The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-09-23
THE RETURN OF THE SIXTH.
The Remuan: of the Regiment Reached
Cincinnati Tuesday Night and
Received an Ovation.

CINCINNATI, sept. 2l.-E1ve months
ago the 9Th United States infantry
marched through this city on its way
to southland, to do and die for its
country. The scene which attended
its departure was one which will never
be forgotten. Fort Thomas had
been it's home for years,
and the good people of the
Queen City had learned to know and
love the soldiers of the 9th. Five hun
dred strong they marched away to face
pestilence, famine and all the attend
ant horrors of cruel war, and thous-
ands of citizens turned out to bid them
farewell.
At midnight the remnant of that
brave throng again entered the gates
of Cincinnati. Sickness and the bul.
lets of the enemy had so decimated
their ranks that there remained but
80 of the gallant boys who had left be.
hind them all that they loved and held
most dear upon that memorable after
noon in the early spring.
And what a homeco ming it was!
Under the vaulted roof of the Grand
Central depot there took place a scene
which will live as one of the brightest
pages in the Queen City's history. 1t
was a scene which is absolutely beyond
the power of pen to describe; a scene
that wrenched the nerves of the
81
Mysteries. Thousands of people rushed
through the gates leading to the depot
and tore their clothes and struggled
like demons to get one glimpse of the
returned heroes. They wanted to well
come the fighting 9th back home, but
from welcome it became an absolute
fir envy of hysterical excitement
1t was impossible to control the
surging throngs. The people of Gin
cinnati had waited long to show the
9th how much they love and honor
them, and when the moment came
they were not to be denied. There had
been some attempt to place guard
about the depot and keep every one
outside except the relatives and imme-
date friends of the boys il blue, but
it would have been just as easy to turn
the course of mighty river with a
spoonful of sand. The people charged
the police and surged into the depot in
mighty irresistible throng.
1t seemed as thou the keynote of hr-
man nature was touched in an in
slant. Wives clasped their husbands
in their arms; sisters, mothers and
sweethearts did the same; little pratt
thing infants clutched and pulled at
the bearded faces of the soldiers. And
through it all those bronzed heroes.
who had faced the shock of bat
tie without a tremor, stood helpless
and wept silently for very joy. There
were other women there and they
were weeping, too, but not IN the same
spirit. Their heroes were still in fair
Cuba, forever beyond the reach of
human emotion, and in the happy re-
union of the moment these poor women
had no part
The thousands of spectators wept,
too. 1t was one great, big tribute to
human love. But the first greetings
over, the scene soon changed. There
were sharp words of command and the
soldier boys fell in line. Bands began
to play, and out of the depot into the
street the boys marched amid the
widest enthusiasm. The second
section had arrived shortly aft
er the first, and the same scenes
were repeated. They, too, marched
through the depot into the street
Then, at the word of command, the
triumphal procession began. 1t was
grand ovation all along the line of
march. Cheering throngs filed the
streets, fireworks were displayed upon
all sides.
When the regiment reached Newport
there was another ovation. The citi-
zens of that city turned out en- masse
and gave the boys a welcome which
they will never forget.