The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-10

AS he stepped from the train, three
cheers with a will were given for him.
i In acknowledgment he DOTTED his he'll
met, whicE again won for him another
round of cheers. 1t was evident that
the PEOPLE of Worcester gathered there
were anxious to make a demonstration
in honor of Lieutenant Plummer and
the other Worcester boys of the cegi-
ment during their short stay in Wor-
cester.
The place selected to give Lieutenant
Plummer the last send-off was almost
three miles from Worcester. Despite
this fact, no man ever received more
enthusiastic reception from his fellow
towLspeople.
He shook hands with all, of course,
naturally giving preference to The Spy
man. to whom he gave an interview.
He said: 1T gives me a great deal
of pleasure to see the people of Worces-
ter gather as they did to do honor to
the Worcester boys who have left their
homes to fight for their country. l feel
as if no city could do more to honor
their sons than has Worcester. We
came through this city on short no
tice from Providence, and yet found
the mayor and citizens gathered to bid
us fond farewell.
Massachusetts feels proud of the
Twenty-siXth regiment, and 1 know it,
because Boston and the grand old heart
of the commonwealth have shown it,
Old soldiers of this state, and there are
none better, say that finer body of
men have not gone out of the United
States since we took dash at Spain.
The Second Massachusetts volun-
teers, the Ninth Massachusetts and all
other volunteer regiments were as
good displayed the same spirit, were as
finely differed as the Twenty sixth, but
this regiment has profited by their ex-
perience, and we leave this country
finely equipped, finely differed and
perfectly satisfied that-we will come out
of this campaign in as good shape as is
possible for body of men engaged in
war under the peculiar circumstances
that confront us in the tropics.
The lives of the men of the Second
and Ninth, given UP in the Cuban cam
paign, were dearly purchased and no
man feels more for his comrades in
arms than 1 do. 1t is because they
have shed their blood for their country
and showed the necessity for proper
equipment and proper usage that we
leave on this far journey so we'll
formed, so well differed and so we'll
equipped.
Our reception by the chief executive
of this state, by the chief executives of
this city and Providence will never be
forgotten by officers or men. We were
used royalty.
This regiment has been recruited to
its full war strength in New England,
and the recruiting station in the Walk
er building has added its share. The
class of recruits sent from the heart of
the commonwealth has eqCalled that of
other cities, and in many cases is above
the standard because the men have
seen previous service and have learned
the trials of warfare in the Cuban cam
paign.
There are several Worcester men re-
cruited in cities other than Worcester,
and it would be next to impossible for
me to give you the names of all the
Worcester boys. l will do all that
can for them. The officers of this regi-
ment have done all to make it critic
| rion of military discipline and organi-
cation, and old New England will never
be ashamed of US. Our colonel left this
country at the head of a Massachusetts
| regiment during the civil war; and
brought it back in good shape. In the
war with Spain he was in Porto Rico,
| and for the second time he brought
a regiment back in a manner that add
| ed laurels to his crown as a military
man.
when we get to that far-away arch
| ipelago our eyes will often look toward
| the land of the setting sun, and we will