Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-07-01
REUNION OF THE
ROUGH RIDERS
Thousands of Visitors Gather at
Las Vegas, N. NJ, to See the
San Juan Heroes,
ADDRESS BY LAFE YOUNG
Iowa Editor Talks Eloquently to the
Boys Who Fought at Santi-
ago--.GoId Medal for
Roosevelt

Las Vegas, n. NJ, June 26.-Memo-
rial services was the first thing on the
rought riders reunion program Sun
day. They were held at IL o'clock
II the morning at the Duncan opera
house, and Rev. Thomas Auzzel, pastor
Of the Peoples tabernacle, of Denver,
preached the memorial sermon. lie
said hat the soldier who is forced to
remain behind is as worthy Of praise
and recognition as the man who is at
the front. The rough riders, he said,
have by their acts al San Juan and the
fighting around Santiago succeeded in
writing one Of the brightest pages in
American history. Their deeds would
be read by coming generations and
would kindle a new view of country
and an admiration for true herolsm.
LATE Young, editor Of the Des
Moines Capital, then delivered an adj
dress. Mr.. Young vas with the rough
| riders, and his recital Of the regi-
ment's experiences at Tampa and San
Antonio found a responsive echo in the
hearts Of the assembled rough riders.
"The Fourth of July" he said, sis
our national Christmas, commemorate
ing the birth of the nation, but the
rough riders celebration should be its
Easter, for ii marked the resurrection.
IT remained for the Spanish val to
bridge the bloody chasm, put old glory
everywhere, TO wind up the late I'M
pleasantness with the new battle
hymn Of the republic, "Therell BE a
Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
"On the plains of Cuba" he conclud-
ed, "when ! saw the ons Of veterans
marching beneath the flag which their
fathers died 10 save, and the son of
co%nfederates clothed in the same uni
form, bearing the same arms and
marching under the same flag. and the
sons Of former slaves, nccOutred and
armed like the others, with the flag
above them and the same purpose in
their hearts, and one hundred native
born full blood Indians selected in the
same lines and aiding the same cause
when | saw these | made a vow 10 high
heaven never TO be partisan again,
and henceforth and forever all Ameri-
cans look alike to me-"
The regimcntal parade took place in
tho afternoon AT 4 o'clock. The regi-
ment formed at Camp Cochran and
marched to the tournament ground,
six blocks away. Colonel Roosevelt
rode ms commander, accompanied by a
staff Of officers. At the tournament
grounds Colonel Roosevelt occupied n
box reserved for him and the guests of
the regiment. As the rough riders
passed and repasscd the grand stand in
performing their cvolutions, Colonel
Roosevelt stood with barred head. Each
troop was preceded by It's respective
captain. as far as they were present.
The scene was witnessed by fully TO-
600 people. While the review was 60
ing on rain clouds were banking heac-
ily in the nodth, and Chairman Whit
more. Of the local committee on ar
engagements. requested the colonel TO
hurry the movement Of the rough rid
ers, ostensibly on account of the APP
preaching storm.
Talk by Iafe Young.
Roosevelt complied with the request,
and I'm another instant the troopers
were standing at attention in front OF
the grand stand. This was a neat bit
Of strategy, and before Colonel Roosc-
welt could realize why he was being
spoken to Judge Frank Springer, act
ing on behalf of the people of New
Mexico, stepped forward and present
ed Colonel Roosevelt with n medal of
honor. In his speech OF presentation
Mr.. Springer warmly eulogized Col
oneI Roosevelt and the rough riders.
and said the people of New Mexico had
commissioned him to offer the colonel
the testimonial las a permanent wit
ness of their esteem and their appreci-
alton Of his character as an American
citizen and of their admiration for his
conspicuous %gallantry in BATTLE
The medal, WHICH is Of gold, is pend
ant from a bar 10y chains of ' shape,
the ends tied TO II bar and to the medal
at the center. On the bar are the
words, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt"
Between the bar and the medal the
coat Of arms of New Mexico is en-
graved. On the medal proper are
crossed sabers, and above them is
the monogram, "R. Il. H." Below the
sabers is the wording, presented by
the Citizens of New Mexico, Las Vegas,
n. NJ, June -, 1899" On the circular
edge of the medal proper are the
words San Juan" LAS Guasimas,'
Santiago" In the center just below
the crossed sabers, is a brilliant dia-
mond. The presentation was a genu-
inc surprise to Colonel Roosevelt.
Mr.. Springer handed the medal to
his young daughter, Miss Eva, who
pinned it to the lapel of Roosevelt's
rough rider blouse.
The recipient was visibly affected,
and responded as follows:
Judge Springer and Miss Springer,
and to YOU, my fellow Americans of
New Mexico, | want TO say | cannot
express in words how deeply | am
touched by what you have done. |
prize this gifts more than anythingelse
that could have been given to me,
coming as ii does and in the way it
does. and from those from whom it
zones. For It comes on the ami
versary of a day Hateful in the west.
Twenty-three years ago Custer rode
to his death with his gallant men at
the Rosebud, adding his share in the
winning of the west in the upbuild-
ing of the west which YOU have all of
you upbuilt-bringing up your sec
ton level in patriotism, level in high
ness of purpose, with all that there is
iNthis nation. | cannot say how glad
! have been TO come here. | never was
IN New Mexico before, but | have never
felt like a stranger for one moment
among you. (Applause.) | claim the
same right that each of your o n
The Newark ut Valparaiso.