Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-11-08
HEROES ARE HOME.
Greatest Demonstration in States
History Over Soldiers Return.
Every Heart Thrilled With JOY at Sight
of the Brave Boys Who Went Forth
18 Months Ago to Battle for the
Flag I'm q Foreign Land.


brated in magnificent style the
return of the fighting Twentieth regi-
ment. Never before in her history has
there been such demonstration as she
gave yesterday in welcoming home
the brave boys whom she sent forth
just 18 months ago to battle for the
flag.
Tons of bunting had been used in
decorating the city for the occasion
and Kansas avenue was one mass of
decorations. The electrical and other
decorations at the state capitol were
the finest ever seen in Kansas.
The railroads have been severely
taxed to handle the great crowds of
people that have been pouring into the
city since yesterday and by noon to-
day fully $4,000 had arrived. Owing
to snowstorms and billiards in New
Mexico and western Colorado the
Twentieth Kansas special trains were
unable to keep up with their schedule.
The Demonstration at the Depot.
The train with the first section of
the Twentieth Kansas regiment reached
here at 1855 p. m. So many thousands
of people were on the depot platform
had to slow down as it pulled into the
depot. Whistles screeched, cannon
doomed, dozens of bands played and
the cheers were almost deafening
From every car window leaned soldiers
waving hats, yelling and whooping
shrill hoorays. They leaped from the
car steps before the train stopped and
fell into the arms of friends, who
grasped them and hugged them and
slapped them on the back and passed
them on to the waiting mothers, Sis
ters and sweethearts, who kissed and
embraced them and wept for very joy.
It was an exciting and fervid welcome
Wherever there was a soldier there
were groups of friends around him,
hearing his stories of the trials and
battles of the gallant regiment. There
were dozens and dozens of these groups
and in the center of every one of them
was a soldier. Soldiers promenaded
with their wives and sisters and sweet
hearts on their arms and in the eyes of
all there were tears of joy, of joy
that at last after months of fighting
under a tropical sun, of days and
nights in the disease breeding trenches,
after a journey across the world s
greatest ocean and a trip half way
across the best land the sun ever shone
upon, their loved ones were at home
once more in the state they have
served, that loves and honors them.
Gen Funston Warmly Welcomed.
Gen. and Mrs. Frederick Funston
were in the rear Pullman of the first
section. When the train came to a
stop there was a rush to get to them
and it took a half dozen strong men to
keep the people off the platform. Men
and women blockaded the streets for
more than block. Funston was liter
ally dragged from the crowd by enthu-
| siastic admirers and the ovation ten
dered him was simply remarkable. He
held fast to Mrs. Funston and the two
were taken into the depot. His first
inquiry was for his father and mother.
Gen. Funston looked very tired and
| he said he was never more so. All
| through Kansas last night the people
| were at the stations with bands of
music and the boys were kept awake
all night.
AS the parade could not be formed
until after the last section came in,
| and there appeared to be some doubt
just when this would be, the soldiers
| dispersed to all parts of the city, as
| there was no authority to hold them nj
the depot, and in many cases these
men did not return. Be it said to the
credit of the eX-members of the Kan
sas regiment that. with all the freedom
that was theirs, they conducted them
| col vi 49, 4
Of any boisterousness.
| The second section drew in at LAS,
the third at 3:l5 and the last at 3:45
By this time the crowd at the depot
had thinned ont SO that the officers had
no trouble in forming their men in line
for the parade.
| "All Kansas Honors the Twentieth ,
This legend in letters three feet long
that shine white in the daytime and
sparkle with 1000 electric lights a,
night was set into a great triangle
above the apex of the high colonnadee
eastern entrance to the state capitol
Over the western entrance in another
/ triangle was the greeting: "Welcomt
Home.''
The City Filled with People.
It seemed as if nearly all of the peo
pie of Kansas who could leave home
were here to give honor and warm vel
come to the soldier boys and officers ot
the Twentieth Kansas. The hotels
were filed yesterday with people who
came early to avoid the rush. The
overflow that came in last night anG
could not get into the hotels went int
the private boarding houses and filled
them. Even private homes were thrown
| open to care for the visitors. Th.
thousands who came in yesterday
nearly all returned to their homes las
last night on late special trains.
Fifth street, near the depot, was re
served for the different sections of the
regiment and their relatives, each sec
tion marked and placarded so ther,
would be no confusion and running
around to find relatives. Time wal
/ given for these greetings before tn,
parade started up town.
/ The Grand Parade.
The parade formed on Fifth street
the right resting on Quincy. In tn,
first division was Gov. Stanley anc
staff, mounted; Grand Army of the Re
public; Sons of Veterans; Brig. Gen
Funston and wife. in carriage; Col
Wilder S. Metcalf and staff, mounted
the Twentieth Kansas band, playing
"a Hot Time;" the Twentieth Kansa.
regiment.
The second division WAS cornmande<