Evening star., 1898-09-27
Wesley Chapel Greets Its Returned
Soldier Boys.
MEMBERS OF FIRST D. C. REGIMENT
Addresses Made by District Com
missioner Ross and Others.
MUSIC AND BUGLE CALLS

A reception was given in the lecture room
of Wesley Chapel, 5th and F streets north
west. to the young men members of the
church and Sunday school who went to
Cuba members of the 1st District Regi-
ment. Among those who went out from
Wesley are Sergt. Ernest Barbour, Cor
porals Ross and Wise and Privates Clar-
ence Pitman. Charles Poole, Harry Swear
ingen, David Kohr John King and Robert
Potts. Many of the members of the Dis
trict regiment in the city were in attend
ance.
The affair was under the direction of the
Epworth League and the Sunday school of
the church and was highly successful. A
large number availed themselves of the
opportunity to greet the soldier boys.
In honor of the occasion the lecture room
was handsomely and appropriately dec
GRATED with flags and flowers, some of the
choicest of the latter having been sent by
President Mckinley. The pastor of the
church. Rev. j. f. Heisse, presided. and
after the bugle call by Bugler David kohr
the entire audience joined in singing My
Country, 'Tis of Thee Rev. J. d. Blood
good, member of the 141st Pennsylvania
Regiment during the civil war, led in pray
er, which followed by address of
welcome from the pastor of the church.
solo sung by Mrs. OLn Leech and
one of his happy little speeches, which was
listened to with many evidences of ap-
proVal by the audience
Pays IA Compliment.
Commissioner Ross said
THE pastor of your church invited me to
be present this evening, and l said L would
come, but l was so much exhausted by
work that l thought at first l would send
my regrets Upon reflection, however,
when | considered the cause which would
bring you together in the interest of these
boys of the District regiment l resolved to
come.
Il know of nothing in the history of the
District which aroused more enthusiasm
than the coming home of these young men.
L have been Commissioner a long time and
have grown gray in the service, but l have
never known of any movement that met
with such general enthusiasm and coop
Grafton as the proposed welcome to these
boys on their recent return.
Why, when We called a meeting at the
National Theater We thought that would
hold all the people, but a policeman who
stood at the door told me 5000 people were
turned away that evening, unable to gain
admission. We appointed a committee but
before any one was authorized to receive
money the checks began coming in. and
the citizens responded in a very liberal
manner. Then came the reception, which
was witnessed by a vast assembage OF
people. standing on the streets from s
o'clock in the morning until late at night
without food. because they wanted to see
these boys and give them a hearty well
come. The avenue, the White House
grounds and every available space was oc-
cupied by the eager throng Of people. An
increased police force was detailed for duty
on the line of march, but there was not a
case to report at headquarters by the Of
ticers on duty. Everybody seemed to be
or their good behavior on account of the
boys coming home.
'lt he Of he f,I
How many brothers and sisters have lain
awake night after night anxious to hear
from the boy they loved so well in far-oT
Santiago, whom they had not heard from
for weeks and unable to get any definite
word; when they knew he was exposed to
the dangers of that fight, and knew, if i'll.
they were powerleSs to render aid. Such
a generous response as you saw it on that
day from the people of the District, And
these are the fellows here with US tonight!
When the boys were ordered to go to
the front they were obliged to go through
process of seasoning to prepare them for
the hardship of army life. At Camp Alger
they were exposed to the most severe trials
in preparing for the future. These young
men never knew what it was to sleep on
the ground. Then they went as YOU know
to Chickamauga Park and here had more
camp life. At this place they We're SUBJ
Jected TO diseases peculiar to that climate
Ihen still further south to Tampa where
they were Injured to the heat of the troDical
sun, and when they got to Santiago they
had experienced the hardship, l think.
winch no regiment in the United States had
gone through. Under these directions they
progressed step by step until they reached
spanish soil, but what suffering they must
nave been exposed to. They landed at ST.
boney the 10th and marched all that night
IN the rain, and were for two days de-
prived of food. They took their pIaces in
the lrehches the Spanards had deserted
ana remained there crowned like heroes
The Difference.
i was amused at one thing my son wrote
me- He was a soldier in COMPANY d If
seems after the surrender of Santiago these
boys got on good terms with the enemy
MY son fell in with Spanish soldier and
they conVersed together as best they could
neither understanding the language of the
other; but the Spaniard gave my son 10
understand there was one great difference
between the Cuban and the American SOL
dler The 'Cubans shot and jumped back
and the Americans shot and jumped for
ward. (ApplauseD
we have an important part of the work
yet to perform of this war with Spain.
What benefit this has been to the suf-
ferng people of Cuba the school children
should read the story of it in 1900. We will
hardly be able to complete in a few DAYS
or weeks the important events that have
happened these last three months Think
of it, to what extent history has been made
how the map of the land has been changed
Take the record of the soldiers who went
to Cuba, the total destruction of the Maine,
the declaration of war, and the sending
of the Spanish minister home with his pass
ports, the marvellous victory of Dewey In
the Philippines tapplause), the destruction
of Cervera's fleet almost by magic, hardly