The San Francisco call., 1899-08-26


terical as a young soldier
stepped from the big transport Sher
man as she lay at Folsom street wharf
yesterday morning. He was one of the
first upon the gang-plank and thence
10 the board dock. A choking sensa-
ton seemed to come in all the bronzed
throats Of the boys as they heard him,
and eyes that had borne the blaze of
tropic suns unwinking were moist with
unshed tears as the returning heroes
We're brought to full realization Of
the fact that they once more trod their
native land.
This was the real homecoming. This
the end Of the long and weary days of
waiting. California was once more
under their feet, and the joy-the glad
ness Of it swept away all memories of
hardships Of Luzon swamp and field.
They We're home and on the threshold
Of the welcoming tribute such. as only
California can pay her sons.
At a very early hour the big trans
port swung into the berth and was
docked, ready for the disembarking of
her precious load, but early as it was
there We're many eyes aboard of her
that were open and many phantom
like forms crowded her bulwarks, anxi-
Gus TO feel the first tremor of the
touch Of home land. Just as the strid-
eht whistles of the city announced the
seventh hour the first forms appeared
in the gangWay and the debarkatlon
began. For almost an hour the steady
stream Of humanity poured from the
vessels side, and company after COM
pany lined up along the great dock
and stood awaiting orders.
No impatience was shown by the
sturdy veterans. They had been
trained during those long hours at the
enemy's front to wait, and that train
ing stood them in right good stead
now when they We're about to reap the
fruits Of their long and wearisome
campaign. For fifteen months they
had been away fighting for the honor
Of their country and in fifteen minutes
more they would be in the welcoming
arms of relatives or friends who were
assembled by thousands and tens Of
thousands just outside the big fence
also waiting, but with far less pa
tience.
II was a. wise decision that precluded
= greeting on the dock, for the brief
wait gave time to recover from the
,,,ornentarv weakness which had
brought Jumps to the throat and tears
10 the eyes After the Governor mad
taken from his pocket and read the
1vnewritten' address which had been
prepared for him, the pathos Of 1t all
had passed away, and the smart COM
nand of attention" brought the men
o,Iickly into position and the band
swung into place at the head OF the
column. which marched with STEADY
tramp and set faces out toward those
who were waiting outside.
There was little cheering as the
column came in sight. There was
.omething which was too deep Tor
cheers which was a more eloquent wei
come than all the huZzas that could
have emanated from thousands or
throats.
Yes. it was good to feel California
under foot once more, and when the
little woman with the babe in her arms
recognized the man who had gone
forth from her fireside at his country
call a great sigh that was almost
cob evinced the sympathy of the vast
crowd as army rules and regulations
we're set at naught, while husband ana
wife were close clasped in each other
arms and their mingled tears fell on
the wondering face Of the child too
Young to understand what it all meant
Then humanity asserted itself and
yoIice regulations as enforced by stall
wart bruecoats were swept aside while
the dun of the khaki was absorbed into
the homogeneous mass of color as the
immense throng swarmed into the
board roadway and mingled with the
loved ones who had returned from lne
jaws of death.
Jack, Jack. My God, he's hurt
What was one fainting woman IN
crowd like that? The poor mother
pent-up feelings found vent IN tnal
despairing cry, and her unconscious
BODY was borne through the throns
which had no time for sentiment other
than the selfish one Of struggle 10