River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-10-26
California Letter.
SAN JOSH. CAL, Oct. u, 1899.


the volunteers from across the sea,
and every eye has been, and still is,
turned out over the foaming waters
watching for Others yet to come.
California never tires of welcoming
home the heroes from the Philippines,
be they her own men or those from
over the Rockies, as is manifest by
the greetings when the ships enter
San Francisco bay.
When the Sherman brought home
the 1st California, the whole state
went wild, and for three days and
nights they did nothing but parade,
entertain and cheer the men. It was
said that the visitors TO the city num-
bered three hundred thousand.
Some of us whose lot it had been
never to see a whole regiment In line,
went up the last night, hoping for
glimpse, even, Of the brave men, but,
alas, the whole city was on parade
and at HAS when our train left for
home not a veteran was in sight. We
were told that it was long after mid
night when they succeeded in reach
ing Market ST., where WE had stood
on tiptoe for four weary hours, and
that friends, wives, mothers and Sis
tiers of the boys came marching in
line with their loved ones.
The Grant, the She ridan, the
Zelandia and many others have fol-
lowed, bringing the Colorado, the
Montana and Wyoming men, and the
Minnesota 18th.
The Red Cross Society, through its
transportation superintendent, Mrs.
Ada Van Pelt, whom all White Rib
boners viii recognize 'as one Of ours0,
arranged for days outing to San
Jose, of about 300 of North Dakota
and Wyoming men, and as usual our
Garden City bubbled over with en-
thusIasm.
A basket picnic in st. James Park
was the program, the baskets con-
tanning lunch for squads of four. The
president Of our local Red Cross sug-
gested as one of the good things "a
pic, eohoIe one, and homemade, for just
think, 'she said, ''those boys have lived
eighteen long months with not taste
of that delicacy." The baskets were
covered with flowers, besides button
hole bouquets for each, and when the
seyenty-fiye or eighty of them we're
arranged on the long white table,
under the green trees, it was a lovely
sight as was also that containing the
fruit of every kind, arranged in pyra-
mlds and other fanciful styles. Shasta
water and lemonade were the only
drinks presented them. Flags floated
over all, and brass bands filed the air
with musical greetings.
They marched from the train to
the Park, amid cheers and music that
filled the eyes as we'll as ears, and
many handkerchief that was trying
to give them the chatauqua salute
found its way towards the fast-falling
tears at sight of those young, eager
faces of the boys who had lived for
these long weary months in that far
away land without sight of home or
mother, and who showed so surely
their appreciation of their welcome.
1t was noticeable how quickly every
head was uncovered at the first note
of Star Spangled Banner" remain
ing so until the last strains died away,
and then deafening cheers arose.
Some were looking well, Others we're
thin as shadows, but from talks with
many of them found that they had
improved wonderfully since leaving
Manila. One told me that the men
had not bit of enthusiasm nor en-
ergy when they were ordered home,
but that the long sea voyage and the
increase of rations they had received
since reaching the Preside at San
Francisco had made vast change in
them all. went from group to group
as they sat on the green grass eating
their lunch and gathered many inter-
esting items. One manly looking boy
from jamestown, North Dakota, III
response to my query as to ever being
hungry over there, said: Hungry,
lady, | guess we were" Another:
"Sure, saw time when | would have
eaten my old Shoes" and still another
said: eyes, indeed, but it was mostly
when we first reached Manila and ra-
tions were scarce, but oh how good
this tastes" referring to a fast disap-
pearing chicken sandwich.
The men were all young, and very
enthusiastic over the old flag. Said
one. the color bearer of his company:
''You ask my views as soldier on the
Philippine question. No, l would
NOT return that flag. 1t is our right
to have 1T there. 1t came there
through no fruit of ours and I'd leave
it there till the wind blew it into
tatters and then run up another, and
in spite of all the hardships I've been
through, if need be, I'd go back and
help whip those insurgents into line
until they would know good thing
when they saw it, and lowering his
voice, he continued: " Why, lady,
there are 1920 boys sleeping their last
sleep over there. Some had to die,
and that is why we feel this way"
He was from North Dakota, and he
told us Of his old mother, who, when
he enlisted, with tears running down
her wrinkled face bid him Godspeed,
with prayer that he would come
home as good as he went, and as he
lifted his hat at her name one could
but feel that her prayer was answered.
He had been in thirty-two battles and
been sick in the hospital for weeks,
but had nothing to regret, only that
they could not see the end before they
were mustered out. He was the only
volunteer from his county, and 1t
leaked out through comrade, that
he had, that day, received a letter
from his father saying that "a special
train was to be sent to Bismark to
bring him home"
| noticed one young fellow who
tried so bravely to smile while the
tears would come. as he looked into
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