmrade McDOt