The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-03

be flung wide to admit the people. Mr..
Egan said he could see no reason for hav-
ing those who were anxious to welcome
the troops remain outside in the rain when
it was evident that there would be plenty
of room for all inside. He saw that the
storm would have the effect of keeping
away the large crowd that would other
wise have been on hand
1t was originally intended to run the
troops train into the cotton yard at the
foot of Liberty street and there disembark
the men. All the curious were to be kept
out of the yard by the police and We're
not to be allowed to get a chance at the
troops until they had been marched out
through the yard cute. This plan had
been suggested to Col. Lawton and Col.
Brooks by Mr. Egan, ana they had APP
proved it. When ii was seen what bad
day was in prospect the instructions were
changed, and arrangements made for I'M
loading the troops in the depot. 1t was
thought then there would probably be such
a crowd down in the afternoon that 1t
would not be wen to open the gates. When
it was seen that there was no prospect of
the weather moderating sufficiently to adj
init of many people getting out instTuc-
tons TO have the doors opened were given.
There were probably 500 people at the
depot TO welcome the troops. Five thous-
and would be a conservative estima ie of
what there would have been had the day
been fine Those who were there were
kept guessing about the time of the ar
rival of the train. They tried to get some
information about ii. but were unsuccess-
full as the Central's wires were down and
nothing could be heard from Macon. The
last news from that city was at $3.50 in the
morning, and the train had not then left
the place at which it had been stationed
to receive the troops. The transportation
people could not tell at what time it had
left, as the wires had gone just after that
time. All they knew was that IL had been
the purpose 10 have the train leave Ma
con at o'clock, or as soon thereafter as
possible, and that the train crew had re-
ceived instructions to make the trip in six
hours. The only thing that could be done
was for the dispatcher to sit at his table
and wait for the operator at Pooler to no
tify him of the train having passed that
point. Pooler was the farthest point west
ward with which the road had communi-
cation. 1t was known that there was moth
ing 10 be apprehended in the way of wash
outs as a freight train had gotten in not
a great while before.
When the news was given out that the
train had passed Poler 1t caused great
satisfaction, and all was expectancy until
the arrival of the troops. When ii got m
it was ascertaiued that some delay had
been caused by the men having to get
out to move trees from the track between
Guyton and Pooler to allow it to pass
Everybody in the depot was on the
lookout for the train, and It was greeted
with n cheer as il came In sight far
down the track Mothers, fathers, sisters
and brothers were there, and soldier
friends in uniform were waiting TO grasp
their comrades hands and bid them well
come back to Savannah. All the officers
of the state service in the First Regiment
were also on hand in uniform They were
there 10 greet both officers
and men of the returning
companies but they took the Of
1continued on Third PaaeA