Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-11-11
BACK TO LOVED ONES.
Kansas Citizens Give Returning
Soldiers q Hearty Welcome.
biggest Crowd tho Capital City Evor Saw
Was There and Topeka Did Herself
Proud-MAgnlncen Fire
Works display.

Works Display.
Topeka, Kan, Nov. 8.-Kansas cele-
brated In magnificent style the
return Of the fighting Twentieth regi-
ment. Never before In her history has
there been such demonstration rs she
gave yesterday in welcoming home
the brave boys whom she sent forth
Just IS months ago to battle for the
flag.
Tons Of bunting had been used in
decorating the city for the occasion
and Kansas avenue was one mass OF
decorations. The electrical and other
decorations at the state capitol were
the finest ever seen in Kansas.
The railroads have been severely
taxed to handle the great crowds Of
people that have been pouring into the
city since yesterday and by noon to-
day fully $4,000 had arrived. Owing
to spowstorms and billiards. in New
Mexico and western Colorado the
Twentieth Kansas special trains were
unable to keep up with their schedule.
Tho Demonstration st the Depot.
The train with the first section Of
the Twentieth Kansas regiment reached
here ut 1888 p. m. So many thousands
of people were on the depot platform
and the railroad tracks that the train
had to slow down Us II pulled into the
depot. Whistles screeched, cannon
doomed, dozens Of bands played and
the cheers were almost deafening.
From every car window leaned soldiers
waving hats, yelling and whooping
shrill hoorays. They leaped from the
car steps before the train stopped and
fell into the arms of friends, who
grasped them and Rugged them and
slapped them on the back and passed
them on to the waiting mothers, sis
tiers and sweethearts, who kissed and
embracen them and wept for very Joy.
1t was an exciting and fervid welcome.
Wherever there was a soldier there
were groups of friends around him,
hearing his stories OF the trials and
battles of the gallant regiment. There
were dozens and dozens Of these groups
and in the center of every one Of them
was soldier. Soldiers promenaded
with their wives and sisters and sweet
hearts on their arms and in the eyes OF
all there were tears Of JOY, of JOY
that at last after months of fighting
under tropical sun, of days and
nights in the Demonstrating trenches,
after journey across the worlds
greatest ocean and trip half way
across the best land the sun ever shonc
upon, their loved ones were at home
once more in the state they have
served, that loves and honors them.
Gen Funston Warmly Welcomed.
Gen. and Mrs. Frederick Funston
were in the rear Pullman Of the first
section. When the train came to
stop there was n rush to get to them
and it took half dozen strong men to
keep the people off the platform. Men
and women bloclSaded the streets for
more than block. Funston was liter.
ally dragged from the crowd by cnthu-
siastic admirers and the ovation ten.
dercd him was simply remarkable. He
held fast to Mrs. Funston and the two
were taken into the depot. His first
inquiry was for his father and mother.
Gen. Funston looked very tired and
he said he was never more SO. AL
through Kansas last night the people
were at the stations with bands of
music and the boys were kept awake
all night.
As the parade could not be formed
until after the last section came in,
and there appeared to be some doubt
Just when this would be. the soldiers
dispersed to all parts OF the city, rs
there was no authority to hold them at
the depot, and in many cases these
men did not return. BE 1t said to the
credit of the ex-mcmbers Of the Kan
sas regiment that, with all the freedom
that was theirs, they conducted them
selves well and there was no complaint
of any boisterousness.
The second section drew in ut i:45,
the third ut 1916 and the last at S:45.
by this time the crowd Mt the depot
had thinned out so that the officers had
no trouble in forming their men in line
for the parade.
"All Kansas Honors the Twentieth"
This legend in letters three feet long
that shine white in the daytime and
sparkle with 1000 electric lights at
night was set into great triangle
above the apex of the high colonnaded
eastern entrance to the state capitol.
Over the western entrance in another
triangle was the greeting: "Welcome
Home"
The City Filled with People.
It seemed rs IL nearly all of the peo-