Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-23
TArTERED BATTLE FLAGS.

TArTERED BATTLE FLAGS.
Only for an instant was the cheering
hushed and that was when the tattered
flags We're borne past Then every head
was reverently bent, every hat raised
and every eye dimmed. We know that
those brave men have faced death in
every form, that every heart has been
barred for it's country, but somehow those
bullet -riddled emblems tell it all more
impressively. makes us realize more full
ly what war means, than does the march
ing hosts or the stories Of battle, of Suf
fering and of heroism that their lips
speak.
Those two banners carried side by
side-one the stars and stripes, the other
the blue field with coat of arms of their
native state-were spotless and with
scarcely crease in them when last they
were borne through the streets of San
Francisco. They came back to us in
shreds, soiled and stained. Is it sur
prising then, that San Franciscans. 10y
al Americans that they are, bowed their
heads reverently to those banners?
Up Market street to Golden Gate ave-
nue. the warriors swung along, the ad-
ml,ed of constantly increasing crowds.
Into Van Ness avenue the handsomest
residence street in town, they turned
and were met by fresh throngs of people,
among them thousands of school children
who waved tiny flags and raised their
shrill voices in noisy greeting. This well
come by the school children marks the
arrival Of every regiment. 1t is an i'm
pressive lesson in patriotism for them
and one they have profited by to the ut
most.
At the corner of Van Ness avenue and
Bush streets, Major General William r..
Shafter, commanding the department Of
regiment. He was given the customary
matching salute, the men bringing their
pieces to Port" and the tattered colors
dipping
After passing the reviewing officers, the
mei were allowed to take the "Rout
stel" along the upper end of the avenue
and out Lombard street, which leads
direct to the Presidio.
1t is five miles from the wharf to the
reservation and the men We're tired
out when they reached the end of their
march, for their month on board ship
had given them little opportunity to use
their legs, but they braced up wonder
fully when their escort Wheeled out at
the entrance and forming a line on the
side of street presented arms as they
marched throug the gate onto the Pre-
sidio, the roadway inside gate was lined
dozen deep with soldiers. regulars and
volunteers, who accorded their newly
arrived comrades a voiferous soldier
welcome.
Every state and almost every county
in the union was represented among
those blue clad throngs Men from the
Dakotas We're there awaiting their final
discharge from the service, they having
arrived from Manila some time ago. Then
there We're newly organized volunteer
regiments awaiting transportation to the
scene of conflict that the Montanas have
just left. These regiments-there are
six of them here nowhere recruited
from the east. the south and the great
west. Many of the men served in the
Cuban campaign and promise to take up
the burden Montana's sons have laid
down and bear it as heroically as did
they
just within and to the south of the gate
and the men We're quickly marched to
their company streets, battalion forna-
tion being observed in the assignment
of companies to their tents SO that when
the entire regiment is here 1t will be To-
Gated the same as always.
A corns of customs officers had been
to camp to examine the bag
GAGE Of the men and their work was
speedily performed. Boxes We're opened,
a hasty glance taken at the contents or
it may be no glance at all was taken for
there We're no confiscations of souvenirs
Of the Philippines and the men We're per-
mitted to stow their effects away in their
tents.
4 pleasant surprise had been prepared
for the Montanans by the North and
South Dakota regiments. These COM
,nands have turned in their arms so
they could not act as escort with the
Minnesota boys, so they stayed at home
and prepared a lunch for the new comers
that did their hearts as Well as their
good.
There was everything almost, an
abundance of it, but what the boys rel
ished was the fruit. Great stacks of
peaches pears. grapes and apples dis
appeared as il by magic. only to be re-
plaeel by fresh heaps, for these Dako-
,ans are lavish hosts.
The afternoon has been devoted to get
ting settled and brushed up but judg-
np from the applications for leave Of
absence for tonight, there will be few
in camp after Retreat" is
Next week, some night, the entire reg
ment. officers and olen, will be the guests |