The San Francisco call., 1899-11-03
WELCOME TO THE
GALLANT 7 KANSANS
Topeka Streets Crowded
With Visitors.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

TOPEKA. Kan, Nov. 2-Returning
warriors never received a more fitting
welcome home than that accorded to-day
TO the soldiers of kansas Famous Fight
ing Twentieth" on it's arrival from San
Francisco. General Frederick Funston
came in for the lions share of attention
shown the officers, and the little hero of
Manila was literally taken off his feet
by his admirers in their eagerness to dis
play their regard for him.
At every station in Kansas, after the
Colorado line was crossed early this
morning, cheering crowds met the SOL
diers and greeted them in unstinted fash
ion. Schools and colleges along the line
were closed business was practically sus-
pended and the people Hooked to the
trains by the thousands.
Snow in the mountains had delayed the
trains and it was 1855 this afternoon be-
fore the first section reached Topeka.
The three other sections followed closely,
the last squad of soldiers being landed
shortly before o'clock.
So many thousands of people were on
the platform and the railroad tracks that
the train had TO fairly crawl into the de-
pot. Whistles screeched, cannon doomed,
dozens of bands played and the cheers
were almost deafening.
From every car window leaned soldiers.
waving hats and yelling and whooping
shrill hoorays. They leaped from the car
steps before the train stopped, and fell
into the arms Of friends, who grasped and
hugged them and passed them on to eager
relatives and Sweethearts.
Fathers and mothers pushed through
the crowd in a frantic endeavor to find
their boys" Many affecting scenes were
enacted.
General and Mrs. Funston were in the
rear Pullman of the first section. When
the train came to a stop there was rush
to get to them; and 1t took half dozen
strong men to keep the people off the car
platform. A woman Spied Mrs. Funston
at window and pushed her baby up to be
kissed by the generals s wife. Mrs. Fun
ston complied promptly, and Immediately
dozens of mothers reached forward with
their babies to be kissed.
Funston was hardly off the cars before
he was half-dragged, half-carried, up
stairs into the dining room.
Solid blocks Of people filled every street
leading 10 the depot, and the city was
taxed to its utmost to care for its guests.
1t seemed as If the whole State Of Kansas
had come to town, and it is estimated
that fully so 900 outsiders were here. Tons
of bunting had been used in decorating
the buildings, and electrical and other
decorations were used with lavish hand.
With the eXasperating and unavoidable
break in the arrival of the trains bear
ing the soldiers, it was after 4 o'clock
when the parade began.
A guard of honor for the boys Of the
Twentieth was the Civil War veterans.
the members of the National Guard and
many civic organizations. There were
formers numbering nearly 1000 musicians.
The entire parade line. over two miles,
was a mass of cheering humanity.
General Funston with his wife rode in
the carriage of honor. while Colonel Met
calf, on a white charger, and Lieutenant
General Little, on a prancing black, took
their appointed stations at the head of
the regiment All received ovations at
every point of the line.
At the State House the military orders
were drawn up in line at the south steps.
Chief Justice Doster in a brief speech
introduced General ]. K. Hudson, who, on
behalf of the people of Kansas, presented
the beautiful $1,000 sword to General
Funston.
In short speech of acceptance General
Funston said he predicted that in one
years time the island of Luzon would
to Manila" said he, "and unless 1 get
sick or disabled, 1 will not return until
the war is over"
Colonel Metcalf followed General
Funston IN a brief speech. Later In the
evening al elaborate banquet was served
in the new State library rooms to the
soldiers and officers of the Twentieth.
The day closed with the most magnificent
display Of fireworks in the evening ever
given in the States history