The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1899-09-02
The Return Of the Regiment.

1nHJ 8IeHC oV0nt upon WuiCu tuo
heart of q people has waited, became
very truth to us Of Lincoln on Tuesday
evening at nine.
Through these last dragging days the
Glow hours have trailed like years to the
mother, whose boys were on the long
trains which climbed the mountains,
swept over the long plain and across
Nebraska's fields Of corn. Since the
train left San Francisco, Nebraska,
Argus. eyed, has kept watch westward
and her words to the watchmen have
been. "Whst Of my sons?"
The capital city from whose gates
Nebraska's troops poured out year
and more ago, held her breath and
waited. ROBBED in the colors Of glory
she sat all day in the midst Of her sun
lit plains and watched for the first-born,
until they came With the night. Before
darkness had fairly settled, multitudes
thronged the streets, pouring In con-
vergiug streams down all the ways to
the Burlington depot. There, az II find.
ing level, they fed wide, restless,
food. which poured through the wait.
ing rooms, spread itself along the tracks,
filled the empty trains and even climbed
to the roofs Of surrounding buildings
and cars. Faces looked out from every
window. Southwark the viaduct loomed
dimly, its entire length overflowed with
dark stream Of watchers. Down by
the tracks was pandemonium. Above
the ceaseless clamor Of tongues, the
wall Of horns, the uprosr and the cheer.
ing, the crack, crack Of revolvers and
muskete rose, frenzied and shrill, the
never ending scream Of the steam
whistles. After hours OF this nerve
frsying waiting they came. Through
all the tumult pierced the whistle Of the
engine, pulling the first section, and as
its gigantic eye came in sight the can
non roared to the people aud the people
roared back. AZ that great calm eye
drew slowly, slowly nearer, the su-ging
macs OF people went mad, waved their
arms, their hats, enough handkerchief
to rig ship, screamed themselves
hoarse, thus bestowing upon the arrivals
the ultimate evidence Of American ap-
prevail and affection. Strange and much
commented upon fact! What an Ameri.
can loves be yells at, with all his heart,
and ell his lungs, and all bis might.
This IL the first American command.
ment, and the second 10 like unto it,
snake all the noise you can" In mark.
ed contrast to the excited, gesticvlating
crowds through which 1t came, was the
slow majestic progress Of the train, with
it's calmly smiling soldier boys crowding
the platforms and windows. Slow aud
certain az the wheels of the mills OF the
gods which has ground us out such q
strange grist this year past. As this
train pulled in, stopped and q thin
stream OF blue could be seen here and
there threading the crowd whose units
crushed each other to make room, az
they do in other lands when royalty
passes. Aud not mistakenly. for that
faded blue is indeed the nations purple.
And 1t was not merely local interest
and feeling that made these people will.
ing to endure suffocation for the price.
less privilege OF seeing them eat and
drink, or hearing them speak, while 9th.
ers almost threw themselves under the
wheels Of the other two sections az they
slowly pulled In. People rushed on the
trains In eager search for thor loved