The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-03

F-''"''"AS VI oaAAp llLe uuu so veal
ened the men that they will long be untl
|. for the duties they left.
o 4 But the home coming was a trjumphani
g ono nevertheless. bout flyo thousand mer
q women and children lined the streets
q through which the weary battaliont
marched. The sidewalks wore goreed with
an uncomfortable mass Of struggling hum
an1ty. The steps of every h ,usc along the
route wore banked with people
1t seemed that all Wilmington had goua
. with shouts Of welcome to greet her re-.
o turning soldier boys to show that she
was proud Of them, Though they had not
figured In the HOTTEST fights, that she
ioVeu thsm and was glad to the heart that
they were homo again. A solid mile of
!, windows was alive with welcoming BIO It.
!, most with bright faces. with gay dresses,
with huttering handkorchiefs and Aaps.
with words OF love on their lips and the
sweet light OF sympathy in their eyes. On
the streets wasa different scence. Women
, threw their arms about the travel stained
bearded boys. and kissed them and wept
FOR JOY. Men seized thsm In their arms
anu held thon In the arms tightly and
silently
Father Rugged son, and brother kissed
orother' Mothers. sisters and sweetbearts
alternately wept and cheercd, holding on
as long rs they dared to the attenuated
hgures In blue, who were marching on
Hardly man in the battalions but is
changed Many man came home weak
ana tired by the life But there are still
ID this part of tho first sturdy gallant fol-
lows "hoare as hale and hearty as ever.
Inc excitement Of the Homecoming, tho
cneefs OF the great masses of humanity
on tip toe, the sight of friends acted like
wine upon their spirits and infused yipor
into their limbs. 1t was a triumpbal
march from end to end.
From tho p, W. & B. station to tho
armory DUNG the passing of tho regi-
ment there rolled ono continued volume
OF sound echoing far down into the city,
increasing with every block and trailing
III the wake of the last company long after
1t had passed.
AS the blue columns swung around the
last turn into Twelfth street, the armorv
building In sight the First RegimentIbaud
broke into Home, Sweet Home" sound.
ing to the weary soldiers like music from
Heaven. They half bolted to let tho words
and strains sink into their minds and
many men began to sing Tho crowd broke
out with cheer and to the loud huz.
zas OF people. the battalion swung around
inc corner, trampled heavily upstairs, the
last man entered the old familiar doors.
and SoOmen Of tho First Delaware were nj
home.
Although no definite time for the arrival
OF the battalions had been announced
crowds were at tho depot as early as 10
O'CLOCK -Four hours later there took
place scene which will live as ono of the
brightest pages In the citys history, It
was scene which Is absolutely boyond
TIE power Of pen to describe; sceno that
wrenched the nerves of the strongest men
and sent women into Mysteries. Thou
ands Of people crowded about the building
tore their clothes and struggled like d.
mons 10 got one glimpse of the returning
soldiers.
Ihey wanted to welcome the soldiers
BACK home. bnt from welcomed 1t became
al absolute frenzy OF HISTORICAL excite-
mont 1t was impossible to control the
surging thr ngs. There had been some
attempt to place guard about thu depot
and Keep every ono outside, but 1t would
nave been Just as easy to turn tho course
of mighty river with spoonful of sand,
The people charged the police and surped
into tho depot in mighty, Irresistible
throng. They had been patiently wait
Ing about tho streets all morning, for the
arrival of tho train which was bringing
the mon homo, and they continued to wait
in the depot just as patiently.
At 40 o'clock was heard the cling
OF bell In the distance appeared the On.
gino. From every throat there burst cheer
and mighty chorus of voices filled tho
depot. In another instant an engine puff
d. and snorted into the depot drawing be.
hindit long train of cars. 1t bore the bat
allions, and the men were home ut last,
If the angels looked down from above
they must have wept from sympathy. The
lender aff eoLionata women who have been
from the ono they loved for
many months wore there to take them
back t. their hearts.
They were waiting with straining eyes
md heaving bosoms to give their heroes
The welcome which meant more to them
han all the glad acclaim OF tho multitude
i seemed as though the keynote of hui
nan nature was touched In an Instant.
Wives clasped their husbands In their
rms; sisters, mothers and sweethearts did
he same little prattling infants clutched
nd pulled at the bearded faces of the sol.
iers and through it all those brave bronz.
d follows stood helpless AMI wept silently
Or joy The thousands Of spectators wept
co. 1T was one great big tribute to hu-
nan love.
But the first greeting over the scene soon
hanged There were sharp words of COM
,and and the soldier boys Tell In line.
nc band began to play and out Ut tho
epot into the streot the men marched
mid The Widest enthusiasm 1t was
rand ovation all along the line Of march.
'hesring throngs filled the streets. Build.
lgS had been hastily decorated In antici-
ation of the event and the windows along
no limo of march were provided with
atriotic citizens.
AT THE ARMORY.
The battalions reached the armory be
IRE where Major II. Van Arsdale An.
ruaa, Lieutenant Walter Alexander, Of
no Fourth artillery U. S A. an1 Captain
douglass Settle, U. 8. V. received them,