The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-30
SAD HOME COMING

INV
or PsnnsyIvanIa soIdIers-They Lam
Aniid Cheers and are Received with An
Enl,h AVID TsArs-Snms Pathetic Scenes.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. August 2s.-over
200 soldiers who four months ago
marched of to war while thousands Of
admiring friends cheesed them on, re-
turned to-day amid anguish and tears.
The stricken heroes were aboard the
Pennsylvania state hospital train. and
are being taken to their homes and
hospitals for better treatment. The
train, with Governor D. H. Hastings in
charge, reached UnIon station at II
o'clock this morning, and an hour was
spent in removing number OF the sut-
ferers to Pittsburgh hospitals and Civ
ing dinner 70 the convaleScents. There
was no demonstration by the crowd
when the train entered the sheds, and
tears came 20 the eyes Of hundreds on
the platform when they saw the gaunt
faces OF the sufferers peering from the
windows.
Governor Hastings and his wife were
seated In the private car in the rear OF
LnE bEELlOU vi kuG ~ sAAAA eAAAA esA@NA@A
Superintendent Robert Pitcairn, who
was AT the station to assist in handling
the soldiers. Ninety tin basins with
towels and soap and barrels of warm
water were provided by the railroad
company and the convalescents who
were able were marched from the cars
and allowed to make their toilet with
baggage truck for a dresser. Governor
Hastings was the busiest man In the
station and personally superintended
the removal OF the patients TO the hos
pitals and directed the men to the res
taurant where two score Of them took
dinner.
Il am too busy to talk. gentlemen"
he said when asked about the subject
OF the tIIp, Since we left Chattanoo-
ga every person on the train has turned
every attention toward the relief OF the
sufferers and there has been 90 time
for rest. AT Cincinnati we were treat
ed royalty by the people last night
when we stopped TO take supper, and at
every point along the route where the
train passed in daylight the citizens
did everything In their power to assist
Us Two thousand people met the train
at Steubenyille this morning and rem
dered aid during our brief stop there.
We expect to reach Philadelphia early
tomorrow morning and will stop at
BlairsyIlle Intersection, Johnstown, Al
toona. Tyrone, Lewistown Junction and
Harrisburg, where cars will be detach-
ed and the patients will be cared for at
their homes or local hospitals"
Mrs.. Hastings, with tears in her eyes,
was witness OF the sad scenes when
the sufferers were removed on stretch
ers TO the ambulances. She 0ccompan-
led the train on the entire trip. and as
sisted the nurses in their work. Il shall
not accompany the governor on his
next trip to the camp" she said. Il am
unused to such scenes OF suffering, and
1 have suffered extremely from ner-
vousness while returning from Chicka-
manga. am grateful for an opportu-
nifty to do my share In alternating the
suffering OF our brave soldiers, but am
more than thankful that thls war and
its sacrifices are at an end"
Altogether there were us sick SOL
dIers on the train. Most OF them were
from the Pennsylvania regiments, but
two from Ohio. thirteen from New York
and one from Rhode Island. who were In
the hospital at Chickamauga and in a
very serious condition, were brought
home on the train.
There were seven men who were too
sick to travel aay farther and they
were taken on and sent TO Pittsburgh
hospitals. Dr.. Henry Skies, OF the
Episcopal hospital. OF Philadelphia, was
In charge OF the medical stan and Dr..
a. a. Cairns, OF the same hospital, was
his assistant. The doctors have been
working night and dag since they left
Chickamauga. as some OF the cases de-
manded constant attention.
Governor Hastings was assisted by
three members OF his stan, Colonel
George Knox Mccain and Colonel W. c.
Mcconnell. Of Philadelphia, and Colonel
Fred Reynolds. of BelletOnte. These Of
fcers have been working day and night
since the departure OF the train from
Philadelphia and were completely worn
out.
While the line OF men were ranged at
the side OF the second section waiting
for their turn to wash. Governor Hast
inEs stood at the head OF the column.
ready Co marshal them along the plat
form. A soldier who stood in the front
OF the line. a wasted specimen OF hui
man!tY, addressed the governor, max
ing known his anxiety in respect to
some details of his case. He wished TO
have his friends notified that he was all
right. Governor Hastings heard his
story, and then patting him on the
back In an encouraging manner, said:
That's all right, me- boy: will at
tend TO that. Come along" and the
soldier seemed Immediately braced up,