The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-09-18

ROM the army camp, bronzed by
- a semi-tropical sun, chagrined over
not having chance to fire 2 -.e
gun at the enemy, but nevertheless
entitled to honor, Birmingham well
coined home yesterday her heroes of the
war of $685.
They were greeted at the station with
thunders of acclaim. They alighted from
the trains to look into the eyes of multi
tude of worshipers. They marched through
the streets between solid walls of people,
cheered at every step, applauded with
hand-clapping and waving handkerchiefs,
canopied with flags in the canyons between
the buildings and feted like conquerors by
the women of the industrial metropolis of
the SOUTH
1t was one of the most popular demon
strations ever witnessed in this city and
was unhampered by the formalities of fete
days. The nearest approach to this occa.
sion was on the memorable morning of May
l. Tears swelled from the eyes of
thousands then as they did yesterday
Matrons wept, gray-haired veterans of
others wars wept, maidens not out of their
teens stood trembling with moist eyes.
Tears that came on that May morning
from the pangs of parting, yesterday were
forced from joy. In May it was a good
bye yesterday it was a welcome home
The emotions had full sway. 1t was proper
to hug and kiss the returning kinsman
wherever the opportunity was presented.
1t was in order to make as much noise as
possible, and the people did it.
1t was the peoples day. The sons of the
common people, as well as the rich who
offered their lives in the country's cause
had returned crowned with victory. The
welcome of the laboring man for his return
ing son might have been a little different
outwardly from that of the rich man, but
the exterior counted little for the welcome
came in mighty surging wave from all
hearts, whether blood relations or not
President Mckinley said that the troops
fight, were as much entitled to honor as the
fight, wer as much entitled to honor as the
others If he had been here yesterday he
would have seen his words exempliiied
The exultation could not be confined to a
reception committee. 1t was in the hearts
of the people of the west side, of the north
side, of the east side, of the south side, and
they gave it full vent.
The GHAlNs COMING IN
1t was few minutes past O clock when
the first section bearing the First battalion
-"Brmingham's Own"-puled into the
station. Thousands had been standing on
the streets and in the waiting rooms since
o'clock in the morning. They came out
garbed in holiday costume for the purpose
OF welcoming the boys in blue, and they
would have stood in the scorching sun till
,,,,t, f.n
was scheduled to reach here at 155 Just
about this time several empty PASSENGER
cars were backed under the sned. Someone
said it was the military tram, and the
crowd gave cheer, only to be disappoint-
ed 1t was 2:10 when the first intimation
was given that the much longed for train
was in sight. The first man 10 see it was
an engineer on a yard switch engine. At
once his iron pet gave mighty scream.
This was the signal. The engineer happy
in his good fortune of first telling the news,
tied his whistle down. He did not have long
to wait until hundreds OF others turned
loose. Every industry in the city joined in
the noise-making, and for minutes the
buildings for blocks all but trembled as
though the city was in the throes of an
earthquake shock. The thousands waiting
at the station took the cue, straining the
arches and steel girders with their vibrat
ing and puising shouts of welcome. The
cheers ran in waves, ebbing in the station
only to swell in volume in the multitude
that packed the streets for blocks around.
By this time the big engine, struggling
along with its burden of human freight,
had come to a standstill under the she'd
The crowds that had exhausted every van
tage point and surged about every entrance
gate at this moment could no longer be
controlled Men, women and children
leaped nimbly over the fence and bore down
on the boys, who were just alightng, with
one mighty, throbbing pulse of welcome.
Handkerchiefs waved frantically by women
and girls old men jumping up and down
for joy while great tears coursed down the
cheeks of the more sentimental, were some
incidents of the occasion.
1t was here that the regimental band was
heard for the moment above the din of the
joy-rnaddened throng. The sweet strains of |
.'Home, Sweet Home; There Is No Place
Like Home" hushed lips that were utter |
ing glad words. For moment hardly q |
sound was heard except the hiss of eseap-