The evening times., 1898-09-06

AS the time for the homecoming of the
District Volunteers draws near, the pulse
OF Washington is quickened with the de-
sire to mete out 10 the boys a tuil meas
ure OF glory.
Although the time is short before the
regiment will be tramping along Penn
sylvania Avenue to the White House, the
committees and citizens will see TO it that
their reception shall be a royal one.
There Will be cheers and tears, enthu-
siasm and sadness. as the weakened, sun
scorched volunteers march over the
streets of their home city and receive the
plaudits of the multitudes.
The story of their campaign will be
written upon each weather-beaten face.
From May TO September the regiment
served in four army corps. First at
Camp Alger, then at historic Chickamau-
ga then TO sunny Tampa and thence
across the water to Santiago The hor-
rors of the troop ships: forced marches
under the fierce glare OF tropical sun;
Hrenched by chilling downpours of rain;
iiving on short rations and latterly in the
muddy, water-filled trenches before san
siago, where the Mauser missiles sang
their death songs. are all serious chap
fers in the war history Of the First Dis
4rict of Columbia Volunteer Regiment.
The desperate Spaniards did not con-
etitute the only danger the volunteers
were compelled to face There was the
aneryaring climatic conditions, yellow fe-
ver, typhoid, malaria and the journey
from Cuba 10 Montauk in the oVercrowd-
I'D foul transports, with a scarcity OF
FOOD and lack of other necessities.
Ii is no wonder the returning SOL
Eiiers will march with unsteady gait, and
khat many of them Will be compelled to
Side In the parade in conveyances fur
aished by their appreciatiye tellow-cltl-
zens. Nor is ii any wonder that the peo-
ple of Washington viii extend TO their
volunteers a spontaneous. hearty greet
ting" as Major Sylvester expressed 1t,
Apon their return home.
That there shall be nothing lacking in
she grand reception. the several commit
tees are working industriously and with
energy. Major Sylvester, chairman OF
khe general committee. has taken on his
coat, and from this time until o'clock
FRIDAY morning, when the triumphal
march TO the White House will begin,
be will labor with his associate commit
keemen for the success of the welcome.
A picturesque feature of the parade will
Volunteers will wear d fragrant bouquet
Ia the muzzle of his rifle, emblematic Of
peace and their return to home, sweet
home" This viii be the work of Mr.. ].
t9enry Small, chairman of the floral COM
fnittee, and his associates, embracing all
of the leading florists in the District. The
Qfflcers of the regiment will be supplied
with wreaths of laurel. These floral ar
Tangements will be made while the men
are doing justice to a substantial break
fast after the arrival of the transport
Arains at Third Street and Virginia Ave
nue..
The sick and disabled volunteers will be
Supplied with an abundance Of fragrant
gut flowers.
Chairman Edison, OF the finance commit
pee. hopes that patriotic citizens will send
In their contributions as rapidly as pos
eible. But few hours will elapse before
lhe regiment is home again, and ii is de-
sired TO have the bulk of the reception
fund In hand at the earliest possible mo-
snsnt, in order that the expenditures can
be properly governed. Subscriptions. large
sor small, can be handed into the business
Dffice of The Washington Times. the other
newspaper offices or at any of the banks.
. Not all of the $50 volunteers who
marched so proudly away with the mar
Stial music and flying colors last Nav
ETill be in the ranks of the passing regi-
enent on Friday morning. Some of them
Fare sleeping their last sleep in lonely
sSrayeS many miles from home Others
iare al the bottom Of Old Atlantic. buried
sat sea while on the return to their ma
give land while still others are fever
Facked and dying in the hospitals of the
North.
The committees estimate that not more
Hhan 900 men Of the regiment of $50 will
abe in line on reception day.
A substantial breakfast will be served
- me troops at the point of debarkation,
Third Street and Virginia Ayenua SON, \,