Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-29
slas' ra,p NONE.
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the train containing OF the End Bat
TALON. 81
As the train pulled out of Portland
the people gave three rousing cheers
which made the boys hearts throb and
realize that the people on the State
were really glad to see them back
again. The boys realized that they
were home again and all thoughts OF
any more sleep that night was aban-
doned by the majority Of the men.
At Brunswick there was a crowd
waiting on the platform and as soon
as the train was heard approaching n
number more came running up to the
station. Here as at Portland many
lunch baskets were handed in through
the windows and, few Of the men
jumped off to see friends and snake
hands with some of the good citizens
OF the State OF Maine. When the
train after a brief stop started to pull
out of the station the assembled crowd
sent up another shout intended to
cheer the boys.
The morning was very cool and some
of the men were pleased because II
was almost the first time they had
got up in the morning without being
covered with preparation. Still some
of the inveterate kickers were growl-
ing lust as much about the cold as
they did about the heat at Chicka-
manga.
Nearly all the men kept their WIN
dows closed and stayed in the cars
instead of standing on the platforms
as they had been in the habit OF do
ing for good part of the journey.
All along the line 1t was one trium-
phant procession. Before reaching
Brunswick it was too early for the
farmers to be up and wave their hands
but from Brunswick up they We're
nearly all out and as the train sped
mast they would wave their hats and
a faint cheer could be heard above
the roar of the train by those who were
beside open windows.
At Gardiner there was quite a long
stop made as the train before going in
to Augusta would have to wait until
the early morning passenger train had
pulled out. There was nobody at the
depot in Gardiner except few of the
railroad employees but crowd quick
ly gathered and waited until the other
section arrived. Between there and
Augusta the train ran very slowly.
The men were on the qui vive by
this time and kept their heads out of
the windows and were on the car
steps anxiously awaiting the arrival
in Augusta. AS they came up past the
shoe factory and the steam saw mill
the whistles gave out a welcome and
the people, just going to work. stood
on every point of vantage to see the
heroes of the LIST Maine who have faced
an enemy as relentless as the Span
lard, an enemy which strikes when
the men least expect it. F9H1i
At lust GAO the first section pulled in
| to the Augusta station and the men
while they rushed from the cars
breathed a mighty sob Of JOY for they
hon al nd a
was over as far as it concerned them
| The men had very nice journey as
| far as scenery was concerned but their
accOmmoda tions were not of the best.
They were fed on the government ra-
tons and had plenty of them besides
receiving a nice spread at Summit, N
C. and Washington. d. c., where tue
Maine ladies connected with the pen
sion department provided an excellent
| lunch. At Boston they were again
given a lunch and in Portland and An
gusta so far as the food went they
were literally supplied.
| They were in sleepers but they were
not in the best of condition. The
plumbing arrangements were broker
in every car on former trip to Hunts.
vile, Ala, from Tampa with troops
They had barely gotten into the rail
road yards at Atlanta, Ga. when ar
engine was hitched onto them anc
the Maine boys loaded in them a
4 Ringold, Ca. The condition of the
cars by the time they arrived in An
gusta can be realized better than des
cribed. The majority Of the men hav'
intestinal troubles and with the defec
tive toilet rooms it was a wonder tina
more men We're not taken i'll as re-
suit of four days trip in such cars
The men left their camp at Chicka'
manga, Tuesday morning at o'clock
and marched through the heat to Rim
gold, Is miles from Camp Thomas
When they reached there the 1907 mer
were sight, they were SO sweaty ans
dirty from the long march. A lOnf
wait was made here OccasiOned by tn
Il non n rival of tho arS for their trans