Evening star., 1895-05-24
The Morton Cadets and Fencibles
Get Back From Memphis.
Big PARADE AND CROWDS OF PEOPLE
The Victors Heartily Cheered All
Along the Line.
VEN A B ANQ Jet

If any part of Washington did not turn
out last night to swell the crowd that well
coined the Morton Cadets and the National
Fencibles home from Memphis it was a
very small part. and not to be counted in
the matter of numbers. The crowd seemed
to one who tried to walk along Pennsyl-
vania avenue to consist of all the popula-
ton of the city and few thousands from
Baltimore and the surrounding country.
Nor was the crowd large as to numbers
alone. 1t was very large as to enthusiasm
and noise. 1t was patient, and stood the
long wait caused by the delay of the train
bearing the soldier boys with good nature.
There were two reasons why the crowd
was large. In the first place, it was the
first occasion of the season to persuade the
people to throng to the avenue, and they
accepted it hungrily. Then the success of
the Morton Cadets at Memphis is like a
big family affair. These lads are all high
school graduates, and that means that they
number their friends by the thousands.
These friends have other friends in turn,
and SO on through all the branches of a
sort of genealogical tree. Thus nearly
everybody on the streets last night took
very nearly direct personal interest in the
affair.
Frequent squads of high school boys,
fresh from the enthusiastic scenes of the
afternoons Grills, kept the pot boiling dur
ing the long wait. They roamed up and
down the street and cheered the tagging
spirits of the crowd by their lively spirits.
Pretty girls had pinned the colors of the
winning team to their dresses, and added
to mighty handsome picture. Matrons
with satisfied smiles on their faces awaited
the coming of sons whose success was so
dear to their motherly hearts Fathers
VINO were soldiers in earnest themselves
once tried to look solemn while they ne
sotlated with the popcorn man or the pea
nut vendor to While away the tedium of
the wait, but their hearts could not be re-
strained when a glare of red light down
the avenue finally proclaimed the arrival of
the train.
Arrival of the MortOns and F'encfbles.
1t was about 10 o'clock when the train
reached the 9th street station, and the
weary travellers alighted on the platform
The Mo-tons were the first to form a line.
and some of the boys were wondering
whether there would be any one on hand
TO greet them when a cheer went up from
the space behind the bars near the waiting
room that dspelled every doubt. When
Capt. Shilling and his men marched up the
platform they were almost carried off their
feet by the rush of eager friends. who had
Deen pressing against the bars for nearly
two hours. The street was finally reached
In safety, however, and the Fencibles came
along, just as weary in their bodies the
Dul lar more nedVy IN their
hearts, for they had been forced to return
without single honor from the great drill.
But they did not begrudge the honors of
the occasion to their piucky little COM
rades of the long trip. and took their
places in the midst of the escorting line in
right good style.
The turn out Of miltiamen was some
thing astonishing, when it is considered
that the occasion was purely gratutous.
All but two three companies of the
guard responded to the invitation to turn
out, and all the separate companies took
part in the demonstration with enthusiasm.
followed by a large committee of citizens
and newspaper men. These were attended
by, the Henderson Drum Corps in full uni
form, and followed by the first battalion,
fantry, under Maj. Burton Ross. Then
came the Corcoran Cadets, the second bat
talon. under Maj. E. r. Campbell, and
companies B, C and d Of the fourth bat
TALON. The third battalion. under Maj.
Suess, companies and d of the fifth, and
companies A and 3 of the sixth.
The fourth battalion, under Maj. Gil
bert Thompson. made great showing,
with the Presidents troop, the light bat
terry and the engineer corps, with their
miners and sappers.
The National Rifles and the Old Guard,
preceded by the Mount Pleasant Drum
Corps and the Sixth Cavalry Band, formed
a special escort to the Fencibles. and then
followed the seventh battalion, under Maj.
Wilson, the detached companies of the
third battalion, the Lemon Rifles Drum
and the Mortons, the honored drill team,
forming the rear guard of the procession.
They were escorted by their company of
stay-at-homes with big brooms and white
beaver hats.
The Parade.
When the command was given for the
parade tc move, the avenue was at once
lighted by a glare of Roman candles and
suffering red fires. The crowds yelled,
the High School Cadets who were scat
tered along the line leading, the pretty
girls waved their handkerchiefs. and the
matronly and paternal smiles that were
sprirkled through the crowd grew broader
and more happy. Up the avenue they
marched, victors and vanquished, and es-
corting troops, the drum corps boys beat
ing their sticks and blowing their flies
and bugeS with almost frenZed earnest
ness. Up the line they went, cheered to
the echo every few feet, with broomS borne
aloft by the winners of the prizes, and with
the stay-at-homes of the conquering heroes
command happier, if possible, than the
Prize winners themselves.
The FencibleS carried themselves like
seasoned soldiers, making a fine appear
ance as they went down the line, the
wounds they hid by their outward bearing
balmed somewhat by the rousing reception
most as cheering as though they had won
the cup. Friends usually know how to
prove themselves times of misfortune, if
they be true friends.
There were decorations on some of the
buildings along the line Of march, and red
fire and Roman candles were frequent. AT
the Post building the Mortons had spe-
cial reception from the employees of the
United Press, the business associates of
Capt. Shilling. When the corner of New
York avenue and 7th street was reached
the escort drew up in line along the curb
and the returning companies passed in re-
view, the lire extending to the door of the
armory.
At the arnory there was an informal re-
oeption rendered the Fencibles by their
frlerds. headed by a delegation of ladies,
with Mrs Kondrup and Mrs. DR.. Domer as
hcstesses. Lieut.. Mortimer who had been
unable to accompany the command to
Memphis, made a brief speech of welcome,
and Capt. Domer responded feelingly to
tie kind words of his comrade. The mis-
fortune of the team was referred to, but
not despondinsly, and then the reception
became Misunderstanding levee, and was
soon over.
The Mortons Entertained.
The Mortons had to fight their way to
teir lockers in the armory, but they got
aVay as soon as possible, and went to