The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-08-04
HANCOCK AT FRISCO
ARRIVES AT THE GOLDEN GATE
WITH THE NEBRASkANS.
Chc Untimely Arrival OF the Trans
port Completely Destroyed AL!
Arrangements for the Royal Re-
ception Planned.
First Nebraska Arrives.

First Nebraska Arrives.
San Francisco, July 30.-The untlmely
arrival Of the United States transport Han
cock, having on board the Nebraska regi-
ment and two batteries of the Utah artil-'
iery, completely destroyed all the ar
rangements which had been made for 4
royal reception and an enthusiastic wei
come to the fighting volunteers returning
crowned with laurels.
The Hancock dropped anchor in the
stream shortly before midnight last night.
The committees here from Nebraska and
Utah had given UP all idea of the vessels
arriving earlier than this morning, and had
prepared to be up at dawn today to greet
the expected ship. Tugs and launches had
been chartered, and Gov. Poynter, of Ne
braska, had planned with all care and de-
tail to be the first man aboard the Han
cock and welcome the troops from his state
back to American soil. But there were no
reception committees afloat at midnight,
and only one small delegation of Nebraska
people, headed by Judge Robert Ryan and
c. o. Wheadon, of Lincoln. accompanied
the customs house officials and the corre-
spondents on the race down the bay.
Quarantine requirements and customs
regulations debarred this little band from
going nearer the ship than to approach
the gang plank. The returning soldiers
have no criticism to offer their silent re-
ception. They cheered themselves hoarse
at sight of the little fleet of launches, and
from the decks of the transport shouted
greetings and messages to the people on
the dancing craft below.
Killed the First Filipino.
Col. II. B. milford, of the Nebraskas,
who is in command, soon appeared at the
railing. BY his side stood William Grazen,
Of Company D, the sentinel OF the Ne
braska regiment who fired the first shot in
answer to shots from the Filpinos which
started the war with the insurgents. He
killed the first Filipino who died by an
American bullet, and it was this shot which
was the signal for the advance of the entire
American line and the great rout of the
rebel army on the night of the 4th of Feb
ruary.
Il don't think you will see any Of US re-
turning to Manila very soon," said Col.
Mulford, in response to question. "Just
one man in the entire regiment reinlisted.
only twenty five remained in the Philip
pines to engage in business.
THE Nebraska has had as much rough
work in this war; continued Col Null
ford, "as any regiment, volunteer or regu-
lar. Our death roll in the Philippines from
gunshot wounds. accidents and disease is
siSty-two. Including the sick and wounded,
VINO are recovering, we dropped, all told,
ao4 M men. on the Hancock are more than
| lOO soldiers wounded. The entire regiment
is glad to know it is to be mustered out
In San Francisco. We had a pleasant
trip. said Mulford, "and it has improved
the men wonderfully. Quite number of
them will have to go to their homes, but
| f11&
| all right
The First Greeting.
The first man to grasp the hand of a
returning Nebraska volunteer was Mr..
| Wheaon, whose son, Burt Wheaon, is
nrst lieutenant and adjutant of the regi-
ment. The young officer was lowered on
the gang plank and father and son greet
ed each other with some difficulty. The
| quarantine officer does not board incom-
| Ing ships between sunset and sunrise, and
| there was nothing to do but wait for the
morning with what patience was possible.
The men on the Hancock numbered 1,136,
and included the two Utah light batteries
and six discharged men from the Twenty
second regiment, U. S. A.
Col. milford, who is in command of the
Nebraska regiment, succeeded the late Col.
| Stotsenberg, killed in battle Lieut.. Col,
Cotton, of the Nebraska regiment, re-
mained at Manila, where he will engage in
banking.
Only one man died on the Hancock after
she left Manila. He was private Richard
Walph, of Battery A, Utah artillery, and
he died of typhoid fever at Nagasaki.
Among the officers of the Nebraska reg-
ment who were severely wounded are
Capt Hollingsworth and Lieut.. Wads-
worth, who was on two different occa-
sions, shot in the legs.
The Hancock Is Released.
or norl1y
officer OF the port boarded the Hancock
and after careful inspection gave the yes
sci clean bill of health. Soon af<erward
the sick and wounded were taken in am
balances to the hospital at the Preside.
1t had been arranged that those of the men
able to march should be landed at noon
and march to the PRESIDE by way of the
principal streets. AS an attendant guard
OF honor, six companies of the Second Ore
gon, with the regimental band, were de-
tailed at the dock.
1t was found, however, that the men
could not conveniently be landed earlier
than 8 o'clock, and that even then some
OF their paraphernalia and trophies of war.
which they desired to use in their
triumphal march, were deep down in the
hold and would not be available
Gov. Poynter of Nebraska made these
representations to Maj. Gen. Shafter and
at the urgent request of the governor Gen.
Shafter ordered that the landing of the
Hancock's passengers be delayed until
Monday morning at 8 o'clock. Ignorant
of the amended arrangements, thousands
OF San Franciscans in holiday attire, lined
both sides of Market street and Van Ness,
and waited for hours to shout welcome to
the returning soldiers.
Outward and Visible Sign.
''The whisky you have been drinking
lately must have been aged by some
|