Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1899-08-18
1T WAS A GALA DAY


CORVALLIS OUTDOES ALL SISTEl
TOWNS WITH HER WELCOME.
Five Thousand People Take Par
Id The Reception. Addressed
By Congressman Tongue.
Last Frid ay was gala day in Corval
lis. At an early hour people flocked
into the city in all directions from the
country, to aid in welcoming the volun
teers home again. The stars and stripe!
floated from every mast, bunting ant
flags adorned the public buildings ant
homes, the small boy popped his fire
crackers during the entire day and tax
ing it all in all, it was glorious recep
ton, kind of Fourth of July in fact or
the 11th of August.
At 1890 the cadet band gave o con
cert near the Occidental and did tkem-
selves credit by rendering as good music
as this organization has ever given
After the concert the band led the great
concourse of people to the college
grounds from where Prof. Earlston was
scheduled to make an ascension in his
balloon, but owing to the strong north
wind the professor was unable to make
the ascent and the crowd were obliged to
return disappointed, with the promise Of
witnessing the parachute leap in the af-
ternoon.
When noon came there was a grand
spread of edibles at the court house
grove and both city and country united
in doing ample justice, to chicken,
pickles, sandwiches, cake, pie and scores
Of other delicious things that only hun
CRY stomach on picnic day can appre-
ciate.
At 80 the parade occurred. The line
was formed at the city hall, being led by
the college band followed by company
of cadets in arms, a body of school
children bearing flags, then the Grand
Army corps, the volunteers under COM
mand OF Sergeant Thurston, and the
carriage containing the orator of the day
and officers Of the occasion. When the
triumphal arch which spanned the street
at the Allen & Woodward corner was
reached, counter march was formed
and as the old soldiers
and volunteers passed under it,
they were showered with roses and
flowers by group of little girls who
stood on platform in the arch. 1t was
a beautiful ceremony and those who wit
messed it received an impression from
the scene that will not be soon forgotten.
At 2p. m. the exercises of the after
noon opened at the court house square.
In the absence OF Mayor Crawford, J. B.
Irvine acted as presiding officer. The
address of welcome was read by DR..
Thompson, Harry Holgate responded in
behalf of the volunteers, The address of
Mayor Crawford contained in part:
cit is very pleasant duty that has
been delegated to me to perform, on be-
half of our citizens on this occasion, that
of extending to you the home welcome.
To you that have parents here, any
words that could speak will be feeble,
and as idle tales lightly told, in compari-
son with the welcome that has already
been extended to you by the loved ones
at home.
"Boys, from the time you left Manila,
we followed your trail as well as we
c ould from the meager dispatches we
We were just as eager for
news as you were to find the Filipinos
in the open country, and when the Ore
gonian arrived, the page of kilograms
was eagerly scanned to see where the
Second Oregon was, what they had been
doing, who was wounded, or killed, not
that we were anxious to hear that any, of
you had fallen by the way. Like the
the tramp at Pasco, We kept our eyes
upon you, until Malabon was reached,
we read of your splendid courage, and the
grand charges you made there, of your
killed and wounded. Our thou ghts and
anxiety were particularly directed to our
Corvallis boys, but I would like to
whisper in your ears that we were proud
Of all the men in the Second Oregon.
When you were attached to the flying
brigade under the gallant fighting Law
ton, we followed you in your course
through swamps and jungle, as you
passed on up the Grande Pampamga
river. Our sympathies followed you
when you were making those forced
by day and fighting by night.
We that have been there, thought of
your scant rations by times, the suffering
from heat, thirst and hunger, when
many of you thought in your
hearts that death would be relief.
eyes, boys, we are proud that Oregon
furnished some of the pail bearers, to
help move the corrupt old carcass of
despotism from the face of the earth,
that has been blocking the wheels of
in the Orient for the past
three centuries, and we gladly and
welcome you home from the
funeral. Now that you are home, our
prayer is, that the white angel
Of peace may be restored, and the boys
will all come sailing home.
"Boys, you have had a grand welcome
since your proud ship cleaved and cut
The waters of the Golden Gate, your way
home has been strewn with flowers,
honor and acts of kindness have been
upon you, and if you will per-
nit me, will just say word or two at
his time for you to think about in the
l. dc