Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1899-04-27
THE SOLDIERS RETURN.
Our Go1dsbofo Company of the
Volunteer Hrmy thrive Home,
and r Royalty Welcomed by
a PROUD and doyoas
People.
The Reception and Banquet

Daily Argus of Monday.
Bright and early yesterday
morning-and a beautiful Spring
day it was-our city was all astir,
and all streets led to the Mess
senger Opera House. and every
street was thronged with people
in holiday attire fastening to the
place were was to be joyously,
thankfully, fttipgly celebrated,
the safe return of Goldsboro's
volunteer company from the
Spanish.American war.
The G~oldsboro Rifles, under
Capt. G. j. Griswold, that organ
ICED for homs protection immedi-
ately after the fomer company
under it's intrepid officers Capt,
T. 81. Balm and Its. Gulick and
Giddens marched away to the
war, was out in full dress uniform
to act as an escort of honor to
the returning soldiers.
Promptly at 7:30 o'clock, in the
midst of a throngiug multitude
of our citizens, ladies and gentle.
men, boys and girls, mothers,
fathers. wives, sweethearts,
sisters, brothers, uncles, cousins
and auuts; who greeted and car.
ressed, wept and laughed for joy,
as they once more looked into the
dear faces of their returned loved
Jones, the order was given to "fall
in.' Immediately everybody pro-
ceeded to the Opera House,
while the military formed in
marching order. The reception
committee, under it's chairman,
Maj. W. T.. Qollowel', led the
procession and took their posi-
ton on the stage. Then came the
returning soldier boys, who were
seated in the right parqIet. with
the exception of their officers,
who sat with the committee on
the stage, a. did also Maj Butler
and surgeon Lee, of Clinton, of
the First N. G. Vol. regiment.
The Rifles brought up the rear,
and took their seats behind the
nonored guests of the joyous oc>
casion.
When all we're in place and the
great audience was seated chair
man Hollowell called the immense
assemblage to order and announ-
ced that Rev. DR.. F. D. Swindell,
pastor of St. Paul M. E. Church,
and Chaplain of the Goldsboro
Rifles, would open the exercises
with prayer, and as this Cody
f man stepped to the front of the
stage the vast audience stood ny
. and with bowed heads, and hearts
: heating in unison with the spirit
1 of the prayer, gave silent audience
to the hallowed words, that moveo
Ito tears by their pathos, and
brought all who heard them closer
f to God through the recognition o.
His providence in ruling over ths
r lives and the destinies of men.
whether as soldiers or citizens
r 1t was a beautiful prayer, tenderly
appropriate to the occasion an(
t reaching out into the future will
a supplication that will linger il
the heart and plead with the con
science and persuade many to en-
list under the Blood-stained Ban
ner of the Cross unto eternal sal
walton.
Maj. Hollowell then introduced
. Col, A. c.. Davis, of the Colds
$ boro Bar, who had been s~electe'
by the committee to make the al
dress of welcome. From his frs
utterance to his closing sentenc
he held his great audience spell
hound. He swept with THRILLING
eloquence the whole history O
y war, in both sacred and profan
X chronicles. and played upon tn
heart-strings of patriotism an
duty with a master hand, sway
. ing his audience with emo
ton as the wind sways th
L soughing forests, and bring
ing tears to the eyes, and burst
ID of admiring applause, the sures
lie evidence of the peerless merit c
e~ his splendid address, Col. Davi
always meets the full require
W ment of every duty imposed upo
1 him; but Ion this occasion b
surpassed himself, speaking a
: one inspired. 1t was the fines
speech of it's kind it was ever th
pleasure or the ARGUS man t
= listen to-and this is the unive1
r sal verdict of all who heard it.
TO Can't. Balm. on behalf of IT