San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-12
The BELKNAPS HOME.
RECEIVED WITH GREAT HONORS AT
THE SUNSET DEPOT.

The Citizens Turn Out in Large Num-
bers to Welcome Their Favorite
Citizens Soldiers.
For the past two days the hand of
| beauty and of friendship, If nOthin <
warmer, has been engaged in decorating
| the armory OF the Belknap Rif1es. When
| the LIGHT man arrived there last night
| IL was indeed transformed into an en-
bryo bower of victory. AS he entered
| the door his eyes rested on the eastern
wall and there was emblaZoned San
Antonio Belknaps Lampasas- Calves
| ton" On the northern side were United
| States flags, artistioally draped over the
window. The western side exhibited
an original Lone Star flag that had
floated in the battle and the breeze, and
the southern windows were tastefully
| decorated with miniature flags. The gas
brackets and centre beams were deco
rated with evergreens, and from them
| were suspended Chinese lanterns. The
outer front Of the armory was decorated
with flags, bunting, evergreens and
| Chinese lanterns. The whole was very
pretty and reflected great credit upon the
taste and industry Of the friendly hands
which had done the work.
At So'clock the committee. consisting
OF Major G. c. Cresson (chairmanl, Hon.
Columbus Epson (orator), Colonel N. ..
Green, Postmaster Howard, Judge l. p.
Simpson, j G. Ord, Ernest Muenzen-
Sengg, Leon York, w. Lockhart, w.
Nixon, Gus Moritz, Alberto Garcia,
Henry Ryder-Taylor, and F. II. Bushick
assembled at the armory. Mr.. Il. W.
Mullaly was prevented by illness from
attending. Having held brief
consultation, the committee con-
cluded their plans and took hacks
and Carter q Mullalys buses to the
Sunset depot, there to await the arrival
of the special train from Galveston,
which WIS to convey the Belknaps to
their friends and to home. After wait
ing some time, the engine light was seen
in the distance, and the great crowd as.
sembled upon the platform sent up
ringing cheer, which was heartily re-
peated. When the train drew up TO the
platform, and the boys descended from
the cars, the cheers that arose seemed to
shake the depot to its foundation.
detachment Of the committee went for
ward to conduct the Belknaps to Carter
& Mullaly's large bus, that was waiting
to convey them to the armory, whilst
the balance formed guard Of honor,
making a way for the Belknaps to pass
from the depot platform to the bus.
The boys were soon in line and marched
amid enthusiastic cheers and waving
of hats and handkerChiefs from the plat
form to the bus, and sett off to the arm
ory. The committee then took the
hacks, Mr.. Leon FORK, and the LIGHT
man, escorting Capt. r. B. Green, Lieut..
Howard, and Sergeant Rote to the arm
ory In the hack. When they arrived at
their destination they found the armOry
Illuminated and a large crowd was as
sembled on the awning fronting the
armory and on either side OF the street.
As the party alighted they were recog-
Missed, and hearty cheers went up all
along the line. Ascending the stairs,
they entered the armory, and there
many ladies and prominent citi-
zens were assembled who cheer
ed and greeted them with oommendable
heartiness Soon after their arrival, and
Just before the arrival of the bus con-
tanning the major part OF the company
the genial Harry Fowler and friends got
out on the awning and fired a blank
cartridge salute; Miss Alma Ogden and
friends at the same time discharging
rockets, roman candles and other jubilee
fireworks. When the boys arrived they
were formed into line and Colonel Epson,
the orator of the evening. stepped for
ward and said: "By request of the COM
mittee of friends and citizens it became
his pleasant duty to extend to the Bel
KNAPP Rifles a hearty welcome back to
their friends and kindred, who are proud
of their organization as military COM
pany, proud of their officers. proud of
their men, proud of them as the favored
sons OF the Alamo city. Enthusiastic
cheers. They all extended to them a
hearty and heartfelt welcome, coming as
they did from peaceful and glorious
competitive trial of skill and proficiency
in the exercising of the manual of arms
and evolutions, the first elements that
constitute the true soldier; bearing with
them the honors that are well deserved,
well won and well merited. They ex-
tended to them the most hearty well
come on their return. 1t was not his
intention to make extensive remarks, as
he knew they were tired and weary from
the labor, anxiety, eXertion and disap-
pointment they had gone through, but it
was proper for him to give some words
of encouragement, caution and cOnsola-
ton, for he knew the disad-
vantages under which they had
labored. Ever since they left for the
competitive drill the wires had been
watched with anxiety and hope. As
the people watched they were gratified,
and when it came to the stacking of
arms they were not dismayed, but en-
couraged. They knew that the Bel
knaps did not know how to stack arms,
it is only the defeated soldier that does.
Uong and enthusiastic Gheers). Their
soldiers were made of better metal
They must remember that they were
now second soldiers in this great state,
and that honors are even. They de-
feated the San Antonio Rifles once, now
the San Antonio's have defeated them.
(Cheers.) There is no reason for grief
or ill-feeling. Like true soldiers they
would not weep nor exclaim against
misfortune, but. they would CALAMITY
say, "Pll pick a flint and try again"
He warned them against a bad feeling.
Keep up rivalry and he was satisfied
that they could be the first company in
this great state, aye, any state Of this
great union. They had but received a
lesson of encouragement, and "boys"
| that they were, they had put the best
companies upon their metal. They had
new their trusted leader, and he was
satisfied that If they had him sooner
they would have brought back higher
honors. They had nothing to discour-
| age them. and in their leaders hands the
Belknap Rifles could become the first
company in the state.
Capt. Green in replying, returned
thanks for the reception the Belknaps
had received. They were not disap-
| pointed, for more respondent and less
hopeful set Of men never boarded a
train than the Belknap Rifles when they