Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-17
Enthusiastic Welcome Extended the
Men of Company H.
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE ABLAZE
Red Fire and Lung Power LargeI,
in Evidence.
AWAITING FURTHER ORDERS

the streets were not as large as upon the
occasion of the reception to the other COM
panies of the regiment the enthusiasm
was as great, and the never-ending display
of fireworks along the route of march of
the returning heroes from Porto Rico was
nothing less than magnificent The boys
were first dined at the railroad station,
and after they had marched up the avenue
to 18th street and back to the armory of
the District National Guard, where they
were formally welcomed home by Com
missioner Wight and others, the command
dismissed and the men quickly made
their way to their homes.
The company reached Washington on the
regular New York train which arrived at
the 9th street station about $40 o'clock,
the station and the approaches to it being
completely filled by throng which had
gathered early, impatiently awaiting the
coming of .he boys. Chairman Sylvester
of the general reception committee, and
Messrs H. L. West, j. Holdsworth Gordon
and Howard Perry, the special reception
committee, and Surgeon Bayne received
the men they stepped from the in
heavy marching order, and after Mr. West
had informed Captain LOCKER, commander
of the comp& ny, of the nature of the recep-
ton which awaited him and his men, the
company marched down the long station
and stacked arms. The moment the SOL
GierS stepped from the train a mighty
cheer went UP from the thousands in the
station and streets, which was renewed
the men marched into the dining room of
the station and sat down to a specially
prepared repast. The police, under Lieu
tenant Kelly, opened lane through the
immense crowd for the men, but neither he
his patrolmen attempted to interfere
when the mothers and fathers and the
wives and sweethearts of the soldier boys
broke through and clasped them to their
yearnirg hearts.
Fireworks and Band.
While the returned volunteers were doing
full justice to the refreshments set before
them the National Guard Band, under the
direction of Lieutenant Donald B. Mcleod,
followed by quite number of the men of
the other companies of the regiment, I'M
der the command of Captain Hodges,
awaited the company on 9th street A
constantly increasing crowd also awaited
the boys, and when at length they emerged
from the station, under the command of
Captain Henry B. LOCKER and Lieutenant
Alfred A. Smith, they We're greeted by
grand display of fireworks, the band mean
time rendering a patriotic air.
Captain Austin and a force of mounted
policemen led the way up 9th street into
Pennsylvania avenue, followed by the band
and a provisional escort of officers from
the District regiment, consisting of Captain
King, Captain England, Captain Domer,
Lieutenant Chisolm, Lieutenant Shaw,
Lieutenant Crist. Lieutenant Mayer, Lieu
tenant Wheaton and Lieutenant Heron.
The men of Company H, bearing cap
tured Spanish flag and looking brown and
service worn, but much better in appear
ance than the people had dared to hope,
followed. and then came their comrades OF
the other companies of the regiment, who
turned out to do the hOnOrs. The cheer
ing and fireworks announced in most en-
thusiastic manner the appearance of the
Porto Rico veterans, who in many in
stances were decked with flowers presented
to them by their delighted relatives ana
friends. Occupying conspicuous positions
were the two mascots of the company,
Uncle Sam" the little monkey which left
Washington with the boys and shared with
them the hardshiDs and dangers OF the
campaign, and a little white dog which the
men captured in Porto Rico.
Along the entire line of march the re-
turning heroes received an ovation the IKE
of which has seldom been seen in this city
The cheering was uninterrupted, and al
though the crowds pressed close in upon
the route, it all done good-naturedly
and with the sole purpose of making the
men feel that they were at last home
among those who respect and honor them.
The lire of march up the avenue to 18th
street and back to the armory was ablaze
with fireworks, and at times it was simply
impossible to distinguish the features OF
the men, owing 10 the dense clouds of
smoke. Particularly was this so at the
corner of 18th street and the avenue, where
The Star building was mass of red lights
and pyrotechnics.
When the armory was reached and the
boys marched across the bridge to their
quarters the strains of Home, Sweet
Home" from the band aroused still greater
enthusiasm. Commissioner Wight, Chair
man Sylvester and the special reception
committee. together with many relatives
and friends awaited the men at the arm
Dry and after the boys had stacked arms
and advanced to the front Capt. LOCKER
briefly expressed the pride he felt in com
manding such fine company and congrat-
ulated them upon the performance of their
duties and their safe return home. Hearty
cheers were then given by the men for their
captain and other officers. for their beloved
Washington and all its people and for Maj.
Sackett. who commands the battalion of
engineers in Porto Rico to which the COM
pany belonged. The major briefly acknowl-
edged the compliment
Welcoming Address.
Commissioner Wight addressed the men
as follows:
Il was absent from the city when the
main portion of the District regiment re-
turned from Santiago. 1 witnessed your
grand reception tonight and could not re-
sist the temptation to come here and ex-
tend 20 the company a cordial welcome
home. God bless you every one and make
you strong and we'll We welcome you
back
Mr.. Wight, on behalf of the men, express
ed their gratitude for the great welcome
given them by the people of the District
and Mr.. West, in reply, said:
We are only too glad to give you this
welcome and to show appreciation of
these Washington men who went to Porto
Rico to uphold the credit of the District
and the honor of the flag and nation away
down there under the burning tropical sun
We heard such splendid reports of the COM
pany while it was away that every one was
proud of 1t and glad to bid 1t welcome
home We are not only going to give you
this reception, music. fireworks and cheers.
but we are going to do something else to
help you in the future"
Escorted to Their Homes.
The command was then formally dismiss
ed. the men being directed by Capt LOCKER
to return to the arnory at o'clock Monday
morning to receive further orders. This
concluded, the men were then taken in
charge by their relatives and friends and
escorted home. Several of them who were
indisposed were placed in bus generous
ly provided by Mr.. j. E. Berry of the Eb-
bitt House stables, and q number were
taken in charge by Messrs. E. G. Schafer
Edward ]. Roche and Frank Raymond of
the general committee and escorted to the
temporary home provided on 9th street
Messrs. George Breitbarth, A. S. Taber