Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-09-08
MICHIGAN NEWS SUMMARY,
Doirgs 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 32d Ordered
to be Mustered Out.
Return of Michigan's Soldier Heroes.


1t was with hearts full of Joy that
the brave soldiers of the 33d and 34tl
Michigan volunteer regiments vacated
the tents they had occupied at the de.
tention camp at Montauk Point, 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
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
Cubas 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
tauk.
The night before the boys started
for home huge fires destroyed the last
vestige 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 Montaull 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 Willoff with 725
men, and the 34th with ZOO. 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 34th 40.
but many more too weak to travel
collapsed on the train between Mon
tauk 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 large force of
nurses and physicians in readiness and
five or six tents were erected, to be
used if the hospital became over
crowded. Ambulances 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 |
ney, 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 heartrending TO
see two gaunt, half-starved 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
HES, 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
md suffering men. The ambulances
N waiting were soon filled and driven
away, to return for more patriots as
hey ""-ld be moved.
One CT the first men to be placed in a
St. Johns hospital ambulance was Geo.
Allen, of Milan, Co. +, 34th. He was
ar gone in the last stages of quick
Its no use taking me
o the hospital; l am dying" he whis-
'ered. And as the stretcher was placed ;
n the ambulance the death rattle ;
ounded In his throat, life passed from :
he body, and the corpse was removed
md laid out on blanket in the bag. ,
'age room. Others were taken TO the I
hospitals for whom there seemed not ,
he slightest hopes.
AS the ferry boats carried the Mich
gan boys to the Jersey shore the
vharves of New York and BROOKLYN
nd the great Brooklyn bridge were {
rowded with cheering thousands and I
he whistles of the hundreds of river {
raft joined in farewell greeting.
II. ). Pingree, Jr., son of the gov. {
rnor. and the 10 nurses sent from 10 S
roit to care for Michigan's sick, did
plendid work in helping the weak and
elpless, and seeing all who were able
travel safely on board the long ?
pecial trains at Weehawlien station.
The residence of L. Il. Hawlev, with &
ontents, burned at Mason. Loss 81, 500
Fire destroyed the large heading mill q
the Aetna Cooperage Co., in Tren- {
m Tho