The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-26

of the forward sleeper. Most OF the
throng was composed of schoolbOy5
and schoolgirls, all of them wearing
patriotic red. white and blue. They
waited eagerly and impatiently while
a few travellers descended, giving them
but scant notice, and when d oortly,
un-military man, rather short and
wearing a. black crumpled frock coat
| and a black derby hat, appeared on the
platform and started laboriously to de-
scend, it was many seconds before
those in the crowd recognized him as
the hero of Santiago.
Not until he was upon the station
platform and Major Thompson of the
Twenty-fourth infantry had pressed
through the throng and grasped his
hand, did the crowd recognize General
Shafter. Then there was 4 buzz Of eX-
element and curiosity, which drew
every one helter-skelter to the spot.
Major Thompson greeted General Shat
ter and his aide, Captain Plummer of
the Tenth infantry, and then presented
Captain Leavell of the Twenty fourth
and Major Downey. They stood an in
slant, exchanging salutations, while
the crowd ever hedged them nearer and
nearer.
A beaming old lady with eye glasses
reached over the heads of the swarm of
the younger generation about her and
caught General Skaters eye.
II want to shake hands with the hero
of Santiago" she exclaimed, laughing,
and the general thanked her with
smile and cordial handshake, while
the youngsters cheered and pressed
nearer. In a jiffy the portly gen.
eral was shaking hands, while small
boys and even more enthusiastic small
girls crowded nearer, stepping on his
toes and humping him back against the
car in most unceremonious style.
Charge of the Juveniles.
For a moment it began TO look serious
for the general. Under ordinary circum-
stances it is rather difficult for physical
reasons, of which the cartOonlSrS have
made great capital to get very near to
General Shafter, for the truth Is, there
is not much room in his immediate Vi
entity But this fact did not deLer the
small Utahns one whit. They besieged
him on every hand, and pressed so close
that the general began to puff and like
wise to perspire as he received their
assaults upon his broad bosom and
tried vainly to shake fifteen moist and
dirty palms at once. But a moment of
this was sufficient.
Back. please he cried, keep back
a little" and he turned to Major
Thompson.
Lets get out of this" he said, md
turning, he beat an ignominicus ard
decidedly ponderous retreat up che car
steps. 1t was a rout, pure and simple,
such as never Spaniard or Johnny
Peh or an Apache brave ever treated
him to.
once in the cool privacy of The Pull
man, General Shafter sank into car
seat with sigh, and Major Thompson
Major Downey and Captain Leayell
gathered about him or stood and chat.
ted in the aisle with Captain Plum
mer.
Praised Utah Soldiers.
OF Herald man General Shafter
spoke very cordially in praise of the
work of the Utah batteries about Ma
Mia.
They're devilish good soldiers" he
said, land you're to be congratulated
making a record of which the state of
Utah may be well proud"
when do you think we shall see
them again in America" asked The
Herald man. The Deseret News man
stood at discreet distance, and took
voluminous notes.
They'll be mustered out as soon as
the government can replace them with
regulars General Shafter replied
And that will be when?"
EARLY in the summer, I have no
doubt
But most of the regiments now be-
ing sent to Manila are infantry COM
mands; will General Otis be able to
spare artillery"
Several batteries of artillery, fully
equipped are en- route to Manila now,
and we shall send more Immediately,
so that I should think there would lie
no further need of the Utah men after
a few months"
Then to Major Thompson General