The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-12
VETERANS OF 81 AND '98.
Volunteers Given a Reception by
the q. A. r.
"A RoUsING GOOD TIME
There Was No Fixed Programme and
They All Turned Loose and En-
joyed Themselves-The
Smoke OF Battle.

of 1S9S-99 a cordial reception last night
in the army post rooms and 80 return
ed soldiers who saw service in the
Philippines were present and enjoyed
the hospitality Of their old friends. Post
Commander Almon greeted the volun-
teers in the following brief address:
Soldiers of 1s9s-99 Officers and Men
of the First Montana Volunteers, Mem
bers of Lincoln Post: 1 bid you well
boys, went where our flag was ordered.
You, like the old boys, did your duty.
What more can we say? You are well
come and we hope we will enjoy our
refreshments and the smoker we offer
you. We bid you welcome"
The commander stated that there was
no fixed programme and that 1t was
the purpose and desire of the G. A. r.
that the young boys turn loose and en-
joy themselves in an informal way. He
| called on j. S. Dunn of Helena, G.
A. r. man, who responded
Now" said Comrade Dunn, II had
| always regarded Comrade Almon as
| friend, but since he calls on me to make
a speech think he is the meanest man
in seven states Who ever heard q
| soldier make speech, unless he was
| trying to talk himself out of the guard
house? But now that am here will
say that l am glad to see you young
soldiers. am proud of you and the
state has reason to be very proud of
every one Of you. The old boys Of els
wanted to go to war last year, but bet
ter Judgment prevailed and they, or
most Of them, remained at home. They
can hight it all over again in some COM
! Portable room, but they are past the
| Ia AL r,P
battle. They have done their duty. We
are proud Of you and we are glad to
know that the sons have proved to be
as loyal as their fathers. Now, word
about rations. OF course, some of you
were disappointed when you found out
that. you could not get porterhouse
4 steaks and mushrooms on the side. Til
tell you about the fare we had at one
time, and this only goes to show the
kind of grub we often had to be con-
tent with. We were on the Red river
and the enemy had cut US off from all
| supplies save corn. We ate corn
| straight for about eight days, and 1t
| was getting to be rather hard diet.
| One day a countryman of mine went
up to General Smith and asked that
| officer if he knew where he could get an
| auger.
what do you want with an auger?'
asked the officer.
| "'Well. you know, general, we've
been eating corn for these many days
and soon We'll have to be eating hay,
so I thought I'd make a manager for
| myself"
! Captain Hallahan of Company M
was present and responded to the calls
| for a speech II am glad to see the
e. A. r. and the LIST Montana here to-
night under such happy circumstances.
/ hope this is the beginning Of union
/ "a will 10 CT al Of ixyoc
DESTROYS of seeing the bonds of love
firmly cemented. From the first, when
the first shot was fired in the campaign
| from which we recently returned up to
| the time we set sail for home. noted
the bravery of our regiment. Not once
did single man shirk from duty. None
| of them hunted a hiding place. No
greater bravery was shown in the civil
war than that displayed all through our
| recent engagement"
Lieutenant Laist, when called upon,
said that the boys while in the Philip
pines had learned to speak the Spanish
language so fluently that 1t was diff
cult for them TO talk English any more
and for this reason he wished to be ex-
cused from making speech.
Captain Hill regarded this as the
most complimentary reception that has
yet been rendered. the volunteers, They
all realized that they were now with
| the men VINO mad gone up against the
real thing in modern warfare.
/ Ed Bowen made a brief speech. thank
ing the old boys for their consideration
of the young boys.
/ Comrade Manchester of the post mad
few remarks, in which he spoke of tbs
friendship and love existing among tbs
g. A. r. and predicted that 80 years
hence the bonds of brotherly love
in the ranks Of the young volunteers
would be more firmly cemented. HI
told story and after he concluded
Comrade Boyle, who has lived in this
city for several years. stepped up to the
speaker and said.
Il have been here in Butte probably
as long as you. and that is the first time
that ever knew that you and fought
in the same company"
The old story had brought two ole
boys together in renewed affections OF
brotherly love.
Then the lunch was spread and the
crowd ate, after which the cigars were
attacked with terrific slaughter and the
boys of 81 and the boys of SO reveed
in the smoke of battle.