Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-09
Monroe County Soldiers Roy.
ally Welcomed at Abba.
CHEERED AND FEAsTED.
A Big BANQUET Given in Their Honor
Last Evening-AIayor Hardenbrook
and DR.. Eschbach Speak-Re.
sponses by the Soldiers.

Abba, Nov. 9.-(special) )-This coun-
ty furnished ten soldiers for the Phil
ippine war. The boys had enlisted at
the first call to go to Cuba, and they
were then sent to the Philippine war,
where they served CALAMITY and won
honor for themselves and distinction
for the county. They returned home
last Tuesday morning, and yesterday
they We're given a reception that dis
counts anything that has ever been held
in the county.
Shortly after noon all the secret So
cieties of the town gathered at their re-
spective lodge rooms, formed into
ranks and formed parade that reach
ed around the public square and then
some. The returned soldiers We're in
carriages and followed the leadership
of the band. Following the carriages
that bore the Philippine soldiers the
members of the g. A. r. post marched
in line and the turnout was the largest
that the town has ever seen since their
homecoming thirty-siN years ago.
Prominent citizens in decorated car
|riages and hundreds of boys with tin
horns and fire-crackers completed the
ranks. Through the public streets the
soldiers were taken, and cheer after
cheer went up from the thousands of
throats in welcome and gladness over
their safe Homecoming. The entire
crowd went to the court house park,
xx-ho .,1o, l.
address OF welcome and expressed in
la pleasant manner what everyone pres
ent wanted to say. Fred Everetts made
a response in behalf of the soldiers. He
told of some of the hardships they
had passed through, and of the glad
ness that was in every one of their
hearts for their safe return home
The boys were then taken to the New
Monroe thofeL where's feast had been
spread.
Each Of the bows had. been supplied
with five tickets, and these they distrib-
uted among their friends, and it was d
happy and joyful fifty people that par
took of the meal.
Following. the banquet an adjourn
ment was taken until the evening, when
"a public reception was given at the op-
era house. The exercises were to COM
mence at; 3 o'clock, and long before
that hour the house was packed and
there was not even standing room. Dir.
II. G. Eschbach was toastmaster, and
he stated that this country had dis.
liked TO see: the. breaking of the peace
that made it necessary for the Abba
boys to go forth in battle. He spoke
quite at length, paid tribute to the sol
[diers, and asked the members of all
the choirs in the city to come to the
stage and, assist in the singing. The
choirs did so and the old hall was fill
ed with music. The appropriate song,
''The Battle Cry of Freedom" was rem
dered, and when they came to that
place where they sang. Down with the
traitor and up with the stars" the au-
dience joined in and the hurrah was
long and loud. L. b. Perry responded
to the toast "Our Country" He re-
viewed what we have gone through,
told of the school systems, the. churches,
and said that this nation was now the
foremost one on the face of the globe.
He said we have not said nor done
enough for. the men who have gone
to battle in the various wars that have
made this country. ".rhe hearts of the
common people go out to the common
soldier said the speaker, 'and if we
fight and save q country it is worth
living for. God grant that this may
be the last time the bugle of war may
be sounded, calling the men from their
work shops and farms to take up arms
against defenseless people," The
chorus rendered .'When Johnny Comes
Marching Home"
Rev. j. B. Jackson responded to the
toast, "The Volunteer Soldier" He
said this grand demonstration is an ex-
preston of gratitude to the volunteer
soldier. Fearless and willing in the
hour of the country's need, the truest
saying Of all is that the volunteer
soldier is strictly an American product.
He made the comparison of the men of
foreign powers who go to war like
dumb driven cattle, with that of the
fearless and brave American volunteer
who fights for principle. "To the vol
unteer soldier this country owes its
life" said the speaker. A great cheer
went up and the speaker was applaud
ed loudly.
'The Spanish-American War; was
1hS -9upJSSb dSsiSH HSu heN. d. w. Hack-
ley. "The American nation had ills
origin in the shining hills of God. We
have Il United States that will stand
until the moon is turned TO blood and
the sun shall fall from its socket
The gentleman grew very eloquent and
he told of the Spanish history. and
asked if it We're not right that Uncle
Sam should look after Cuba. The
speaker said that Gods providential
hand had been evident in all the move
ments of this government, and it was
His hand that opened the Philippines.
He said there We're people who wanted
continually TO tell the bear story in
connection with this war, and asked the
question, Did this county ever bite
off more than it could chew? In
forty-eight hours the American nation