The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-23

and the ladies waved their handker-
chiefs. The enthusiasm was immense
along down Front street, and the home
corners received a continuous ovation
as the procession moved up Market
street to the armOry.
AT THE ARMORY.
The armory was beautiful with elab-
crate decorations. American flags n
the bunting of colors of all nations
f1uttered from steamers extending out
overhead to the street, while an cleo
trio design, kindly provided by the Will
mingtOn Gas Light Company, blaZed
out the letters, "Welcome,' over the
entrance to the armory. The column
was halted a few minutes in front of
the armOry and then Company K
marched in and formed On the drill
grounds at the rear of the armory.
h grounds were packed with people,
and at $50 p. M, with the enthusiasm
at it's height, DR.. Carmichael came for
ward on the back piazza of the armory
and eloquently introduced the orator
of the day, the Hon. Alfred M. Wad-
dell. Colonel Waddell was received
with great applause, and with the
J steps in his front massed with beauti-
full ladies, he spoke from the piazza.
His remarks were as follows:
ELOQUENT WELCOME.
"All hail! and thrice welcome. brave
sons of brave sires. We gree with
unfeigned joy and gratitude your
return to your homes, and give thank
to the Lord Of Hosts that He has re-
stored you with ranks as full as on
the day you marched from this armory
to fight for your country. The oppor-
tunity to do so was denied to you, but
that can in no wise diminish your title
to the applause of your cOuntrymen.
THE heroes who fought and fell up
on the tangled slopes of San Juan and
Ell Caney only did what you offered to
do, and would have done if there.
Theirs was the opportunity and splen-
didly they seized it, but the spirit
which led them through the deadly
storm to victory was equally yours,
and the fame which in other days was
! associated with the name of the Will
I mington Light Infantry would have
beeen gloriously sustained if the bugle
, which there sounded the charge had
been yours. But you have cause for
gratitude in the fact that if you did
not share in the actual conflict, neither
did you, like hundreds Of your fellow
soldiers, fall victims to the pestilence
that walketh in darkness and the de-
struction that wasteth in the noon
day, but have returned in health and
strength to your loved ones, with the
consciousness of duty faithfully per-
formed. and are greeted by all your
fellow citizens with that most grateful
of all salutations, well done, good
and faithful
without the same urgent Inspiration
that once animated your fathers and
nerved them to the performance of
deeds which commanded the admira-
ton of h civilized world-indeed.
doubling, as 1 know some of you did.
the wisdom or necessity of the war
you, nevertheless, in a spirit of genu-
inc patriotism promptly answered the
a for volunteers and left all to follow
the starry standard OF the republic.
"All honor. therefore, TO you, my
true and gallant countrymen.
The temptation TO speak to you at
greater length shall not betray me into
a violation OF the proprieties of this
occasion. I know from experience that
oratory is not one of the things which
a tired soldier hungers for, and it
would be unkind alike to you and to
those who are waiting to embrace you,
to detain you longer.
Receive, then. in the spirit in which
they are rendered to you, these evil
dences of the respect and admiration
Of your townsmen; and may the good