The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-08-05
BACK FROM MANILA
NEBRASKA BOYS ARRIVE IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
Arrival Of the Transport
Upset1 Elaborate Preparations
That Had Been Made for the Re
ception of the Fighting volun-
teers-Boys Are Mighty Glad to
Get Home-Delay in Landing
Troops Disappoints Thousands
Who Had Assembled to Greet
Them.

" arrival of the United States trans
port Hancock, having on board the Ne
braska regiment and two batteries Of
the Utah artillery completely destroyed
the arrangements which had been
made for a royal reception and an en-
thusiastic welcome to the fighting vol
unteers returning crowned with their
laurels.
The Hancock dropped anchor in the
stream shortly before midnight. Sat
urday night. The committees here from
Nebraska and Utah had given up all
idea of the vessel arriving earlier than
Sunday morning and had prepared to
be up at daylight to greet the expected
ship. Tugs and launches had been
chartered and Gov. Poynter Of Nebras-
ka had planned with all care and detail
to be the first man aboard the Hancock
and welcome the heroes from his state
brck to American soil.
But there was no reception commit
tees afloat at midnight, and only n
small delegation of Nebraska people,
headed by Judge. Robert Ryan Of Lin
coin and G. o. Wheaton Of the same
city, accompanied by the customs
house officials and the correspondents
made the race down the bay. Quaran-
tine and customs regulations prevented
even this little band. from getting near
er the deck of the ship than the ap-
proach to the gang plank. The return
ing soldiers have no criticism to offer
their silent reception. They cheered
themselves hoarse at sight of the lit
tie fleet Of launches, and from the
decks of the transport shouted greet
S,,~o 0~I ,,1cco~1c IN Tho n00n1o IN
the dancing craft below. Col. II. B.
milford, of the Nebr9skas, who is in
command, son appeared at the railing.
BY his side stood William Grazen, Of
Company D., the sentinel Of the Ne
braska regiment, who fired the first
shot in amwe to shots from the Fill
pinos which started the war with the
insurgents. He killed the first Filipino
who died by al American bullet, and
it was this shot which was the signal
for the advance of the entire American
line and the great route Of the rebel
army on the night of Feb. 4.
II don't think you will see any of us
returning to Manila very soon," said
Col. milford in response to a question.
Just one man in the entire regiment re-
enlisted. Only twenty-five remained
in the Philippines to engage in busi-
ness. The Nebraska regiment had as
much rough work in this war;" contin-
ued Col. Musford, ''as any regiment,
volunteer or regular. Out death roll in
the Philippines from gunshot wounds,
accidents and disease, is sizty-tWo.
Including the sick and wounded who
are recovering, we dropped, all told,
POI men. On the Hancock are more
than 100 wounded soldiers. The entire
regiment is glad to know that it is to
be mustered out in San Francisco.
The men on the Hancock number
1,13G, and include the two Utah light
batteries and six discharged men from
the Twenty-second regiment, u. s. A.
At an early hour yesterday the quaran-
tine officer Of the port boarded the
Hancock, and after careful inspection,
gave the vessel a clean bill Of health.
Soon afterward the sick and wounded
were taken in ambulances to the hos
pital at the Presidio. It had been ar
ranged that those of the men able to
march shauld be landed at noon and
march to the Preside by way Of the
Principal streets. AS an attendants
guard of honor six companies Of the
Second Oregon, with the regimental
band, were detailed at the dock. 1t
was found, however, that the men
could not conveniently be landed
earlier than 8 o'clock, and that even
then some of their paraphernalia and
trophies of war which they desired to
use in their triumphal march were
ucwn deep in the hold and would not
be available.
Gov. Poynter made these representa-
lions to Mai. Gen. Shafter, and at the
urgent request Of the governor, Gen.
Shafter ordered that the landing OF the
Hancock's passengers be delayed un-
til this morning at 8 o'clock. Ignorant
of the amended arrangement thousands
Of San F~ranciscoans in holiday attire
lined both sides Of Market street and
veness and waited for hours to shout
a welcome to the returning soldiers. 1t
was not until the Oregon companies
who had been assigned as an escort
marched back alone that the waiting
crowd understood that they must bot
tie up their enthusiasm for twenty
hours 1nnDpr sf Nes1