The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-05-14
S[VENIY-FIRST HERE.
Gallant New York Regiment
Arrives Today En- Route
for Chiokamauga.
SCENES At BAY STREET DEPOT
Crowds Greet the Troops as
They Disembark---Dr. 1.
J. Gordon's Kindly Act.

The Seventy-first Regiment of the New
York National Guard disembarked AZ
Bay street dock at one o'clock today and
took the Pennsylvania Railroad cars foi
Chickamauga.
Hours before the arrival of the troops
a large crowd collected in toe yard to the
north of the Bay street ferry. The ma
jcrity Of the early ones were women ahA-
iously awaiting the appearance on the
transports Each carried bundle,
paper box, a package, a basket or some
present for a sweetheart, son or brother
or husband going to fight for the nag.
There was Dr. Leonard J. Gordon there
and he was as enthusiastic as the ladies.
He had an interest in the regiment Ior
with it in April, 1861, he marched to the
front. With that thoughtful Kindness so
marked trait of the energetic doctor, MS
little bundle consisted of a package of
tobacco for each man in that smart New
York regiment. Before the men arrived
he and ex-Judge Douglass INDUCED IN a
lengthy and brilliant argument on fascln-
ating surgical topics.
There was Captain Cox and squad ol
police to keep the women from strangling'
the soldiers. and Yard Master McNaily
TO make arrangement for the transit OF
the baggage. Secretary w. T. TAFT, OF
the Board of Trade, and Miss TAFT inter
ested spectators; ex-Assemblyman Urqu-
hart. C. Tflden, DR.. Everett, Messrs, Van
derbeek and Pearson from the adjoining
timber yard, and host of others, among
which were some very pretty young
women with gorgeous spring hats. One
maiden in particular attracted the atten-
tion of a horrid man and he exclaimed in
a burst of honest admiration:
1I wouldn't leave that behind; I would
desert"
A little after twelve o'clock big black
steamer poked its nose across the end of
the slip and part of the crowd rushed
to the end of the dock, while others
mounted freight cars, ash cans, any old
place, from which good view could be
obtained AS the steamers bow came
nearer one could see it was the City of
Washington and a mighty cry went up,
never mind the grammar
Its them.''
Sure enough one could see on her lower
decks crowds of soldier. Instantly the
women on the freight depot, away hum
dreds of yards from the pier futtered
handkerchefs and waved umbrellas and
dainty gloved hands. Each knew that
the particular object Of the salute, would
distinguish her.
1t was some time after the vessel had
been securely held by the big cables to
the end of the pier that the men began
to disembark Before that time how
ever, Col Green, in command, went up
to Yardmaster McNally, and exclaimed
Cant you have the yard cleared to the
trains; these women give the greatest
trouble with their hugging and kissing
and breaking the boys all up?'' But it
was of no use, the men marched through
the lines of women to the little train
shed. Just as they turned from the
wharf to the yard one small woman
made a dash at a guardsman in Company
K, but the second lieutenant was too
quick, and placing his sword across the
woman said:-
"You must stand back"
''But that's my boy, my cwn boy, and I
must see MIN before he goes to be killed
by those nasty Spanish she almost
screamed vainly endeavoring to push
aside the sword.
"You may madam, when the company
gets on board the train.v replied the Off
Ger, and the woman, not to be beaten
kept up the step alongside her boy until
| at the door of the carriage, where-and it
didn't matter if the officers and generals
| in the whole world forbade it--she threw
her arms about a strapping youth and
kissed him again and again.
/ Scenes like this were innumerable, and
| those who hadn't any boy in that gallant
! band felt an uncomfortable momentary
swelling in the throat on witnessing the
/ tender adieux paid.
When the City of Washington had dis
charged, half her live military freight,
| the Valencia, a similar steamer. brought
as many more, and when all the baggage
was on board, and it took an entire train
of freight cars. the locomotives give
hoarse shrieks of farewell. the soldiers
cheered and SO did the crowd, and the
| Seventy first was off to the front.
/