The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-10

BOSTON, April 10-The Eighth Massa-
chusetts regiment, United States volun-
teers. Colonel William A. Pew OF Glouces-
ter commanding. the last body OF volun-
teer soldiery from this state 10 return
from active duty. arrived home yester-
day on the United States transport
Meade and was welcomed with an en-
thusiasm which was simply unbounded.
The transport Meade. Captain Wilson
in command. left Matanzas at 6:10 a. IN.
last Tuesday. and her run. until she was
enveloped In dense fog of Cape Cod.
was exactly three days. 2S hours and so
minutes For % hours the home port
was very near, but so difficult was navi-
cation that IL was 10 yesterday morn
ing before the vessel anchored at quar-
hntine and the voyage was at an end
After coming into Massachusetts bay
under guidance OF Pilot Fawcett. the
Meade came slowly towards Boston
light. and at 1880 yesterday morning
anchored OF Nantasket TO await clearing
weather. So completely was she hidden
in fog, however. that numerous craft
which had been scouting the bay for her
the vessel went to quarantine and there
awaited the arrival of DR.. Durgfn, the
ports medical officer.
II was a beautiful morning and the
soldier boys saw the familiar outlines OF
Boston under the best OF conditions. The
Meade's welcome from craft In the har-
Dor was merry one. and soon the trans
- .f.a
30 stern. The Eighth regiment was re-
ported by the regimental surgeon as
having a clean bill OF health, and the
formalities at quarantine were quickly
at an end. About the same time the
police boat Guardian arrived. having on
board Governor wolcott and party.
The first welcome home 10 Colonel Pew,
his officers and the men came from Gov
ernor Wolcott amid interesting incidents.
As the police boat approached the trans
port and the soldiers saw the familiar
figure OF Governor Wolcott and his Of
ficers. cheers rang out again and again
for the governor, for each of those ac-
companying him and for Colonel Pew.
On board the Meade officers call was
sounded and the governor, as he came
over the side. was received In military
style, the Eighth regiment band and
drum corps playing Hail TO the Chief"
and then Home Again" Just at that
time the Cunarder Catalonia, inward
bound, passed quarantine, and the crew
and passengers of the big craft lined the
port rail and cheered the soldier boys,
and back went wild response
In a few minutes Governor Wolcott
addressed Colonel Pew i'm a short speech
OF welcome. There was an interchange
OF greetings and then the governor and
party returned TO the city. The Meade
then proceeded to the New England pier.
where she was docked and the hawsers
were made fast just at noon.
The Meade brought A officers and 1157
enlisted men from Matanzas. The regi-
ment went into service with 1927 officers
and men, and was mustered in almost a
year ago.
BY the time the Meade was docked the
water all about il was full Of small craft,
many of them having been chartered by
delegations from the cities represented
by companies in the regiment. One tug
bore big banner. Beverly welcomes
Company f." AS soon as the transport
was docked rations were issued, and a [
2:30 the regiment marched ashore amid
the cheers Of the crowd of people which
swarmed over every available inch of
space on the docks. Without delay the
regiment was formed for parade. Head.
cd by platoon Of police the command
marched fsom the pier to the state house,
where Governor Wolcott reviewed the
regiment. continuing TO the south arm
CRY on TrVingtOn street.
The streets through which the Eighth
marched were thronged with people.
There were thousands of them. and they