The Worcester spy., 1898-11-01

The city Of Worcester did itself proud
yesterday afternoon and gave the men
who fought in the war with Spain Sc
nobly rousing enthusiastic welcome
The streets We're crowded long before
the hour set for the companies to move
from the armory. Every available inch
of space along the line of march was
filed with a struggling mass OF hu-
manity who were anxious to see the
soldier boys, but good naturedly await
ed their coming. Tho public buildings
on Main, Front and Park streets were
one sea of humanity, and many stores
were closed as the parade passed bv.
At 4o5 o'clock Chief Marshal Col.
F. w. wellington gave the signal to
move, and then the thousands Of men,
women and children at Lincoln square
started a cheer that was taken up as
the soldiers advanced by the crowds
on the walks and in the public and pri-
vate buildings. There was every eVi-
dence that the spirit of patriotism was
in the air, and the citizens had exerted
themselves to the utmost to give the
boys a welcome on their farewell march
as members of the Second Massaehu-
setts regiment through Worcester
busy thoroughfares.
Flags were wavisg everywhere. Old
glory was flung to the breezes by nearly
every person who keeps the stars and
stripes for just such occasions, and as
far as the eye could reach, there was
the show of national color that added
to the success and enjoyment Of the
parade
Worcester has not witnessed a similar
scene in many years. The enthusiasm
seemed to permeate everything. The
small boy had it and was not 10th to
give it vent. The grown men and wo-
men had it, also, and they We're not
ashamed to show it.
Court hill was a sight to behold. Chill
dren from the public schools were
largely in the majority. But the hill
was so crowded that many ladies
wished they had remained at home, as
they We're wedged into very small
space and were obliged to remain there
until the parade had covered the line
of marchtan returned, to again be re-
viewed by the great crowds who We're
so anxious to get one last look at their
brave boys in blue.
The cheers. huzzas and bravos ech-
oSd and re-echoed from the time the
boys stepped from the armory to the
street until they re-entered the states
massive structure upon their return
At every cross street a blue-coated
police officer was stationed. A stout
rope kept the crowds at these points
from pushing into the roadway, and 1t
also kept teams from interfering with
the men in line. The trolley cars were
kept off OF Main, Front and Park
streets during the parade.
AS the paraders came down Main
street. four abreast, and turned into
Front street, the crowd of school chill
dren. teachers and citizens who were
massed upon the common gave one
rousing cheer that almost seemed to
shake the buildings in the vicinity The
band ard drum corps played the inspir-
ing patriotic airs that made the blood
tingle in the veins of the Cuban he
roes, and took the old veterans of the
war of 81 back to the days of their
own tYumphs after they had forced the
confederates to retire from the fields
of battle.
Round the common marched the SOL
diers, and the crowd that had given
them such an ovation at the corner of
Main and Front streets rushed to the
Salem street side Of the common, as il
their lives depended upon their getting
there at a certain moment, The line
was halted on Salem street to giev the
soldiers a short time to breathe When
(Continued On Third Pare