The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-07
ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
The Navy Special ana How II In
FarinS.

.sNaS
As&
On board Monadnock Special,
Henderson. N. c., Feb. s.

oN BOARD honadnock Special,
Henderson. N. c., Feb. s.
Especially
AZ n m. TO the inspiring strains or the
NAVAL Post Band, and cheering for gen
it, Aunirai Brown, the train. deckud
aiwuyS hSht-hearted and care4free sail
OF iaudies pulled out OF the Portsmouth
NaVy-yard and headed for the Sunny
Southland
me light drizzle of rain did not dam
pen me ardor of the naturally Jolly
ulsposition of our boys. who. after
Slowing hammocks and bags and beiny
mustered III their cars uhirty~two n,,.n
10 u carr, answered TO their names
Win smiiing faces, settled down in their
seats ana the long run across our glo-
rlous continent had begun.
En- route through Portsmouth we were
slSeted vocifeiously by its good clti-
lehs' everywhere smiling faces lined
the streets through which the train
passed, and everybody hud IL cordial and
warm goodbye and "God-speed to the
Golden Gate" for the boys In blue
IL was not long, however, before
portsmouth was miles behind and the
town of Franklin reached.
Herc the thirst of the iron monster
WAS quehcned- The population turned
out TO greet us us we stood at the tank
even the one armed man. the picknnin-
les ana the goats were there, and look
cd upon us either as a Sunday school
picnic turned loose. or band of fill
busters bound to join the poor Cubans
VINO are struggling for that glorious lib
crty which our boys are ever ready IN
lay down their lives for. At noon we
stopped at Margarets. on account of
Il not box. AlargarctS is Il nice place
Judging from what we were able to see
Oh II, while we were changing engines
Ihat 1t is also Il religious place was
eFidence by the fact that a steeple was
oeihg added to Il square box presuna-
Dly the church. In fact. two of the
boys got into II dispute over the cues
lioh ana appealed 10 the car porter, who
assured them that II Was n church
rio"c'cr, Margarets is now already but
u memory and we may never look upon
It's solitary grandeur again.
bS THIS time the boys were begin
iiliS 10 ask II II were not about Time
LOT mess gear" to be spread and Dro-
preparations made for piping to dinner.
fortunately at precisely y. m Hen
aerSon, \ c., hove into view and
as we pulled into the station the bows
appctiteS were on n keen edge and the
curiosity of the crowds at the station
10 meet us did not receive the attcn-
lion' that otherwise would have been
given. We were marched across the
ROAD TO the eating house and there both
oihcers ana men placed an Incredible
amount Of rations where they would do
the most good.
Dinner over the boys were allowed
TO roam around until train time and
Wheh mustered in their respective cars
were all found to be accounted for. By
thlS time 1t seemed as If the entire COM
munlty OF the good city of Henderson
iihu found business to claim their n tten-
tion Ut the station and as we pulled
OUT tney gave three deafeninE cheers
Tor Uncle SANS boys" which gave
10 many their first hearing of what the
good old rebel yell'' must have sound
ed Ike in days gone by. It was terri
iylnS yet gratifying upon this occa-
SION. In the background the ladies'
GOD bless 'cnl-waved their dainty mou-
choirs and bid us God speed
"hilc passing through the station on
our way from dinner n swell old lady.
with silvery locks and the weight of
years upon her, was heard to say: II
wonder where my boy is to-day?" The
tears trickled down her wrnklcd cheeks
ana her lips tremhled painfully. / as
certaincd later that her boy had left his
nome ana WAS now serving In the navy.
at the dinner table one of the walters
was asked where the milk was, none of
the tactical fluid being visible. "I.awd
sah.' said he "dar haint none. All de
COWS In ole Moth Calling couldn't give
enough milk to satisfy you healthy
boys"
] imagine our colored servitor was
mighty near the truth This dispatch
goes from this stopping place.
c. b. CITIZENS