The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-25
AMID TEARS AND SMILES

Goldsboro, y. c.. April 24.-(Special.)
Bright and early yesterday morning
and a beautiful spring cay IT was
our city was all astir, and all streets
led to the Messenger Opera House and
every street was thronged with people
III holiday attire haSten.ls TO the place
where was to be joyously, thanllfn:l!,
tittingly celebrated the safe return of
Goldsboro's volunteer company from the
Spanish American war;
The Goldsboro Rifles. under Cant. G..
j. Griswold, that organized for home
protection Immediately after tire former
company under its pElcrTilied officers,
Capt. T. ii. Balm and Lieutenants Gull
ick and Giddens marched away to the
war; was out in full dress uniform to
act as an escort to the returning soldiers.
Promptly at 1870. in the midst of
thrOnging multitude, Our citizens, n
dies and gentlemen, boys and girls,
mothers, fathers, wives. sweethearts.
sisters, brothers, uncles and cousins and
aunts. who greeted and caressed, wept
and laughed for JOY, as they once more
looked in to the dear faces of their re-
turned loved ones. the order was given
to fall in" Immediately everybody
proceeded to the opera house, while the
military formed in marching order. The
reception committee, under its chair
man, Maj. w. I. Hollowell led the
procession and took their position on the
stage. Then came the returning soldier
boys, who were seated in the right par
quet, with the exception of their Off
GERS, who sat with the committee on the
stage, as did also Maj. Butler and
Surgeon Lee, of Clinton, of the First
North Carolina volunteer regiment The
Rifles brought up the rear, and took
their seats behind the honored guests of
the joyous occasion.
When all were in place and the great
audience were seated Chairman Hollo-
well called the immense assemblage to
order and announced that Rv. DIR. +. ID.
Swindell, pastor of st. Paul NJ Il.
church, and chaplain of the Goldsboro
Rifles, would open the exercises with
prayer, and as this Cody man stepped
to the front Of the stage the vast au-
dience stood I'D and with bowed heads
and hearts beating in unison with the
spirit of the prayer gave silent audience
to the hallowed words, that moved to
tears by their pathos, and brought all
who heard them closer to God through
the recognition of His providence in rul-
ing over the lives and drstinieS of
men, whether as soldiers or citizens. 1t
was a beautiful prayer, tenderly appro-
pirate to the occasion and reaching out
into the future with a supplcation that
will linger i'll the heart and plead with
the conscience and persuade many to en-
list under the Blood-stained Banner of
the Cross unto eternal salvation.
Mai. Hollowell then introduced Col.
A. G.. Davis of the Goldsboro bar, who
had been selected by the committee to
make the address of welcome. From his
first utterance to his closing sentence he
held his great audience spell-bound. He
swept with thrilling eloquence the whole
history of war; in both sacred and pro-
fame chronicles, and played upon the
heart-strings of patriotism and duty with
Il master hand, swaying his audience
with emotion as the wind sways the
saughing forests, and bringing tears to
the eyes, and bursts of admiring APP
llause, the surest evidence of the peer
less merit of his splendid address. C'l.
Davis always meets the full requirement
of every duty imposed upon him, but ON
this occasion he surpassed himself.
He spoke as one inspired. 1t was the
finest speech of the kind we have ever
had the pleasure of listening to. This
was the universal verdict of all who
heard him.
Captain Balm responded on behalf of
the soldier boys. He complimented the
regiment in very high terms. He told
how it had gone in unequipped and ut
disadvantage and that it had come out
Capt. T. w. Slocumb and Maj. George
Butler also made short speeches.
After the services a handsome banquet
was served to the boys and invited
guests at the Hotel Kenon.