Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-02-11
Greatest Demonstration Held
i'm Honor of Home Coming
Soldiers.
Brilliant Scenes at the City
Hall and Irish World
Office.
REVIEWED BY THE CITY OFFICIALS

ment intended to send home a disorgan-
lied and struggling mob-the Irish Sixty
ninth of New York-was the recipient OF
a welcome upon its arrival recently,
which in magnitude and enthusiasm
far surpassed the receptions rendered all
other New York regiments rolled into
one.
New York has witnessed but two great
popular demonstrations in connection
with the present war. One was the fare.
well to the Sixty-uinth, nine months ago
and the other was the welcome home tc
the same organization.
Preparations for the welcome had beer
making for days. The regiment was ex.
pected to arrive at 10 O'Clock in the morn.
ing. At that hour the citizens were ready
for them.
Al 10 O'Clock telegram was received
at the Mayors Office from Col. Duffy al
Syracuse, stating that the train had been
delayed slightly. AT the Franklin-street
ferry station of the West Shore railroad
a notice was posted that the regiment
would arrive at / O'Clock. The great
crowd at the station received this infor-
nation with groan, but did not leave.
The waiting organizations, after a con-
sultation, decided that il was useless to
go home and return again, and simply
broke ranks. The crowds in and around
City Hall Park did not preceptibly de-
crease at any time. They simply under
went series of changes in personnel
The city was gaily fiuttering wilder
ness of flags and bunting, and wherever
the red, white and blue was flung to the
breeze the green of Erin hoated by its
side. The fact that the meu had not had
an opportunity to get att the enemy
did not in the least temper the ardor of
their reception. "They did we'll what
they had to do, and were ready to fight
at the drop of the hat was the express
sion heard on every side.
The regiment landed on Manhattan
Island at 5:45. II was dusk when the
procession started and almost dark when
the head of it reached the Irish World
Office in Park place. The crowd was
tremendous. The tens of thousands that
are travelling toward the Brooklyn bridge
and the ferries at that hour waited to see
the show and to lift their voices.
1t was gorgeous and brilliant specta-
Gle. more brilliant than if it had taken
place in daylight, for as soon as it was
known that the Sixty-ninth must march
after nightfall fireworks were secured
Roman candles, rockets and red fire.
The Irish World had suspended it's
beautiful Irish flag, fanked on either
side by American flags, over the street,
and at this point the street was choked
with humanity when the head of the
procession passed. AS the splendid regi-
ment passed under the green banner the
crowd cheered with deafening roars time
and again. Every company as it swung
past received hearty greeting, and the
faces of the sturdy soldiers beamed with
smiles of appreciation. Father DAILY,
the beloved chaplain, trudged along with
his "boys," and, as the crowd caught
sight of him he was cheered heartily.
AS the mounted police turned into
Mail street the cheers of the crowd could
be heard down Broadway. There were
ever so many bands, and they played with
tremendous vigor. The stirring strains
of Wearing of the Green, Killarney"
and all the tunes dear to Irish hearts
mingled with patriotic American airs.
City Hall Park was really blaze of
glory when the procession marched
across it. Red fire was kept burning at
short intervals, the heavens were brilliant
with rockets, aeriel bombs and cannon
added the splendor of noise.
The veterans of the Sixty-ninth, men
who carried tattered, faded battle-hags of
the civil war---shreds of silk more pre-
cious than diamonds--marched along,
followed by the Irish Brigade, the
Shields orcoran Post and Reno Post,
G. A. K. Then came the Rawlins Zou-
ayes, Rawlins Post and the Irish volun-
teers, who made fine appearance.
The honorably discharged men of the
Sixty-ninth were next, ahead of the St.
George Cadets, after who came the An
cient Order of Hibernians, led by the
Catholic Protectory band. Then came
the County Cavan and other associations,
including the Leitrim Mems Association
in coaches. Very fine and snowy looked
the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regi-
ment in bright new fatigue uniforms
without overcoats. This regiment acted
as escort.
All of these were acclaimed, but il was
the Sixty-ninth that the crowd wanted to
greet. 1t was few minutes after 6
o'clock when the Sixty-ninth reached
the City Hail. The crowd was tremend-
GUS, one OF the largest ever gathered to
view procession.
The SIX, twas brilliant with rockets, the
artillery Numbered until il seemed that