The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-10
ROYALTY WELCOMED HOME.
An ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION
FROM DEPOT TO ARMORY.

ham Artillery - Kisses and EN-
braces From Fair Friends Their
Portion at the Depot, While More
Substantial Refreshments Awaited
Them at the Armory-TO-day the
Men Return to the Peaceful Pur-
suits of Life for Thirty Days.
A royal reception welcomed the Chat
hams home 10 Savannah yesterday For
over three hours a crowd of over thou
sand fingered at the Plant System depot
They We're determined 10 be on hand when
the train came ia to insure a demonstra-
ton that would assure the artillerymen
that Savannah had not forgotten them
nor allowed her cordially and admiration
for her volunteer soldiers to wane during
the four months that have elapsed since
they marched down Liberty street to the
Central depot 10 take the train for Griffin
to be mustered into service for the war
with Spain
At that time it was the general expec-
tatiOn that the company would go to Cuba
or Porto Rico and see some hard fighting
Such was the general hope and desire of
the men. The opportunity never came
for them to display their valor and Prov
ess on the field of battle, but Savannah
knows that if the chance had come the
Chathams would have, as Battery b, glo-
riously sustained the noble reputation won
during the war of thirty-five years ago
So the welcome was just as enthusiastic
and just as spontaneous and deserved as
though the men were returning from San
tiago or Manila
The company was expected to arrive on
the regular morning train getting into sa-
vannah shortly after 10 O'Clock. Al that
hour the depot was crowded and the street
outside was full of the friends Of the boys
with red stripes. But the great gather
ing was doomed to disappointment The
train came in but it brought no artillery
men. Two thousand throats were ready
TO shout but there was no OCCASION It
was found that the company had been IN
able to leave Griffin in time last night to
make the connection, and that 1t was COM
ing in on its special, arriving between 1
and O'clock
The crowd dwindled down, but many re-
fused to leave and remained in the neigh
borhood until the train rolled I'm shortly
after O'Clock. By that time the gather
ing had increased to near It's former vol
ume and before the train came to stand
still the soldiers knew that Savannah was
ready TO do them honor. Wild cheers went
up as the men were seen on the plat
forms and half way out the windows and
as they jumped to the platform there was
rush of wives, mothers sisters and
sweethearts TO give them a loving well
come home. Kisses and embraces were
showered on the soldiers until their bushes
10
branch of the service. If they had ever
had any fears that they were forgotten
they were disspated within few seconds
after they reached the depot.
After the soldiers had separated them
selves from their friends, unwillingly, 1t
is to be feared, in some cases, the company
formed and marched out to Liberty street.
Cheers were loud and without stint as to
numbers. All the way along Liverty to
Bull, and down Bull to the armory, there
We're welcoming waves of noise from the
spectators Middleton's brass band, which
had rendered its services without solicit
tation, led the way with its livelest airs.
The men were in fine shape. put up a mag
nihcent parade and were fattered on all
sides. There were probably 100 men in
line, all were drilled in marching. and as
fine a body physically as could be found
anywhere, from captain down, through
all the officers, and to the last man in
movement that added to their soldierly
appearance. When they reached the square
In front of the armory another large crowd
of friends were met, eager to shake hands
and otherwise attest the satisfaction 1t
gave them to see the company home again.
Added to their salutes were the cheers
from the Chathams up in the hall, eagerly
awaiting the coming of their old COM
rades 1t was with difficulty that the
company made it's way into the building
Up in the banquet hall of the armory
refreshments awaited the men. Two long
tables were full of fine sandwiches. with
cotee in abundance and much beer a )
two companies could dispose Of 1t was
Il refreshing repast to the men after their
long ride.
The prelimlnaries were few and brief
Lining the men up around the tables
| Capt. Walker thanked them for their de-
| Votion to duty while in camp congratu-
lated them on the record they had made
for good discipline and general improve
! ment, thanked those who had so thought
| OF their comfort to provide the lunch
and then gave the order to fall in.
! Cheers were given for Capt Walker. and
! then 100 mouths seemed TO open at one
! time and 100 sandwiches began to disap-
! pear. The lunch was thoroughly appre-
! ciated. There was no doubt of that There
/ was enough and to spare Between bites
| there was swapping of good wishes and
CONGRATULATIONS vain old friends and gen
/ eral social chat. The half hour or moro
that was spent at the aTmory was full
/ OF pleasure to the soldiers and to those
| who had provided for their entertainment.
After lunch the men quickly made their
way 10 their homes, and, as a rule. DOTTED
/ their uniforms for citizens clothes To-
/ day most of them will be found at their
/ Old places of employment taking up the
/ threads of business or industrial life once
more. While the company is but on a
thirty days furlough it is known that it
! will be mustered out at the end Of that
| time, and the men win feel no hesitaucv
in making business arrangements. realiz-
! ing that there viii be but an absence of
few days next month when they return
! to Griffin TO lay aside their uniforms for
/ good and be released entirely from the
/ oatn they took when enlisting in the army
/ of Uncle Sam.
ONLY FOUR MORE DAYS.