The herald., 1898-10-15
The Seventh is at home again.

The Seventh is at home again.
In the southland last night there were
hundreds Of happy homes, where grateful
hearts rejoiced over the return Of loved
ones long absent. In a score Of homes the
sorrow, deadened by time, that blunts the
edge Of grief. was given a poignant awak-
ening. because no soldier boy came back
with the bronzed companies in whose ranks
he had marched away.
It was the old, old story Of war. told
again and again since the birth of man.
Cheers for those who return and tears for
those who will never come back again.
The Joy was none the less because the sor-
row was the greater when the boys came
marching home.
And the Seventh was glad to get home.
It Is a question whether the cheers from
the companies packed in the cars were
even heartier than the cheers of welcome
from the throats Of the thousands which
thronged the streets around River station.
''he people who waited for the arrival
of the trains bringing the soldiers had n
taste, although a very small dose compare
lively speaking, Of that hardest Of all medi-
cines to take-patience. The boys were
then on the second, the third. fourth. and
finally not at ALI Four times they broke
camp and packed their kits to sail away.
For hours yesterday morning the people
waited in the sun and dust for the return
of the boys. First 1t was 10 o'clock, then
It was 10:3O then II, then II 80, and finally
at II 55 the first section arrived, followed
by the other two sections about twenty
minutes apart
But that It was annoying to the people
who had business at the station. the ac-
tions Of the cavalrymen and police at the
depot would have been amusing. A
stranger would have thought that the car
of Russia or some other dignitary afraid of
his head was about to arrive. Get out
Of the lines" was the cry on every lip. and
even the doors of the ticket office were
guarded by police and people who intended
to take the trains out Of town got aboard
without tickets.
When the boys did arrive the crowd
broke through the lines willy-nilly, and no
one was injured unless some Of the soldier
boys suffered from the arm shaking
they received at the hands of their sweet
hearts.
The Journey Home
The trip from San Francisco to this city
was uneventful 1t was made without ac-
cident or unnecessary delay, but at best
the journey Is long and tiresome one,
and when two soldiers are packed with all
their accoutrements in a seat in an ordi-
nary coach there Is little chance for sleep,
or even rest.
All along the line, late at night, early in
the morning, and all the day, crowds of
people gathered at the stations to cheer
the soldiers. AT seHsrai &Glpts 9.EitJ2fg ehhaa hhaa
boys. and 1t is not necessary to say they
proved most welcome.
Home, Sweet Home
When the whistle of the first section Of
the transport trains sounded the crowd
started to cheer. The engine was not even
in sight, but what did the people care?
The boys were coming at last and they
yelled and crowded through the lines to
be chased back by the cavalrymen and po-
ice, only'to break through at another point.
The trooper with his flag, marking the
entrance to the gate to the lunch room. took
his station; General Last gathered his per-
spring staff about him; the cavalry lined
up, facing the track on which the train
the crowd the Seventh Regiment band
played Home. Sweet Home"
EVERYBODY Happy
The crowd cheered the soldiers cheered,
the whistles blew and the bells rang out
their welcome. Pullman car at the
rear of the first section. which consisted of
sixteen cars, surrendered Colonel Berry
and his staff, and the officers were met by
General Last and his staff as they alighted
and were given a hearty welcome.
While this was going on the soldier boys
were crowding their bodies half way out
of the windows Of the cars and yelling fran
tically to friends in the crowd, who were
tearing flags and handkerchiefs to tatters
In their frantic waving.
Hello, Tilly. Hello, Mamma" etc. yelled
the soldiers, and Hello, Tom Bin.
George" ETC.. yelled the crowd.
A Trocha
The soldiers couldn't get out of the cars.
At each end Of the coaches stood two
armed guards that kept the men behind the
doors.
The people couldn't get through the lines
of cavalrymen on prancing steeds, rein.
forced by the police with belted clubs.
And there they stood for ten minutes
yelling at each other like made. 1t was
tantalizing, but 1t was necessary for the
officers realized that If their men once got