The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-18
Members of the Battery Guests of
Honor at a Reception at Tom
IinsOn Hall.
MUSIC OF HOME, SWEET HOME, "
BROUGHT CHEERS AND TEARS FROM
THE CROWDS ASSEMBLED.
The Battery Is Met at CenterviIIe by
q Committee-storiesT Told
by the Men.

Amid vigorous toots of the largest whis-
ties in the city and the deafening reports
Of cannon and smaller firearms old Battery
A was welcomed home yesterday after an
absence of about five months, fifty days of
which were spent on foreign soil. A host
Of people awaited the battery at the Union
Station, and all along the line of march
they were greeted with the widest cheer
ing and enthusiasm. Policemen fought
their way through the surging mass of
people and the battery boys marched proud
ly after them to Tomlinson Hall, where
dinner was awaiting them that delighted
the boys, but wrought CONSERVATION in the
hearts of the doctors. The hall was beauti-
fully decorated and every convenience was
prepared for the soldiers. They were well
coined by Mayor Taggart. to whose address
Captain Curtis responded.
Before noon yesterday the streets leading
to the depot were lined with people making
their way to get the first glimpse of the re-
turning heroes, and by ! o'clock, the hour
advertised for their arrival. there was a
solid mass of people impatiently waiting at
the station for the boys. They began their
yells and racket at the least provocation.
1T was to be a gala day, and all were de-
ternnined not only to show the soldier boys
that they were welcome, but to have jolly
time while waiting. Standing at the corner
of Louisiana and Meridian streets one could
see thousands of people formed in all direc-
tions to gain sight of the soldiers. Meridian
streets north of the tracks was lined on
both sides as far as could be seen long be-
fore the whistles announcing the arrival of
the battery began to blow.
All windows were filled with people. and
the maneuvers of the squad of police under
Captain Dawson, who was to lead the pro-
cession, offered them amusement. jackson
place was crowded. and beneath the sheds
there was scarcely room to move about.
The tracks over which the train containing
the battery was to come were lined with
people, and as far as could be seen the
crowd was uneasily shifting about and i'm
patiently waiting for the time when it
might consistently let loose its pent-up en-
thusiasm. At 1 o'clock one of the regular
trains from New York arrived. and the red,
the artillery colors. was seen about the
necks Of several men who were on the plat
form waving to- the crowd. 1t was thought
the boys had arrived, though no whistles
had announced the approach, and great
cheer went up. But it was false alarm.
-Four Of the Twenty-seventh boys, Ray Van
Camp, w. r. Cooper, Sam Pattison and
Robert Tindall who were left behind when
the battery left New York, had managed to
take this train. and though they started
from New York about twelve hours behind
their comrades, arrived here over an hour
ahead of them. A reception of no mean
order was rendered the four artillerymen
as they left the car, singly, each attracted
in different direction by his many friends
The pretty girls in their neat-itting frocks
were out in great number, and were not
bashful in their attention to the boys in
blue. These boys were surrounded by a
bevy of young ladies and were cordially
treated. Cooper was the first to get kiss,
winning from Pattison by a neck. The
crowd soon settled down again to wait until
the balance of the boys put in their ap-
pearance.
At half past 1 o'clock delegation from
the Columbia Club marched to the station,
with Harry Adams acting as marshal and
with Admiral George Brown, Col. I. N.
Walker, Caleb S. Denny and DR.. Franklin
w. Hayes in the front set of fours Behind
them came some of the most influential men
of the city, who are members of the club,
with Capt. w. E. English, in his neat-fitting
uniform, bringing up the rear. This was the
only organized body of men who went to
welcome the boys. When at about o'clock
the whistles began their wild shrieking and
the cannon began to roar. the people became
wild with excitement and We'd with the me-
chanical contrivances in their efforts at
making noise. Minutes were consumed in
this fashion before the front of engine No.
439 could be seen slowly making its way
toward the station. The engine was decked
with flags and red, white and blue bunting
and from the cab windows more of the ma
tional colors waved. With this first sight the
enthusiasm burst out anew and efforts were
redoubled to get a place where the train
might be seen. Two engines were side
tracked near Meridian street and each was
covered with men and boys, who climbed
about the boilers. These engines had steam
up, and when the special train arrived with
in sight the whistles were thrown open
and for ten minutes little else could be
heard in the vicinity.
Slowly the train containing the battery
crept along toward the fathers and mothers,
brothers and sisters and sweethearts who
were waiting. Directly behind the engine
came fiat cars, covered by this time with
small boys who had climbed on the train
farther back on the way and were swarm
ing over the artillery pieces. The coaches
came next, containing the battery boys
and from each window appeared the head
and shoulders and oftentimes half the body
Of a happy. expectant soldier. The crowd
soon pressed UP close 10 the passing train,
too close for safety. and the police vainly
tried TO force the people back. Greetings
were exchanged from the car windows and
hand-shakes were given as the people
edged along with the moving train And as
the train pulled into the shed there stood
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