Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-08-05
NEBRASKA REGIMENT
BACK FROM MANILA
The Fighting First" Arrives al
San Francisco on Trans.
port Hancock.
UPSET THE RECEPTION PLANS
Governor Poynter's Programme
Spoiled by the Midnight Arr
rival OF the Troopship
ITO Land Today:

timely arrival OF the lnlteu States
transport Hancock, having on board
the Nebraska regiment and two bat
teries of the Utah artillery, complete
ly DESTROYED all arrangements which
had been made for a royal reception
and an enthusiastic welcome TO the
fighting volunteers returning crowned
with laurels.
The Hancock dropped anchor in the
stream shortly before midnight Sat
urday night. The committee here
from Nebraska and Utah had given
up all idea Of the vessels arriving
earlier than Sunday morning, and had
prepared to be up at dawn 10 greet
the expected ship. Tugs and launches
had been chartered, and Governor
Poynter, of Nebraska, had planned
with all care and detail 70 be the first
man aboard the Hancock and welcome
the troops from his state back TO
American soil. But there were no re-
ception committees afloat at mid
night, and only one small delegation
of Nebraska people, headed by Judge
Robert Ryan and {. o. Whedon, OF
Lincoln, accompanied the custom
house officials and the correspondents
on the race down the bay.
Quarantine requirements and GUS
toms regulations debarred this little
band from going nearer the ship than
TO approach the gang plank. The re-
turning soldiers had no criticism TO
offer their silent reception. They
chcered themselves hoarse at the sight
of the little feet of launches, and from
the decks of the transport shouted
greetings and messages TO the people
IN the dancing craft below.
Mnn Who Fired the First Shot.
Colonel II. Is. milford, Of the Nebras-
kas, who is in command, soon appeared
at the railing. BY his side stood Will
lam Grayson, Of Company ID, the senti-
mel Of the Nebraska regiment who fired
the first shot, in answer to shots from
the Filipinos, which started the war
with the insurgents. He killed the
first Filipino who died by an American
bullet, and it was this shot which was
the signal for the advance of the en-
tire American line and the great rout
Of the rebel army on the night of the
4th of February.
II don't think you will see any of us
returning to Manila very soon,' SAID
Colonel milford, in response to n ques-
ton. Just one man in the entire regi-
ment re-enlisted. Only twenty-five re-
manned in the Philippines to engage in
business.
"The Nebraska has had as much
rough work in this war" continued
Colonel Milford, ''as any regiment, vol
unteer or regular. Our death roll in
the Philippines from gunshot wounds
accidents and disease is siXty-two. In
Guiding the sick and wounded, who arc
recovering, we dropped, all told, PIG
men, On the Hancock are more thar
100 soldiers wounded. The entire regi-
ment is glad to know il is 10 be mus
tered out in San Francisco. We had a
pleasant trip said Milford, land II
has improved the men wonderfully,
Quite a number Of them will have &c
90 to their homes, but ! am assured
that every one will soon be all right
The first man to grasp the hand OF
n returning Nebraska volunteer was
Mr.. Whedon, whose son, Burt Whcdon
il first lieutenant and adJutant or the
regiment. The young officer was low,
cred on the gnng plank and father an'
SOP greeted each other with some ann
Guilty. The quarantine officer does no.
board incoming ships between sunse'
and sunrise, and there was nothing tt
do but wait for the morning with wha'
patience was possible.
Has I,I30 Mcn Aboard.
The men on the Hancock numbered
1916. and included the two Utah lIgh
batteries and six discharged men from
the TSsenty-second regiment, L. >. y
Colonel milford, who is in command
of the Nebraska regiment, succeeding
the late Colonel S~totsenberg, of the
Nebraska regiment, remained at Ma
Mia. where he will engage in banking
Only one man died on the HANCOCK
after she left Manila. He was Private
Richard Walph, of Battery a, Utah ar
tillery, and he died of typhoid fever a
Nagasaki. Among the officers of thu
Nebraska regiment who were s~everel,
wounded are Captain Holllingswortl
and Lieutenant Wadsworth, who was
on two different occasions, shot in tn.
legs.
At an early hour Sunday the quaran
tine officer of the port boarded thu
Hancock and after a careful inspec
llOn gave lne N'HSVI 81 ''N"I 'ii "
health. Soon after the sick ant
wounded were taken in ambulances t.
the hospital at the presidio. 1t hat
been arranged that those of the mel
able to march should be landed a
noon and march to the preside by wa,
of the principal streets. As an at
tendant guard of honor, six companie
of the Second Oregon, with the regi
mental band, were detailed at tn
dock.
1t was found, however, that tn
men could not conveniently he lande,
earlier than 3 o'clock, and that eve
then some of their paraphernalia an
trophies of war. which they desired t
use in their triumphal march, wer
deep down i'm the hold and would no
be available.
Governor POINTER, of Nebraska
made these representations to Majo
General Shafter and at the urgent re
quest of the governor. General Shafte
ordered that the landing of the Han
cocks passengers be delayed unit
0 o'clock this morning. Ignorant o
the amended arrangements, thousand
of San Franciscans. in holiday attire
lined both sides of Market street an,
Van Ness, and waited for hours t
shout a welcome to the returning sol
diers.