Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-11-09
HEROES ARE HOME.
Greatest Demonstration in States
History Over Soldiers Return.
Every Heart Thrilled With Joy at Sight
of the Brave Boys Who Went Forth
Is Months Ago to Battle for the
Flag in a Foreign Land.

brated in magnificent style the
return of the fighting Twentieth regi-
sment Never before in her history has
there been such demonstration as she
gave yesterday in welcoming home
the brave boys whom she sent forth
just IS months ago to battle for the
flag.
Tons of bunting had been used in
decorating the city for the occasion
and Kansas avenue was one mass of
decorations The electrical and other
decorations at the state capitol were
the finest ever seen in Kansas.
The railroads have been severely
taxed to handle the great crowds of
people that have been pouring into the
city since yesterday and by noon to-
day fully $4,000 had arrived. Owing
to spowstorms and billiards. in New
Mexico and western Colorado the
Twentieth Kansas special trains were
unable to keep up with their schedule.
The Demonstration at the Depot.
The train with the first section of
the Twentieth Kansas regiment reached
here at 1885 p. m. So many thousands
of people were on the depot platform
and the railroad tracks that the train
had to slow down as it pulled into the
depot. Whistles screeched, cannon
doomed, dozens of bands played and
the cheers were almost deafening.
From every car window leaned soldiers
waving hats, yelling and whooping
sshriu hOorays. They leaped from the
car steps before the train stopped and
fell into the arms of friends, who
'grasped them and Rugged them and
slapped them on the back and passed
them on to the waiting mothers, Sis
-fea,.e, l. /: i
embraced them and wept for very Joy.
1t was an exciting and fervid welcome.
Wherever there was a soldier there
were groups of friends around him,
hearing his stories of the trials and
battles of the gallant regiment. There
were dozens and dozens of these groups
and in the center of every one of them
was a soldier. Soldiers promenaded
with their wives and sisters and sweet
hearts on their arms and in the eyes of
all there were tears of joy, of joy
that at last after months of fighting
under a tropical sun, of days and
nights in the disease breeding trenches,
after a journey across the worlds
greatest ocean and a trip half way
across the best land the sun ever shone
upon, their loved ones were at home
once more in the state they have
served, that loves and honors them.
Gen Funston Warmly Welcomed.
Gen. and Mrs. Frederick Funston
were in the rear Pullman of the first
section. When the train came to
stop there was a rush to get to them
and it took half dozen strong men to
keep the people off the platform. Men
and women blOckaded the streets for
more than block. Funston was liter
ally dragged from the crowd by enthu-
siastic admirers and the ovation ten
,dered him was simply remarkable. He
held fast to Mrs. Funston and the two
were taken into the depot. His first
inquiry was for his father and mother.
Gen. Funston looked very tired and
he said he was never more so. All
through Kansas last night the people
were at the stations with bands of
music and the boys were kept awake
all night.
AS the parade could not be formed
until after the last section came in,
and there appeared to be some doubt
just when this would be, the soldiers
dispersed to all parts of the city, as
there was no authority to hold them at
the depot, and in many cases these
men did not return. Be it said to the
credit of the ex-mem bers of the Kan
octo lA1dGs Win dill CA1S 1ICSOOlh
that was theirs, they conducted them
selves well and there was no complaint
of any boisterousness.
The second section drew in at 1:45,
the third at 3:15 and the last at 3:45.
By this time the crowd at the depot
had thinned out so that the officers had
no trouble in forming their men in line
for the parade.
.'All Kansas HonOrs the Twen tieth."
This legend in letters three feet long
that shine white in the daytime and
sparkle with 1000 electric lights at
night was set into great triangle
above the apex of the high colonnaded
eastern entrance to the state capitol.
Over the western entrance in another
triangle was the greeting: welcome
Home"
The City Filled with People.
1t seemed as if nearly all of the peo-
pie of Kansas who could leave home
were here to give honor and warm well
come to the soldier boys and officers of
the Twentieth Kansas. The hotels
were filled yesterday with people who
came early to avoid the rush. The
overflow that came in last night and
could not get into the hotels went into
the private boarding houses and filed
them. Even private homes were thrown
open to care for the visitors. The
thousands who came in yesterday
nearly all returned to their homes last
last night on late special trains.
Fifth street, near the depot, was re-
served for the different sections of the
regiment and their relatives, each sec
ton marked and placarded so there
would be no confusion and running
around to find relatives. Time was
given for these greetings before the
parade started up town.
The Grand Parade.
The parade formed on Fifth street,
the RIGHT RESTING on Ouinev In the