The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-09-21


mustered out. unless unlooked for con-
tingeneies arise in the peace negotiations
between the United States and Spain,
which may render its retention in the ser
vice Of the government necessary.
The Somerset County soldiers who
offered their services to the government
aud were enlisted 10 defsnd the flag and
make battle against the Spaniards were
given a welcome on their return tnat
must have made lasting impress on the
hearts of all It was a spontaneous well
come on the part OF thousands of their
fellow-citizens who hailed their return 20
the peaceful pursuits OF citizenship with
all the warmth Of their natures Had the
members of Company faced the bullets
of the enemy instead OF the horrors of
/ Cbickamaaga their reception could not
have besn more cordial or more demon
strative. Behind the shouts and cheers
Of the multitude there was ths feeling
that the soldier boys had done their duty
to their country aud that they are en-
titled 10 thanks OF thsiI fellow-citizens
and of the nation.
The order furloughiDg the Fifth was
made ten days ago and it was semi
officially announced that the soldier boys
would start from Camp Hamilton, near
Lexington, Ky, on Thursday last, for
their Pennsylvania firesid 5. II was
generally believed that Company would
reach soaerset on Friday or Saturday
end il was not until Saturday morning
tha. telegram from Lieutenant Hob
litzell was received stating that il would
be here some time Sunday. Saturday
night dispatch from the Executive
Mansion at Harrisburg announced that
the Fifth woald arrive at Pittsburg at 500
clock Sunday morning on a train made
up Of three sections and that the third
section, on which Company was riding,
was due at Johnstown about noon. This
indefinite information was the source Of
all sorts ofrumors in regard to the hour the
special would reach here aud it was not
until after O'Clock in the afternoon that
it was known that the train had left
Johnstown and would arrive at Somerset
at 7:30 O'Clock.
The Meyersdale and Salisbury bands
accompanied by several hundred people
from those places came to Somerset on
the Sunday morning train aud helped
swell the crowd on the streets. During
the afternoon the bands played patriotic
airs in front Of the Hotel vannear and
the Somerset House for the entertainment
of the throngs thai lined Main street and
congregated abou the hotels.
At o'clock the people began moving
towards the railroad station and few
minutes thereafter the up town streets
were practically deserted. The crowd at
the station numbered fully 900 persons,
many Of them relatives of the members
of Company /, who had come from their
homes in various parts of the county to
participate in the reception. The sweet
hearts of the boys were there, too, but
eyes that sixty days ago, when the sol
diers left for Chickamaugl. were filled
with tears, wers now sparkling with
gladness.
The intervening hours dragged wearily
along and when finally the scream Of the
locomotive hauling the special train was
heard mighty cheer went up from the
vast crowd that completely dsa 'ened the
noise of the train. The bands played
Home. Sweet Home" as the soldiers
disem barked fro the NASTY old Pail
man sleepers in which they had been
confined almost continuously for twenty
four hours. Mer, women and children
rushed fran -ically forward to clasp their
loved ones in their arms, bit out Of the
confusion the Chief Marshal-Captsin
W. H. Sauner-managed to reach Lieu
tenant HOblitzsll, and at the word of
command "Fall In" the soldier boys
took their places in the ranks and were
ready to march in the procession that had
been formed TO escort them 10 the Hotel
Vannear. The escort was made up as
follows: Salisbury Band, Veterans of
the c. A. r., Meyersdale Band, Recep
ton Committee, Company I, in charge Of
Second Lieutenant Frank Hoblitzell,
Somerset Drum Corps, East End and
Pioneer Fire Companies.
There was enthusiasm all along the
line, aud the sidewalks and streets were
crowded with cheering men and women,
gathered under the electric lights where !
they could catch glimpse of the mem
bers Of Company 1 and every one shouted |
a word of welcome to some partieu lar |
friend or relative.
The procession marched up Patriot |
street TO West, to Main, to the PGblic |
Square. Houses all along the route were |
ii 4
the windows added their voices to the |
cheering crowds on the streets. Tie |
public square was perfect jam of hu- |
manity when the head of the procession |
appeared and Policeman Davis and his |
assistants were kept busy clsaling pas |
sage way for the soldiers and their escort. |
The veterans and bands fell in the rear
and the members of Company | came to
the position of parade rest" immediate
ly in front Of the Hotel Vannear.
About this time Lieutenant Hoblitzell |
was seized by his sisters aud other rela-
tives, who simply lifted him of his feet |
and carried him into the lobby Of the no
tel where be was held captive for FIVE min
utes before he broke away from their EN-
braces and forced his way through the
dense crowd who were making desperate
efforts 70 grasp the hands Of the soldiers.
After the cheered partially subsided |
VIM. II. Ruppel. Esq, delivered a brief |
address Of welcome 70 the members Of |
Company [, to which Orderly Sergeant |
r NJ. Linton responded in behalf Of his l
comrades.
Ranks were then broken and the sol |
diers were compelled 10 fight their way |
through columns Of thei; friends into the /
hotel, where they dep1si their guns,
blankets, knapsacks. etc, before being |
ushered into Tie dining room, where
snmptuous dinner. prepared by Land |
lord Winters, aud provided by the people 4
of Somerset, awaited them.
The table was arranged in the shape Of /
the letter /. and was covered with spot
less linen aud handsome china aud sill
yer. When the 50 soldiers present had 1
all found seats. their legs resting under /
table-;he first time since they left home 1
they presented sig ht that will remain
a long time in the memories Of those " no /
witnessed it. When the tidy waiter girls /
deposited holf-cbieken, and innunera-
ble side dishes containing well cooked |
and properly seasoned vegetables, salads, 1
etc. before each soldier, the smiles that
enveloped their faces spoke louder than
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