Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-10
ccllent health and think we can con-

graduate ourselves on bringing home
l,luo men out of the 1900 that we took
away. Other regiments did not do so
Wen. Most of the other two hundred
nave been sent home sick or on fur
Tough. 1t is a coincident that WI. left
Newport News August and left Ponce
70 return December 1. Since the First
Kentucky enlisted in Uncle Sans s-rv-
ice she has lost only eighteen men bv
death Sixteen died OF fever and dis
ease. one WAS killed by Spaniard on,
the island and ono was drowned, We
left about twenty men in the hospital
at Ponce. too sick to travel. and had on
the snip six sick men. That is our con
dition."
The major was much surprised to-
learn that the Louisville citizens had
arranged jubilee reception for the reg
!ment and 50 We're all of the officers
and men who came ashore for that mat
ter. They said they had not heard from
home in the way of letter or paper for
two weeks and they listened to th, ac-
counts of the jubilee arrangements
from local newspaper men as eagerly as
they did some months ago for the latest
war news.
Later in the afternoon the transpor,
came up to pier No. 5 and tied up. bu.
very few OF the men We're able to get
ashore. Some of them We're lucky
enough to take French leave. but ,he So
We're not numerous. and the first thing
they did when they struck dry lane
was to make a bee line far the nearcat
restaurant, where they ate as no men
had eaten IN these parts for many days.
II tell you. it feels good to get some
thing that is something to eat, after
what we have had to put up with"
said one OF these. adding Il have been
dreaming Of these oysters ever since |
left Porto Rico" . ... ~.
About o'clock the band got permits
sion to come ashore. They landed ana
serenaded several citizens among them
Mr. NJ. 700. of the Ivy, who was cater
er to the boys before they left. The
band attracted 4 great deal Of attention
as it passed through the city the citi-
zens turning out generally to see them
go by. ..
y royal welcome awaits the boys
when they arrive in Louisville. The
citizens OF that city will Guido them
selves in extending to the returned sol
Tiers the hospitality of the city and all
# the men are impatient to be away.
Tho reception committee which was
appointed by the citizens of Louisville
to meet the regiment here. We're delayed
IN the way and did not arrive until the
Eenng train. They Went at once
aboard the transport where they re-
ceived an ovation from the holnesick
'"ys. This committee will look after
ne comfort Of the soldiers en- route and
'il that they lack nothing.
Those composing the reception commit
.ce are: Or. Edward l., Pearce, chair
nan; Mr.. Kenneth Castieman, L. s.
Navy; Mr. Isaac F. Marcosson. Mr.
George Otter Newman, Mr.. Charles \.
Parker. Mr.. Thompson Buchanan.
The reception committee spent the
;:leht at the Warwick, all except DR..
Pierce and Mr.. Castleman, who went
y to Washington for the purpose of
.ndeavoring to get the Secretary of
regiment SO that it can leave here at
time which will throw it in Louisville
Monday morning. This is done because
he committee does not want TO dis
grange the plans of the citizens for
The great three days celebration that
has been prepared for the Legion.
There has already been considerable
trouble in making arrangements owing
% the changing Of orders. and the va
.ous delays attendant upon the rcgi-
nent leaving Porto Rico. and if the
)oys reach home Sunday night the
,:holc program will be thrown out Of
;oint 1t is probable that the request of
i the committee will be acceded to,
specially as it will take longer than
vas anticipa ted to distribute the cloth
ng, some of which has not yet arrived.
The boys who have heard of this con-
DELAY, no not take u IL very
andy. for they are anxious to get
Tome, and the majority Of them, sol
lier-like, do not care so much for cere-
;lony.
The total number of men who We're
n the Berlin when she arrived was
1859 which included 1914 privates, and
10 officers of the First Kentucky; Gen.
Brooke's party of fourteen; Congress-.
nan Hill. of Connecticut. and three
.riends: crew of 40. and some fifteen
outsiders belonging to other regiments.
Lieutenant jeffreys brought back
.yith him a native orphan boy, who
aad haunted the camp in Porto Rico.
md who refused to clear out when the
Boys got ready to leave. The Lieuten-
ant will take him home with for
Body guard. A number of the officers
brought back with them Porto Rican
ponies. which are queer little animals.
Quarantine officer. DR.. y. c. Jones,
vas, of course, the first man to board
he transport when she came up. He
vas received literally with open arms.
nd open mouths. too. for that matter,
or when the men saw him coming they
heered like mad. the officers them
selves Joining in. The Doctor hadn't
Ahen he left the wharf. but when he
Sound himself he had his hat off and
vas cheering. too. Who wouldn't have?
The men all seemed glad that they
we're brought back to this port instead
If being taken to New York. We nave
20 many friends here" said one of the
,fficers, ''and then we wanted to get
hack to old Virginia sol! once more.
We wanted to come to the whole United
States. you know. but we wanted to
come particularly to old Virginia. Why.
is like getting home. There isn't any
Inference between Firgnians and us
olks from the Blue Grass State. any
way" ....
Coming from a climate where the
thermometer registered #ne hundred
n the shade to d country where the
mercury has been sleeping around the
reezing point for the past two weeks
II more, was pretty rough experience
n the men, especially as the majority
II them had on light clothing. Those
Who came ashore wrapped themselves
Up as best they could, and shivered au-
iibly One man had blanket around
aim, and then complained that he could
,ot keep warm.
1t was pathetic. as well as instruct
We to see how the men hustled to the
'estaurants and hotels for square
nome made meal. They ate like men
Who hadn't been used to it. we had
the regular old grub, but the variety