The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-10
A HEARTY WELCOME
TO VOLUNTEERS.
Bay State Citizens Give the Eighth
Massachusetts, an Enthusiastic
Reception at Boston.

had stood steadily in place since o'clock
in the morning. The men OF the Eighth
made a picturesque sight. The tropical
sun had darkened their complexion and
their general appearance was that OF
we'll trained soldiers. Not only this. but
the men bore all sorts OF interesting
souvenirs OF their experiences.
The review of the regiment at the state
house was quite an impressive sight. by
reason of the great throng OF people IN
that vicinity. IL was o'clock when the
reviewing party took its place. The
marching soldiers were continuously
cheered and the review was a fine. one.
The marching order Of the regiment was
excellent The passage OF the oolors was
the signal for a patriotic outburst, and
II was ttfii tit- peifee eeHid do TO keep the
crowd within bounds
After the review. and when the regl-
ment had swung into Huntington av-
enue. many women and girls broke into
the ranks and walked arm I'm arm with
husbands, brothers. lovers or friends un-
ill the door OF the armory was reached.
Plans as to caring for the regiment at
the south armory from the time OF IT'S ar
rival until its muster out had provided
that no company be allowed 10 depart
TO its home. But yesterday that plan
was abandoned, and TO the great JOY OF
the soldiers the regiment was dismissed
for 4S-hour furough. AS the result OF
this the regiment stayed in the armory
but shore time. Colonel Pew dism1sslns
II after orders had been read.
Immediately the several companies
proceeded under escort Of delegations OF
townspeople TO the North Union station,
where special trains took each company
to its home station. The incidents ac-
companying the departure of each COM
pany were extremely interesting. and
again the streets took on a holiday ap-
pearance. for thousands OF people Joined
In the professions. BY evening the last
company had left the city. homeward
bound. The regiment will reassemble at
the south armory on Wednesday after
noon. and IL will be quartered there until
finally mustered out.
The regiment did not bring back al its
men Company Il OF Beverly was the
only one to return with unbroken ranks.
The sad feature of the regiments re-
turn was the fact that 10 men came as
prisoners and were turned over to the
commandant at Fort Warren To serve out
their terms of Imprisonment for viola
tions of mutiny law, or dissipation.
These prisoners were taken by the steam
er Resolute % the fort
Some interesting stories are told by the
men OF their experiences in Cuba, but
the most interesting is that which per-
tains to the trouble on board the Meade.
Last Friday evening the trouble among
the soldiers almost approached mutiny.
The men say that the supply of provis=
ions ran low and that they went hungry
at times. The men had been supplied
with three days travel rations when they
went on board the Meade. Besides this
there was in the company lockers the
balance of the last 10 days rations which
had been issued wttte the regiment WAS
dn camp st Matanzas. This supply
proved inadequate. Some of the cooks
on the transport sold meals to the sol
diers at 25 cents each, and the demand
was large. but when the ships officers
heard of this an order was Issued to stoI
serving meals. The soldiers complained,
as they raid they could not eat the SOW
belly" issues, on last Friday. They talked
so loudly that the officers heard the men
and an investigation followed, but not
before a quantity of bacon and refrtg-
Grated beef had been thrown overheard
/ This decreased the amount OF provisions
on the ship and required the aid of Col
| pnel Pew to straighten out matters
which was done by the continuance OF
serving meals by the Meades cooks. The
| real fact OF the hardships TO the men was
| that the company cooks were unable on
| shipbosrd to prepare the companies
meals from the food supply on hand. The
unpalatableness of a part OF the ration:
! is also he '-. "~'ti Used by the men.