The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-03
CHEERS FOR THEIR HERO
General Funston rendered. Mag
nif1cent Ovation at Topeka.
WILL RETURN TO MANILA
He Declares He Win Not Come Back
Home Until the War Is Over-Pre-
sentatlon of $1,000
Sword

warriors never received a more royal
welcome home than that accorded to-
day to the soldiers of kansas Famous
Fighting GOTH on its arrival from San
Francisco. General Frederick Funston
come in for the lions share of attention
shown the officers and the little hero
of Manila was literally taken off his
feet by his admirers in their eagerness
to display their regard for him.
At every station in Kansas after the
Colorado line was crossed early this
morning, cheering crowds met the s.,l
diers and greeted them in unstinted
fashion. Schools and colleges along
the line were closed business was prac-
tfcally suspended and the people f1ocked
TO the trains by the thousands.
General and Mrs. Funston We're in the
rear Pullman of the first section. When
the train came to a stop there was a
rush to get at them, and it took half a
dozen strong men to keep the people off
the car platform. A woman spied Mrs.
Funston at window and pushed her
baby up to be kissed by the generals
wife. Mrs. Funston complied promptly,
and Immediately dozens of mothers
reached forward with their babies to be
kissed.
fore he was half dragged. half carried
up stairs into the dining room Solid
blocks OF people filled every street
leading to the depot and the city was
taxed to its utmost capacity for the
care of its guests. 1t is estimated that
fully 10000 outsiders were here. Tons OF
bunting had been used in decorating the
buildings and electrical and other dec
orations were used with lavish hand.
Snow in the mountains had delayed
the trains and it was 1850 this safter-
noon before the first section reached
Topeka. The three sections followed
closely, the last squad of soldiers being
landed shortly before o'clock.
So many thousands of people were on
the platform and the railroad tracks,
that the train had to fairly crawl into
the depot. Whistles screeched cannon
doomed, dozens of bands played and the
cheers were almost deafening.
From every car window leaned SOL
diers waving hats and yelling and
whooping shrill hoorays. They leaped
from the cars before the train stopped
and fell into the arms of friends, who
grasped and Rugged them and passed
them on to eager relatives and sweet
hearts. Fathers and mothers pushed
through the crowd in frantic endeavor
to find their boy
The weather. was glorious. With the
the arrival of the trains bearing the sol
diers it was after o'clock when this
parade began.
A guard of honor for the boys of the
goth was the civil war veterans, thu
members of the National Guard ant
many civic organizations. There were
80 bands in the parade, the performers
numbering nearly 1000 musicians.
The entire parade line of more thar
two miles was a mass of cheering hui
mainly. General Funston and his wife
rode in the carriage of honor. while
Colonel Metcalf, on a white charger
and Lieutenant Colonel Little, on s
prancing black, took their appointed
stations at the head of the regiment
All received oyations at every point or
the line.
AT the state house the military order.
were drawn UP in line at the soutt
steps. Chief Justice Doster. in a brio
speech. introduced Gen. ]. X. Hudson
who, on behalf of the people of Kansas
General Funston.
eral Funston said he predicted that il
one years time the island of LUXOR
would be as quiet as Massachusetts.
Il will return to Manila" he said
"and unless get sick or disabled I viii
not return until the war is over"
Colonel Metcalf followed Genera
Funston in brief speech. Later in thu
evening an elaborate banquet was serv
ed in the new state library rooms tt
the soldiers and officers of the Goth. TIL,
day closed with the most magnificen
display of fireworks in the evening eve
given in the states history,