River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-06-29
California Letter.
SAN JOSH, CAL, une ?, 1899.

| We of this coast are feeling the enthusiasm
that comes from meeting and being in touch
make history in the recent months and years
May LIST, Dewey Day., was celebrated as
only California can celebrate, Enthusiasm
and patriotism being at high pitch, for Dew
eys feet is claimed on this slope and his name
was rung with all the changes from dawn til
sunset. To add to the many pleasing features
OF the day came the men from the battleShiI
| Iowa, which is anchored of the Iron Works fl
San Francisco harbor, Captain Terry Chap
lain Brown, Geo. Charrette-gunner, and Other
officers in company with some % OF the mar
ines were the guests. The exercises were
held in the Rose Carnival pavilion and the
| A gricultural Park some six thousand people
being In attendance and as these men filed In
| the applause as deafening.
In the advance came one OF she seamenlead
ing their mascot, coal black goat whose
neck was wreathed with roses. He received
his share OF the greetings very quietly; head
| erect and horns ready to resent any undue
| familiarity. He gayeno evidence OF his long
and eventfnl trip out into the Spanish waters
after Camara nor of the San Juan and Santi-
ago fights.
| Captain Terry made some very pleasing re-
marks, among them being that he had sailed
the seas for 46 years and this was the first time
| that he ever felt like showing the white flag
| and surrendering to the enemy(O. Chaplain
| Brown responded to the address of welcome
in the same happy humorous vein. Referring
| TO the invitation sent TO the Iowa's men he
| said that they had no idea of being met with
/ such royal welcome as greeted them on
| their entrance to our city, and could not un-
/
| cheers and it reminded him of the old farmer
| who wanted to teach goat to draw him on a
| sled and hired small boy TO call out whoa"
| as he should near the bottom OF the hllli but
| the goats speed increasedso fast as he came
| down. that the old man gave some very loud
| EXPLANATIONS thereby frightening the animal,
| causing him to run away, oyerturnlng the
| farmer whose wrath arose against the boy
who replied: why, you told me to houer.
| yes, so did, but that was too big noise for
| the size OF the animal And that was the
way it seemed TO the men of the Iowa who had
but done their duty at command nut u touch
ed their hearts to know they We're appreciated
He said the invitation told of feast to be
given by the San Jose people and though not
doubling its forthcoming they thought it best
to bring their butter with them, pointing as he
spoke to the shining black beast aforesaid.
Among the other good things he said, were APP
preciative words for his men.
Geo. Charlotte, gunner, who went with Hob
son on the Merrimac and was imprisoned IN
old Moro Castle, was introduced and the raft
erS of the immense building rang with cheers.
Two OF the marines then came to the front
and unfurled large Spanish flag which was
taken from the Isle De Cuba by two OF their
was enjoyed in the park and the committee
took them about the city and suburbs, return
ing for them to take the O'Clock train backto
duty.
Some Of us felt the disgrace to our fair city
as we noticed that they had been treated to
that which robs the brain. The Secretary. OF
the Navy, John d. Long would not have felt
thankful 80 US forour eourtesies TO his marines
could he have been here, They are under pro
lovely San Jose temptations surrounded them
Shamel Those men had risked their lives for
their country honor and it seemed traitor
Gus deed to tempt them here.
Following close upon this pleasure came the
leaders of our white ribbon host who wage q
peaceful war for God and home and every
land''-Mrs, L. NJ. N. Stephens and Anna Cor
don names familiar TO all w. g, T. U, women.
Glad greetings intermingled with sadness, were
accorded them by the San Jose Union, who
remembered so wildly the organizing tour OF
Miss Willard and Miss Gordon 10 years ago.
A reception was held at the home of our local
president to which came, not alone Wnlte RIP
boners but many from other societies who
hold in reverence any and all who were CON
nected with Miss Willard The 1st NJ Il. church
was filed for the evening lectures-Alrs. Stew
ems giving us glimpses of the enforcement and
benefits of the Maine law, Miss Gordon speak
ing of Loyal Legion work. Each gave loving
tribute to our chleftain Whlch FOUND an echo IN
every heart.
Another whose name is always cheered was
Maud Ballington Booth, whose coming always
seems benediction to San Jose.
Last but not least, on Decoration day came
Gen. Shafter and one of his aides from san
Francisco where he has in charge the war de-
partment of California. lie tod OF the cam
paign before Santiago and his was worthy
tribute to the men who won the victory. II
was intensely interesting, and cheers loua ana
long constantly interrupted him. He made no
pretenSe to Oratory, claiming to be only com
mon soldier, but he so eloquently told the
story of the hurried campaign. the anxiety OF
the management in regard to the certainty of
death to the men If 1t were prOtracted, OF how
they hurried the issue and won the victory: he
said he had ordered that, no man fire until he
saw something to fire at and there was lnulVid-
ual firing on order always. and the aim was SO
unerring that the Spanish became afraid 10
rise up in their trenches long enough to take
accurate aim. In closing he said. in part, that
what vas past would enter into history, We
could not change it; that he denied the charge
that the wounded men suffered unnecessarily;
men had to suffer in war, appealed to the q. A.
r. men present to say II 1T were not So that ne
knew 1t, for he was wounded at Far oaks thlr-
ty-seven years ago, and as to the ratlons
neither he nor his officers heard OF the poor
rations until he reached the United STATES
and that he ate of these ratons himself. Re
garding the Philippine problem ne thought
that we had wisdom enough to rlght the ques-
ton as it should be, and that he prayed Goa
that no flag but our own stars ana stripes
should wave over any land that had been del
uged with the blood of the brave youth OF
America.
sented him a beautiful basket of white and
pink carnations. He caught the little tots up
and kissed them. He as well as his aide was
dressed in full regimentals, making very impos-
ing figures upon the platform his sword hang-
ing by his side and used as support as he
talked, He has been ordered to provide
camp for 1000 returning volunteers from Man
lila at the Prsideo where they will remain un-
til mustered out.
as feast and bid you goodbye but will add
another item of day at Alum Rock. II was
delightful weather and the sulphur and soda
water were lust as delightful %. AS we came
away we were accosted by park policeman
whose star warned us to halt at his word, but
our fears vanished at sight OF johnnie Noes
genial face and kindly greeting. He gave us
many interesting items regarding the improve
ments during the past year, one being the work
of tunneling for more sulphur water They
went back straight into the mountain for over
hundred feet finding plenty of water at
temperature of go, which was piped down to
baths, reaching there at warmth Of 0S5. The
fumes were too thick for the miners to work
long at time, and a lighted candle carried
along the roof would ignite as gas Jet WORK
ould no he carried further without using
blower One of the wonders of this canyon Is
the nearnesS OF the different springs OF water
to each other Sulphur soda and natural, or
plain water" as l heard a little boy call it
yesterday; but then California is a wonderful
country so one need not be surprised at any
thing Here must be the time and place for
the closing word
JENNIE Z. RHoADs