Fergus County argus., 1899-08-30
PREPARE A WELCOME.

ment that the brave soldier boys
have left Manila on their homeward
journey, taking passage on the trans
ports Valencia and Zealandia the
oath inst 1t il calculated that The
transports will reach San Francisco
about Sept. 20, after which three
weeks must be allowed for the cere-
monies of mastering out.
The time Is now ripe for prepara-
tions for receiving the soldiers, and
the local committee appointed some
time ago should commence active
work with an energy and determine
tion which will ensure the grandest
celebration ever given In Fergus
county. While this county did nobly,
sending forth nearly an entire COM
pany of the twelve companies in the
regiment, five OF which went from
Butte and Anaconda, there are many
who remained at home and these
should now give assistance In max
ing the homecoming OF the soldiers
an event long to be remembered and
In some manner expressing the graft
fication felt for their brilliant serv-
ices in thefareast. They avefought
many fight and never retreated.
Some of them have passed to a greater
reward. Let the day OF their reach
ing home be one of joy and ample
demonstration.
Already the good citizens OF Butte
have organized and expressed their
determination to raise the sum Of
100000. as much as raised by the
great state OF Nebraska, and with
that um at their disposal transport
the entire regiment from San Fran
cisco to Butte without itscosting the
volunteers one cent. This is a big
undertaking, but Butte is big town
and one filled with patriotism and
public spirit. Chas. Clark has headed
the subscription list with $4,000 on
behalf of his father, Senator w. A.
Clark, and an additional $1,000 for
himself. Doubtless Others Of the
wealthy men will be equally gener-
GUS, and the committee believes sue
cess IL assured.
Gov. Smith and staff. accompanied
by committee of Montanians, will
meet the regiment at San Francisco,
and the Butte papers report that Il
liberal apportionment Of the 100000
will be appropriated toward paint
ing the water front at Frisco a bril-
liant red" Montana never did do
anything by halves, whether 1t was
fooling the people with "A leaden
statue marked solid gold and silver.
or raising regiment, the first In the
country to be ready for mastering in.
At Butte the citizens will give the
regiment grand welcome, adequate
to the occasion, and there present
each member with medal on behalf
of the state. The cost of these med
ais will be betrayed by Chas. Clark,
the intention being that he shall be
reimbursed by the next legislature.
The medal selected by the commit
tee from among large number of de-
signs submitted Is one offered by the
Gorham Manufacturing Co of Provi-
dence, X. |. This medal will be fur
nished for 1926 each, and 1000 were
ordered. The bar will be of bronze
and the medal proper Of silver, con-
nected by ribbon ~ red. white and
blue. On the face Of the medal is the
Goddess of Liberty crowning the vol
unteer with laurel wreath. around
the edge being the legend "rhe First
to Respond to Their Lonntry's Call.
Philippines, 1899" On the reverse il
the seal of Montana and the legend
First Montana, U. 5. Volunteers.
Second Division, Eighth Army Corps"
Perched on the bar IL an eagle. The
bar carries the words First Mon
tana U. s. Volunteers" and on the
reverse can he inscribed the soldiers
name.
Companies A, and H are expected
to journey from Butte to Great Falls
and at that point large fergus
county delegation should meet the
home boys, participate in the cele-
bration and bring them tn Lewis
town, where the welcome should be
loud and long. The committee on
transportation has already secured
pledges for nearly enough teams and
doubtless more will be offered. but a
considerable sum of money should be
raised to meet necessary expenses en-
route and to prepare for the rece!-
lion in LewistOwn. Two thousand
would be none too much and $1,000
would be little enough. This sub
scription should he started without
delay and opened tn every citizen OF
the county, for 1t is not merely Lew
islown but the entire county which
sent forth its sons and desires to
honor their return.
We hnlleye the resnnnsea wnnld he