The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-23
ARE HOME.
Astor Battery Safe
From Manila.
NEW YORK'S PRIDE
Breakfasted and Compli.
mented in Grand Style.

New York, Jan. 22.-After an alb
sence of more than seven months, I'M
der the command of Capt. Peyton C.
March, the Astor battery arrived in
New York today. During their abb
sence the men have travelled to and
from the Philippine islands and have
seen active service against the Span
iards, under Gen. Macarthur at Manila.
They marched from the city June 10,
with SO men and three officers.
They returned, one officer and so
men. Their loss from death was five,
three died in action and two from sick
ness. Six were sent home invalided
and six were discharged for one cause
or another. Two officers remained be-
hind with the regiment from which
they had been detailed for service with
the battery, one in Manila and one at
the Rock Island arsenal.
The battery arrived at the Grand
Central station at $50 a. M Owing to
the hour, the crowd to receive them
was less than had Leen expected, but
there was no lack of enthusiasm among
the thousand or more that thronged
the sidewalk outside the station when
the train rolled in. AS soon as the train
halted in the Grand Central station the
waiting men, women and children
rushed past the police lines shouting,
cheering and waving tlags and punches
of flowers.
The soldiers jumped from the cars
to disappear into the arms of fathers,
mothers, wives and sweethearts. At
ter greetings were over the bugler
sounded the assembly, the men fell into
line and marched out of the station and
across the street to the hotel, where
breakfast was awaiting them.
The men looked we'll, a little thin,
perhaps, but it was sparseness Of
good physical condition and not of
deprivation. They wore the blue uni
forms of the Astor battery with red
lined overcapes dark brown leggings,
gray felt hats and gray gauntlets. All
carried haversacks and canteens. They
carried no arms but revolvers, their
guns having been turned over to the
United States stores in Manila when
the battery received orders for home.
Col. H. c. Blair, chairman of the COM
mittee of Parents and friends" pre-
sided at the breakfast. He made
speech of welcome and thanked Capt.
March for the manner in which he had
taken care of his men. Capt. March,
in replying, said his men were most
uncommon soldiers. He had been four
teen years in the army and would
sooner command the Astor than any
body of men he knew Of In the walks
of life from which they came, they
knew little of military tactics; but to-
day they are as good soldiers as any
in the United States army, and the
people abroad know that the soldiers
of the United States army are the
finest in the world.
Mai Robbins and Richard Sheridan,
who have sons in the battery, spoke
briefly, and First Sergeant Joseph w.
Beacham, Jr, former captain of Cor
nell University foot ball and base ball
teams. responded to a call. Sergeant
Beacham paid tribute to the gallantry
Of Capt. March and the officers of the
battery, and called for three cheers for
the absent lieutenants, Williams and
Keller. Three cheers were also given
for Col. Aston
Prof. Wheeler of Cornell University
said. when called upon for a speech,
that he was proud to learn that the
| Cornell men In the battery had been
animated by the old Cornell spirit of
devotion to duty and love to country
| and alma mater The doxology was
sung, the soldiers fell in and marched
back to the railway station to unload
their baggage.
The goods were loaded into waiting
trucks. and word was given to proceed
| to the Seventy first regiment armory
The men were cheered by thousands
who now lined the streets as they
marched to the armory Arrived
there. the battery was again greeted
with cheers and applause by their
friends who sat in the gallery above
the drill shed floor. They lined UP and
answered roll call, and after being as
signed to cots, were dismissed to the
attentions of the relations. Some of
them will be kept on guard duty until
they are mustered out Capt Hills
oil the Fifth artillery, who has charge
of the mastering out, said II would be
done some day this week
The record of the battery as given by
Capt. March, shows four dead in Ma
nila-Sergts. Holmes and Cremins and
Priv. Dunn. from wounds; and Priv
F'ryibil, of sickness. Private Schuter
invaded home. died on the voyage
Sergt. Sillman and Privs. Wood. Van
Pelt May and Corporal Van Horn were
invaded home. Corp. Seymour and
Privs. Welch and Keonig were dis
charged by favor, Privs. Kerns and
Harris for disability, Sergt Burdick
was left sick with typhoid fever in Ma
Mia, and Privs Franklin and Corrigan
are in hospital at San Francisco with
rheumatism.
Capt March said that his men had
been well treated. The food was good
at all times. The sick report of his
command he said, was the smallest Of
any III Manila. 1t was frequently as
low as three per cent, varying to seven
per cent, while the general average OF
the corps was ten per cent. He had
never had sick day since he left New
York.