The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-09-08
INSpECTS CAMP WIKOFF.
President Mckinley Visits the sick
Heroes, and Addresses Those
More Fortunate.

Of the time, visiting the sick in The hos
pitfalls and inspecting the well in their
cantonments. He made a speech to the
assembled ipfantryman, reviewed the
icavalrymen, expressed his opinion of
the camp to the reporters, and issued
an order directing the regulars to re-
turn to their stations east of the Mis-
sissippi. s....r
With the president, besides the sec
rotary of war, were:
Vice President Hobart. Acknowledgement
Griggs, Senator Redfield Proctor, of Yer
mont: Brig. Gen. Egan, Brig. Gen. Lud-
ington, Maj Webb C. Hayes, son of the
late President Hayes; Col. M. T. Herrick.
of Cleveland; William Mckinley Barber,
of Canton, o.; H. H. Herrick, Of Cleve-
land; Secretary Porter and Assistant Sec
rotary Cortelpou.
The ladies Of the party were Mrs Alger
and Miss Hecker.
Mai. Gen. Wheeler was surrounded
by number of his staff. The car
riages, preceded by the cavalry, wound
up the hill to Gen. Wheeler's head
quarters. --+--
There the president took long view
If the wide, treeless expanse, check
cred with regimental camps and hos
pitfalls, great porterres of canvas amid
stretches of grass.
"This is beautiful" Mr.. Mckinley
said, and then later:" 81 think l never
saw handsomer camp"
Gen. Wheeler, who rode beside the
presidents carriage, pointed out the
different places 81 interest. All the
nurses and physicians were assembled
at the hospital when the president ar
rived. The cheers were spontaneous
and ringing. The president went into
the tents alone CT with Gen. Wheeler
tents were in admirable condition.
Everything was clean and attractive,
and the wan patients smiled joyfully
as the president went to them grasp
ing many by the hand, as if they were
his own brothers and sons So the Wis
iting was continued from tent to tent.
from division to division until the en-
tire camp had be N inspected.
visit was paid to the infantry plain
where the cheering was prolonged anc
the men showed themselves in high
spirits. Men of tie Ninth Massachu-
setts, Fist Illinois, Eighth Ohio and
Thirteenth, Twenty-frst, Twenty-sec.
end and Twelfth gular infantry were
assembled without arms About 5000
stood in close order and Gen. Wheeler
said:
The president of our great country ha.
come here to greet the soldiers who
marched so CALAMITY up San Juan hill O,
July l. He comes here to express the ma.
tons thanks to these brave men, I wish
to,tell you that when the president sent me
here, tWo. weeks ago, to command this
camp he enjoined me in the most emphatic
language that should. without regard &c
expense, exercise any and every authority
necessary to make comfortable this body
OF brave men. who, by their courage, have
raised this republic to the highest position
among the great nations Of the earth ]
nave the honor and pleasure of INTRODUCING
to you the president of the United States"
When the cheering subsidized Presi-
Cent Mckinley responded as follows:
Gen. Wheeler, Soldiers of Camp Wikoff,
Soldiers of the Fifth Army Corps: I trust
that you will put your hats OIL am glad
to meet you. I am honored to stand be-
fore you to-day. bring you the gratitude
Of the nation to whose history you have
added by your valera new and glorious
page. You have come home after two
months of severe campaigning, which has
embraced assault, siege and battle, SO bril-
liant in achievement, SO far-rea ching in re-
suits as to command the unstinted praise
of all your countrymen.
'You had the brunt of the battle on land.
You bore yourselves with supreme courage
and your personal bravery, never before ex-
celled anywhere, has won the admirati
of your fellow citizens and the genuine re-
spect of all mankind, while your endurance
under peculiar trial and suffering has
given added meaning to your Leroism.
Your exertions made easy the conquest of
Puerto Rico under the resistless army COM
manded by Maj. Gen. Miles, and behind
you. to proceed at moments summons
were more than 100000 of your comrades.
ready to support you, disappointed that the
opportunity which you had did not come to
them, yet filled with pride at your we'll
earned fame and rejoicing upon your sig
nal victories.
You were on the line of battle-they, no
less than you. were in the line of duty. All
have served their country in its need all
will serve it so long as they may be re-
quired, and all will forever have the thanks
and regard of grateful people.
1--WE cannot bid you welcome here to-
day without our hearts going out 10 the
heroes of Manila on sea and on land. whose
services and sacrifices, whose courage and
constancy in that far-distant field of op-
eratlOns have never been surpassed by
any soldiers or sailors the world over.
ITO the army and the navy, to the ma
r1nes, to the regulars, to the volunteers and
to that Providence which has watched over
them all the nation to-day is full of thanks
giving and praise. The brave officers and
men who fell in battle and those who have
died from exposure and sickness will live
in immortal story and their memories will
be perpetuated in the hearts and the his
tories of generous people, and those who
are dependent upon them will not be neg
lected by the government for which they so
freely sacrificed their lives"
+ After the tour OF the tents had been
made the president and party were es-
corted to Gen. WheelerS headquar-
tiers, where the president received
some important kilograms, which
were speedily answered. Then the
president dined with Gen. Wheeler and
was escorted to the special train sched-
uled to leave at Two o'clock. He was
driven between ,wo lines of troops
with drawn sabers. At the station
there was another demonstration.
Soldiers presented arms and salated
the president, which he duly ackuowl-
edged.
rrr~r ~