Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-08-03
Return OF SOLDIER HEROES
Nebraska and Utah Volunteers
Home From tho Philippines,
REACH FRISCO AT MIDNIGHT.

destroyed all the arrangements Which
had been made for royal reception
and an enthusiastic welcome TO the
fighting volunteers,
The Hancock dropped anchor In the
stroam shortly before midnight Satur-
day night The committees here from
Nebraska aud Utah had given up all
Ideas OF the voSsol's arriving earlier
than Sunday morning, and had pre-
pared TO bc up at dawn to greet the
expected ship Tugs and launches
had been chartered, and Governor
Poynter OF Nebraska had planned
with all care and detail TO DO the first
man aboard tho Hancock and welcome
the heroes from his state back to
American soil,
But there were no reception COM
mlttees a1oat at midnight, and only
one small delegation OF Nebraska peo-
pie, heAded by Judge Robert Ryan, Of
Lincoln, and @. o. Wheaton, of the
same city, accompanied the custom
house officials and tho correspondents
on the race down the bay.
Quarantine and customs regulations
prevented even this little band from
getting nearer tho deck OF tho ship
than tho approach TO the gang plank.
Tho returning soldiers have no criti-
cism TO offer for their silent reception.
They cheored themselves hoarse at
sight OF tho little feet Of launches
and from tho decks OF the transport
shouted greetings and messages to the
people on the dancing craft below.
Colonel II, b. Milford, OF the Ne.
braslSans, who Is In command, soon
appeared at the railing BY his side
stood William Grazen, OF Company d,
the sentinel OF the Nebraska regiment
who fred the Arst shot in answer to
tho shots from the Filipinos which
started the war with the Filipinos,
He killed the first Filipino who died
by IN American bullet, and 1t was
this shot which was the signal for the
advance OF the entire American line
and the great rout Of the rebel
army on the night Of the 4th Of Feb.
ruary.
II don't think you will see any Of
us returning to Manila very soon, +"
said Colonel Milford, in response to a
question.
Just one man in the entire regi-
ment re-cnlistcd. Only twenty-five
remained in the Philippines to engage
In business
1.-THE Nebraska had as much rough
work in this war" continued Colonel
milford, las any regiment, volunteer
or regular. Our death roll in the
Philippines from gunshot wounds,
accidents and disease, is sixty-two.
Including tho sick and wounded who
are recovering, we dropped all told
204 men, On the Hancock arc more
than 100 wounded soldiers, The en-
tire regiment is glad to know that IL
is to DO mustered out in San Fran
cisco We have had pleasant trip"
concluded Colonel Milford, land 1t has
improved the men wonderfully. Quite
number OF them will have to go to
their homes, but ] am assured that
every one will soon be all right"
The first man to grasp tho hand Of n
returning Nebraska volunteer was
Mr. Wheaton, whose son, Burt Wheat.
on, Is first lieutenant and adjutant OF
the regiment. The young officer was
lowered on the gang plank and father
and son greeted each other with some
difficulty. The quarantine officer does
not board incoming ships between
sunset and sunrise, and there was
nothing to do but wait for the morn
ing with what patience was possible
Only ono man died on the Hancock
after she left Manila, He was Pri-
vate Richard Walsh OF Battery A,
Utah artillery, and he died Of typhoid
fever at Nagasaki.
At an early hour yesterday the
quarantine officer of the port boarded
tho Hancock and after q careful in
spcction gave the vessel clean bill
Of health Soon afterward the sick
and wounded were taken In ambu-
lances to the hospital at the Presidio
1t had been arranged that those OF
the men able to march should be
landed at noon and march to the Pre-
sidio by way OF the principal streets
AS an attendant guard of honor, six
companies Of the Second Oregon, with
the regimcntal band, were detailed at
tho dock, h.l'.
II was found, however, that the
men could not DO conveniently landed
earlier than o'clock, and that, even
then some OF their pharaphernalia and
trophies of war which they desired to
use in their triumphal march were
deep down IA the hold and would not
be available.
Governor Poynter Of Nebraska made
these representations to Major Gen.
eral Shafter, and, at the urgent re-
quest of tho governor, General SHAFT
ter ordered that the landing Of the
Hancocks passengers be- delayed until
this morning at 0 o'clock.
The men on the Hancock numbered
l,l36.
Champ Clark Talks
JACKSON, Miss, July 81. Nothing
short OF death can prevent Bryan
a "a ~ "a .