The Portland daily press., 1898-09-24

home. The others have been scattered
along the route from Maine to Santiago
and home again. Many were sent home
from Cuba sick in July. Some have gone
to Porto Rico, some were left at Santiago,
others are in the hospitals at Camp
Wykoff and there are others in hospitals
all over the cou ntry.
The sixteen men who reached Portland
last night are mere shadows. 81 have not
d man." said Captain Butler last night,
"who could run a hundred yards without
falling down. Emaoiated, pale and
weak, wi it'll sunken cheeks and hollow
eyes, these men, the strongest of the lot
look as il hospitals should be their home
for weeks to come.
AS the train rolled into Portland last
night and the weary fellows in the cars
caught the glimmer of the electric lights
on the Western promenade, one poor fell
low who has not been off a sick bed
many days and whose weather worn uni
form hung in folds about his shrunken
faltering, "Ihank God, I am back in
Gods country once again." And the
others looked as if they heartily echoed
this statement.
Stretched out on the seats of the cars
and made comfortable by the ministra-
lions of the passengers the signal men
Journeyed homeward from Boston. The
train seemed to crawl along, SO anxious
were many of them to get to Portland.
At the Union station there was big
crowd to meet these men from Santiago,
and when the train stopped and the men
began to alight from the cars there were
shouts of joy and rush forward on the
part of many anxious woman and man
who welcomed home son, a brother or q
husband. The reunions at the depot were
very affecting. Those of the men who
live in Portland found their hands
grasped by many friends.
There were tears of joy on many checks
and ordinations of pity on every side at
the sight of the war worn soldiers. And
there were some in the crowd who had
been anxiously waiting for the return of
some loved one who waited in vain and
who turned away with fearful eyes when
they were told that the one they were
looking and longing for had been left be-
hind in the hospitals at Camp WykoH.
Each of the men who live in this vicinity
soon emerged from the crowd surrounded
by their friends and disappeared from
sight, with mother. a wife or sister
clinging to their arms, brothsr or
father loaded down with the travel stained
haversack and knapsaok bringing up the
rear There were no bands, or blazing
fireworks to bid these men welcome home,
and it was better that there should be
nothing of this kind, for each was happier
with his friends and glad to be alone with
them once more.
Despite the thin cheeks and halting
steps each one of these gallant fellows
looked the very ideal of the soldier.
Their faded uniforms of blue and broad
brimmed hats, revolver and Cuban
machete, the blood stained souyenirtof
Santiago's fields, slung at their sides
these men looked like tho "real thing"
The garb of Captain Butler was extreme.
ly picturesque. He wore no gold lace or
gaudy trappings. With rusty riding boots
and flannel shirt. a broad brimmed hist
faded and worn, the maohete and revolver
slung from his belt. Captain Butler asp
peared like man who had seen hard s5r
vice and great deal of it. Although he
had suffered from the fever and lost Ooh
siderable weight. his face is bronzea by
the tropical sun and he seems to be in the
best of health and spirits. During Whe
months which he has been away from
home Captain Butler has had his hands
full and his life has been one of anxiety
and worry. Through 1t all he has nobly
carried himself and returns to Maine with
the remnant of his command respected
and loved by his men and honored and
praised by his superiors.
Besides Captain Butler the men who re.
turned last night We're:
Sergeant WEIGH, Sergeant Floyd and
Sergeant Herrick of Portland; Sergeant
Mitchell of Newport and Sergeant Frary
of Augusta.
Corporals Cox and Miller of Portland,
Lawrence of Gardiner.
Privates Sterling, Feeney and Ball of
Portland; Brickley of Westbrook; Jordan
of Deering; Tilton of Newport; Wright
and O'Neil of Lewis ton.
Lieutenant Walker and Privates Harri.
man and Worcester were left at New Lon
don to take charge Of the baggage and
horses which were mixed up with the
baggage of the 9TH Cavalry.
Private P. j. Bell and A. II. Dill were
left at Santiago in the hospital.
Privates E. W. Colcord of Newport and
Fred e. Stewart of Auburn, are dead.
Priyates Jones of Newport, Johnson Of
Portland, Spike and Fl. P. Merrill of
Maine State college, Hobbs of Augusta
and MoDonough of Westbrook and
Corporal johnson of Portland are sickssat
Camp Wykoff, Long Island.
Corporal Sullivan and Private Fish are
in Porto Rico.
The whereabouts of the rest OF the men
is not known for certainty. Some of
them are at home and some are in