The Yale expositor., 1898-09-09
michigan NEWS SUMMARY.
lDoings of the Week Recorded in a
Brief Style.
CONCISE AND INTERESTING.
The SD and saith Michigan Regiments
Reach Home From Santiago and are
Royalty welcomed-Tho 3ed Ordered
to be Mustered Out.
Return of Michigan's soldier Heroes.

OF httchtBans heroes.
1t was with hearts full of Joy that
the brave soldiers of the 33d and 34th
Michigan volunteer regiments vacated
the tents they had occupied at the de-
tention camp at Montauk Point Il. L.,
after their arrival from the hardships
of Santiago, and boarded the trains
which were to start them on their
Journey home again. 1t was but a
remnant of the gallant force which
but few months ago marched forth
at their country's call. Some of those
who left home in full health and with
hearts thrilling with patriotism now
sleep beneath the waving palms of
Cuba's soil; a few have found their
graves in the Atlantic's blue waves;
Others surrendered their souls to their
Maker and their bodies have been sent
to their former northern homes; but
the largest number of those missing
from the ranks lie in beds of pain in
various hospitals in and around New
York, while some having recovered
enough to travel were permitted to
come home and join their loved ones
and receive the care of mothers, wives
and sisters soon after arriving at Mon
taul1.
The night before the boys started
for home huge fires destroyed the last
vcstige of Cuban service. Blankets,
uniforms and even handkerchiefs were
burned. So when they were ready to
take the train they were dressed in
new uniforms. The first stage of the
journey was from Montauk to Long
Island City, thence by ferries to Wee
hawken where they boarded West Shore
railroad trains for Detroit, via Albany
and Buffalo. All the sleeping cars were
provided that could be obtained and
the boys made as comfortable as pos
sible.
The 33d left Camp WilIoff with 725
men, and the 34th with 700. Scores of
them were unfit TO leave camp, but
begged with sobs and tears that they
be taken home. When the two regi-
ments left Camp Wikoff the 33d had so
sick in the hospital, and the 3lth 40.
but many more too weak to travel
collapsed on the train between Mon
taul Point and Long Island City. AT
the latter place every preparation had
been made for caring for the sick
The Red Cross temporary hospital, OPP
posite the depot, had a large force Of
nurses and physicians in readiness and
five or six tents were erected, TO be
used if the hospital became over
crowded. Ambulanccs were drawn up
near the depot, and men with stretch
ers and wheel chairs stood ready to
give aid. Although they were made
as comfortable as possible on the Jour
ncy, the suffering was terrible. When
Long Island City was reached at last
late in the afternoon, and the trains
began TO unload, the men climbed and
crawled from the cars, only to sink
down on the platforms. Willing hands
helped the weak and sick, and all who
could dragged themselves on board the
ferry boat that were to bear them
nearer home. 1t was heartrcnding to
see two gaunt, half-starvcd looking
men totter down the platform, sup
porting between a weaker comrade,
unable to stand. But there was hope
in their eyes, for they were going
home, and that one thing gave all
feverish strength AS the stretcher
bearers came from the trains in long
files, men and women who never had
seen these men before, and never would
see them again, perhaps, gave way to
tears. Within 10 minutes the Red
Cross temporary hospital was swamped
and the tents in the little park oppo-
site the station were filled with sick
and suffering men. The ambulances
in waiting were soon filed and driven
away, to return for more patriots as
they could be moved.
One of the first men to be placed in n
ST. Johns hospital ambulance was Geo.
Allen, of Milan, Co. Il, 34th. He was
far gone in the last stages of quick
consumption. Its no use taking me
to the hospitals; am dying" he whis-
pered. And as the stretcher was placed
in the ambulance the death rattle
sounded in his throat, life passed from
the body, and the corpse was removed
and laid out on blanket in the bag
gage room. Others were taken to the
hospitals for whom there seemed not
the slightest hopes.
AS the ferry boats carried the Mich
igan boys to the Jersey shore the
wharves of New York and Brooklyn
and the great Brooklyn bridge were
crowded with cheering thousands and
the whistles of the hundreds of river
craft joined in farewell greeting.
r II. :. Pingree, Jr., son of the gov
ernor, and the 16 nurses sent from De-
trot TO care for Michigan's sick, did
splendid work in helping the weak and
helpless. and seeing all who were able
to travel safely on board the long
special trains at Weehawken station.
The residence of L. Il. Hawlev, with
contents, burned at Mason. Loss 81 500.
Fire destroyed the large heading mill