The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-04
SOLDIER BOYS
MAKE MERRY
They Are Delighted With
|. Home Life Once More
WILMINGTON is GLAD, TOO.
The Open Arm Reception
an Inspiration to
Their Souls.

Wilmington was alive with soldier boys
last night. They crowded tho theatres
and wore particularly noticeable; not by
any bvisterous conduct, however. but sim
ply because they were returning heroes.
They crowded the strnats, conversed with
friends from whom they had been separate
Cd so long, and finally retired to their
homes to slecp as free men once more.
1t was a most inspiring day, and one
that brought more real enthusiasm to the
gallant boys than had been poured out Of
the hearts of patriotic Wilmingtonians us
the weary battalions moved up Market
street In stately tread during the afternoon.
Tho down going sun did not carry the
welcome with it, but for weeks to come
the men Of the gallant first will continue
TO receive the plaudits Of this little com.
mon wealth for their eagerness to do and
die In their countty's glorious cause.
And so the day Of welcoming has gone
down into history as one of Wilmington's
most brilliant periods To the gallant so.
dier. boys 1t will always present i,self as the
most inspiring occasion OF their lives and
to ithe patriotic civilians who made it
what 1t was, it will BE- equally as pleasant
afecollecton. Wilmington took her gal
lant young soldiers TO her heart again.
She took pride in the achievements of the
regulars who represent the whole nation
she watched with sympathetic interest the
deeds of the regiments of sister states, but
those boys who marched up Market street
yesterday were her own and for their safo
return che is heartily glad.
/. The story of the glorious hom, coming
was fully told in yesterdays REpuB .IcAN
but there we're several hastily prepare in.
dividual welcomes which were not made
manifest until the tho men putin au np-
psarance Mayor McLear was on the city
Hall steps as the line of blue fellows
moved by Hischeer was tho signal for an
bathurst of applause which was drowned
In the din of the bell in the ancient tower
which seemed to welcome the men Of the
FIRST as II it had u part in the jubilee. 1t
WAS music to the souls of the returning he
roes and 1t fingers In their very souls to-
dsv
Upon arriving at the armory the Phoe-
MIX Company's engine sounded another
welcome, while the bell in tho engine
house four squares distant added to tho
din. Not man tagged on the march
Excitement, enthusiasm and Il desire to
greet loved ones were tho toniics which
bNoyed them up. s.ce.es and incidents on
she line of march kept them thrilled. At
Sixth and Market streets pretty woman
in a trig Eown slipped past the Gordon of
police and running up to sergeant in tho
line Of file closers Rugged hlm and kissed
him repeatedly, The sergeant bushel and
looked sherpieh.
BaynarG's was awave with fluttering
nhgs, AT almost every window were fair
women who Cheered and waved snowy
linen and flags Major Gordon mounted
On superb Day p;ancins aad high melt
cd, rode proudly at tho head OF his men.
The scene was thrilling ami never to be
forgotten.
eEompaDy c. under command of Captain
MRtlack, was the first organization to en-
ter the ArmOry building. A group o
newspaper reporters, who had been ad
mitted prior to the soldiers, occupied tho
balcony and cheercd every company MS it
passed on the drill floor. With Company
mascot. He was attircd in u navy blue
blanket, adorned with stripes, and bear
Ing the inscription Go G.
Companies X. T. i. i, II, y and L on
tired the building in order, and remained
Id line until Colonel Gordon appeared
and gave instruc ions. With Company H
was "MajAh' johnson, colored, and he
wore soldiers uniform, with the stripes
Of u corporal "Majah" has been with the
Now Caste boys since they entered the ser.
vice, and he has accompanied them OH
every march, and to every drill He would
sleep and mess with tha members of the
company every one of whom is his friend
When all the companies had taken po-
Esion on the drill floor Colonel Gordon,
aiter q Sd ort consultation with the officers
cailed the men to Attention and stated
10 them that il was absolutely necessary
Tor each man to report at o'clock each
morning to bis commanding officer at tho
Armory until further notice.
Sol onel Gordon stated that In a few days
an army paymaster would come to this city
and world pay the men. after which they
would be given furloughs for thirty days
from the time they are paid. 1T is not
necessary for mo TO tell yun how to con-
duct yourselves" added Colonel Gordon,
$50 that you will uphold your good maine
and that OF your glorious country AID Of
tho proud little Slate of Delaware He
stated to the men the hours at which they
could got their meals and said that when
the members Of the down s'ate companies
who had no other place to sleep willie in
Wilmington, came to the Armorv for that
purpose they should not be annoyed.
Every soldier would be required to con-
duct himself properly while in the Armo.
~. the colonel stated, As be finished his
brief speech Colonel Gordon was cheerei
By the men. The various company com.
mnndo then ordered the men Of tho OFT
Of town companies to aCk arms. while
the mombers of Company {. and Of Com
pany X retired to their rooms and slowed
away their equipments.
With the exception Of Company E, who
also retained rubber blankets, al the com.
panles kept rifles. siuoarms. cooking lten.
sdls and b ankets when leaving Camp
Meade. Each soldier, when final dsposi
ton is made Of these viii DO required to
r0surn to the proper authorities all tho
government property yet III his posses
sion.
Captain Brennan, Of Company F. in
Few remarks to his men before diSniSsing
them, congratulated th.m on thor march,
Ing. He also stated the necessity Of them
preserving their past good conduct md OF
them preserving their past good conduct
and of unfolding the honor OF he company
In a short time after the companies broke
ranks there were few soldiers remaining
In the Arnory, xGcptIn5 dotall as Ign.
cd 10 guard duty. The equipments Of tho
down state companies were stacked about
the room and it was necessary that these
should not be disturbed For this reason
also, none Of tho soldiers wcro re-admitted
Into the Annoy until in the evening, as
1t was thought the wrong equipments
might be taken in mistake.
Captain Rutan, OF Company X, was Off.
Ger OF the day and Lieutenant Nirden was
oftiCor Of tie guard Twelve priva.es, three
oorpornls and two sergeantS We're detailed
to guard duty at the Armnry Four men
Were AZ me uoCf curing the attcrDUOn ana
no civilians were admitted INTO the build
Ing In he crowd that beseigel the door
were relatives Of the soldiers, who desired
TO get inside, but they were not permitted
toenter There were many affeCtionata
meetings between parents and sons Oh the
outside and many a soldier walked to his
h)me with his glad mother,
FEEDING THE MEN.
In pursuance Of the instructions from
Colonel Gordon that mca would be serv.
Cd to the mon 10 pyIe's Cycle Academy at
g. 80 clock, three hundred soldiers wero
there at the appoint d hour and heartily
enjoyed meal Of beefsteak. butter, coffee
and milk. Col. A. l.. AinsCow had pro-
vided for every man IN the battallons, but
as many went to their homes for their gpp'
pers much was left.
Shortly after supper the members OF
Company H OF New Castle assembled at
tho armory, and headed by the First Regi
ment Ban d. marched to the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore railroad sta
tian where they boarded train for Now
Castle. The band was furnished by 9itl-
gems OF that town, who also had arranged
for big reception to the company.
During the plight the down state soldiers
slept at the armory and took breakfast
and dinner at the armory again
The health OF the soldiers Is fairly good.
But few are in the hospital at Camp
Maaha Tho hos ct "a