The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-10-20
A GREAT DAY.
Minnesota Welcomes the Presi-
dent and the Soldiers.
A Vast Crowd Greets the Boys from the
Philippines, Mankato Well Repre-
scented.

Thursday was great day for Min
nesota and especially for the twin
cities, and Minneapolis in particular.
The Thirteenth regiment returned as
scheduled, from its trip of nearly
twenty months half way around the
globe, during which time it had seen
and endured all of the hardships and
horrors of war and its attendent earn
age, and the president of the United
States was also there to receive them
and to extend to them the thanks of
the nation for their gallant services,
and the two cities never entertained
such crowds as were gathered in Min
neapolis during the day. and at ST. Paul
during the evening to see the soldier
boys and the president. Everywhere
you turned the crowd was immense.
And it was an orderly, good natured
crowd.
The committee having matters in
charge'in Minneapolis deserve great
credit for the arrangements they had
made for the handling of the vast con-
course of people which gathered to wit
ness the sights of the day, and not an
accident nor unpleasant feature occur
red to mar the happine IS of the occa-
sion. And more than this the city was
handsomely decorated The national
colors predominated everywhere
wrought in every conceivable shape
and form, while Nicollet avenue, on
which the parade passed down while
viewed by the president and party, was
simply bower of loveliness, well worth
anyone's time and trouble to go and
see.
In short, the reception of the soldiers
and the president, which had been
most ably and carefully planned, was in
every way a most brilliant success, and
Minneapolis people are entitled to
great credit for the style in which they
fairly outdid all former attempts of
entertaining. And In this, the ladies'
of that city are especially entitled to
praise for the manner in which they
carried out their part of the program.
The banquet which they served to the
boys of the Thirteenth, was one of the
finest that could be placed before
mortal man. Everything needed was
there and in profusion, and arranged in
the most dainty manner, and their ar
range ments for serving the boys were
perfect. And that the boys fully APP
preciated the banquet goes without
saying.
And Mankato can well be proud of
the part which it had in the magnif-
cent reception, through its Concordia
band, which did itself proud and won
high commentator on every hand, and
the city was congratulated over and
over again on possessing such band.
The boys were given fine position at
the head of the third division and in
their new uniforms and with their
fine music attracted no end of atten-
ton. They were treated right royalty
in every respect. During the exercises
outside the exposition building, they
were served a fine meal, and during the
banquet to the Thirteenth, in the ex-
position building, it was present and
discoursed some fine music. 1t is a
band to be proud of and our people
ought to give it a strong support.
MI
long. to be remembered by all who wit
messed the scenes. The ovations given
to President Mckinley and to the
Thirteenth regiment were simply mag
nifcent