Evening star., 1898-09-16

aboard wanted to give turn to that cap
stan The vessel began to move at 8, soon
gathered headway under her own steam,
and the last leg of the water journey OF
the District of Columbia boys toward nome
was begun.
Reaches the Dock.
The big transport picked her way care
fully through the shipping of the harbor,
lodged ferry boats and fiat cars, and finally
al $50 am. was opposite the Bay street
dock of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany in Jersey City. The little knot of peo-
pie that had assembled to witness the ar
rival of the troops through curiosity, or to
greet friends aboard, swelled into such pro-
portions soon as the vessel appe ared on
the dock that il was necessary to force Them
back beyond the bulkhead and rope OH tne
landing place. Through the courtesy of the
yard master. Mr.. Tilden, your correspond
ent was enabled to remain upon the eX-
treme end of the dock and was the first to
greet the District of Columbia boys as the
big vessel was being slowly warped into
place, and to assure them that the people
at home were anxious about their welfare.
The transport Concho was still lying in
the cnly available spot in the dock When
the Alamo made her appearance, and 1t
was necessary to drag her out with tugs
before the Alamo could be run in. 1t was
slow process. Slow to the spectators
ashore, but how much more tedious it
must have been to these aboard, who were
counting the minutes to set foot on land.
The Concho moved out and headed down
stream, while the Alamo turned slowly
with the assistance of a tug, headed down
stream and dropped anchor awaiting an op
pCrtunity to land her people
Finally the dock was clear and the Ala
mos anchor was raised, while the tug be-
gan to pull her slowly toward the pier.
Then there was another delay, and every
body wondered why until the yardmaster
said that the Alamo had picked up the
Pennsylvania railroad telegraph cable,
which crosses the river al that point. More
delay! The anchor was again lowered; the
cable freed, and this time the ship came
slowly toward the dock, and the warping-in
process began.
Everyone Seemed Happy.
The District troops We're ranged along
the starboard rail, and as the boat passed
closely to the shore they We're within easy
hailing distance They were like a lot of
excursionists returning from an outing.
Every body appeared happy. They talked
Spanish, tossed hardtack and coins ashore,
and acted as If they felt good all over.
How ara you, boys?' your correspondent
shouted to one bearded young fellow, who,
in addition to his accoutrements, wore sus-
pended by a strap across his breast large
Porto Rican knife.
Were all right came a chorus in reply.
But awfully hungry and then there
came another box of hard tack. followed by
the cry, No more hard tack and sow
belly now, boys"
Where's Capt. Looker?" was asked
''Oh, he's forward. Pass the word for Cap
tain LOCKER
In a few moments the captain came to
the rail, looking but little changed-more
bronzed perhaps, but the same even-voiced,
pleasant-spOken gentleman who departed
from Washington months ago
What kind of trip did you have, cap
tain?" was shouted up the side.
Very good" came back.
And the men; are they all right?''
Every man of them. There is not a man
of my company aboard who is not able to
shoulder lis gun and march right aWay
spirits, look at them. We left four men
behind in Porto Rico, but this you know
as you have the roster of the company"
"All this time the transport was being
warped slowly alongside the landing place.
and, as she made her way in a big batch
of merchandise obstructed the view of the
captain and cut off further conversation.
The New Company Yell.
1t was 10 O'Clock before the vessel was
made fast and the gangplank run out All
the men kept up running fire of comments
-good-natured and otherwise-upon every
thing in sight and not in sight the last
line was made fast one of the boys shouted.
"AH together, now" and then came this
new company yell, manufactured In Porto
sion:
One. two, three. Who are we? Com
pany II, list D. C. Are we in it? 1 shoul,.
smile. We been in it a HI of Il WHILE
II caught the spectators and it was en-
cored time and time again, until nearly
every one on the dock knew it as well as
the boys.
Although the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany vas cited by the quartermaster' de-
partment as having everything in readi-
ness to put the boys on trains as soon as
they could land, it was nearly three hours
before the boys were on the cars and
there was another delay before they start
ed. During the interval of waiting the
boys were supplied with milk in great cans.
and sandwiches by the soldiers comfort
committee of New York; a treat that was
greatly appreciated by all. Some little time
was necessarily lost in taking off baggage
ana Strengthening out the commands but
me delay should not under any circum-
stances nave lasted over an hour.
Arrive About p. NJ.
1t is the purpose of the Pennsylvania
railroad Company to attach the cars con-
tanning the District boys to the regular
train leaving Jersey City at 2:23 They will
arrive in Washington about O'Clock to-
night.
The boys in getting off the ship eviuced
the greatest amount of enthusiasm and
JOY one member of the company seemed
especially glad to get home. This was
uncle sam cute little monkey. the
mascot of the company, which the bows
took away with them from Washington
He has shared all their hardships and nri-
Vations, but has complained less than any
one. "1'
All of the boys spoke of their hard serv
Ice In Porto Rico and the terrible triD
home Some Of them look rather thin and
pale. and all of them are liable to have
chills and fevers at any time, but the ma
Jortty appear well and move around ar a
lively rate in obeying orders or hunting for
something to stay their ravenous appetttes.
Every boy is as hungry as a bear and the
homes which they will gladden. tonight nv
their presence will certainly suffer depleted
pantries.
The Alamo also brought Private Daniel
h. Swope, Sergeant Edsall and Corporal
Thomas Walker of the 9TH COMPANY Wash
ington Signal Corps. All Of them are well.
but as one Of them expressed it, D
hungry"
The Concho brought Private Printon
Birch. also of the 9TH company, Washing
ton Signal Corps. and who is perfectly we'll
1t Is believed by Lieutenant Smith that
the boys who were left behind have
chance of recovering. They lad all of
them picked up when the transport left.
Praised by Capt. LOCKER.