Abilene weekly reflector., 1899-11-02
SPEEDING TOWARD HOME.
20tb Kansas Is Coming Across the
Plains.

regiment from San Francisco was ac-
companied by an outpouring Of hun
dreds Of San Francisco people who
had become acquainted with the gal
liant Kansans in the days Of adversely
and had learned to love them before
the deeds Of the Twentieth upon
Luzon battlefelds made it the fore.
most regiment in the American army.
For every soldier there were from one
to five fearful young women at the
Oakland Mole to say farewell. 1t was
an acquaintance that began in sand
swept Camp Merritt and was cement
ed by the long absence in Manila.
There was no parade attending the
departure of the Kansans. Hours
before the hour assigned for the regi-
ment to be at Oakland pier the friends
of the returning Kansans began to as
semble and when the late morning
boats carried the blue coated men
across the bay nearly everyone was
accompanied by one or more daugh-
ters of California. Oakland Mole
never witnessed such scene before.
The crowd was made up of little
groups Of young and old residents Of
San Francisco, all talking at once to
some Kansas soldiers in the center.
The train was loaded down with gifts
of flowers and lunch boxes.
As Corporal Smith Of Company |
was hurrying to the ferry to catch
the boat agolden haired young woman
OF about Is rushed out OF a group and
exclaimed, "Oh, this is one OF Funs-
tons fighters, want to kiss him, I"
ant much to Smiths embarrassment
he was greeted to as affectionate a
salute as a handsome young woman
could give.
But then Smith was not the only
Kansas soldier who had tempting lips
pressed up to him in tender farewell.
The soldiers spent Saturday night
in farewell calls but all were prompt
ly on hand at the Oakland pier at the
hour set for departure.
At half past 12 o'clock the first Sec
tion pulled out from Oakland with A,
B, + and L companies, the non COM
missioned staff and the field and staff
officers Of the Twentieth on board.
General Funston and wife occupied
the drawing room and other guests Of
the regiment included Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry j. Allen and Mr.. and Mrs. P.
Fremont Rocket.
General Funston said today that he
would go from the reception at To-
peka to attend the demonstration at
Ottawa and will be guest at the re-
ception to be given at Lawrence Fri
day night, after which be will attend
the celebration at lola. With the ex-
ception of three days stay at Law
renee General and Mrs. Funston will
visit relatives at Carlyle during their
stay in Kansas.
Funston will make no speeches.
Today he received an offer Of $500
each for fifty lectures from Chicago
lecture bureau. OF course he will de-
cline.
Two members of the Kansas regi-
ment will remain in California
Alexander Holbrook of X company
and Commodore Parker OF A company.
Lieutenant Ball will take Juan Guren-
deo, the little Filipino mascot, for
merly of the regiment, back to Sedan,
Kas., where he will put him in school.
The members of | company will pre-.
sent gold-headed cane to W. H.
Sheldon, father of Sergeant Jay Shell
don, killed at Caloocan, February Z.
The presentation will be made in
Topeka.
Private David B. Kiser Of ] com.
pany was left in the hospital with
Alderman Of X company and Rever Of
d company, too sick to be moved.
The first and second sections ar
riyed at Fresno for supper yesterday,
ten minutes apart, the first hating at
the station at half past 8 O'Clock.
Here the first Of the free meals on the
route was served. All appreciated it,
Most Of the soldiers had overlooked
the MONDAY meal on account Of the
excitement of departure.
The train was delayed 55 minute;
- Erosno and tho fret aootion ,,u1lad