The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-14

LONDON, Jan. 1s.--Though many stir
ring scenes have marked the departure OF
the British troops for the front during
recent months. today's outburst Of patri-
otism on the occasion Of the starting Of
the London volunteers. was quite unprece-
dented since the jubilee.
First Time Volunteers Serve.
1t is the first time in the history of the
movement that British volunteers have
been permitted to serve side by side with
the regulars in real warfare. and the peo-
pie turned out in hundreds of thousands to
fittingIy celebrate 1t. The crowds began
to throng the route before dawn. and In
creased in such proportions that detach-
ment of the Lord Mayors Own were en-
quilted at various stages Of the route. The
ranks were frequently broken and the men
were almost lost sight OF in the cheering.
shouting, singing mob. Every now and
then halt had to be made In order to
reform the ranks but only to be again
broken, as the police were unable to stem
the excited, cheering mass OF people, which
again and again broke through all 0b-
structions. The handshakings and em-
bracings were so exuberant that the orig
inal smartness of the volunteers was
speedily impaired, many uniforms being
torn. But the troops finally managed tn
struggle through to the mansion house.
Lord Mayor Could Not he Heard.
On the balcony of that building the lord
mayor, Mr.. A. ]. Newton. this lady may
Dress, the councillors and others, awaited
the arrival of the volunteers, and Witness
ed them actually fighting their way
through the dense crowds. assisted by
male friends and impeded by clingiug
women. When the force was finally re-
formed, the lord mayor attempted to make
u speech. but found 1t impossible. Ane
din was simply deafening. and the chief
magistrate had to be content to indicate
his good wishes by smiles and gestures.
while the volunteers greeted him with
cheers and waving their hats on raised
rifles. There was another herculean eff
fort on the part of police. and the detach-
ment resumed its march to the accompani-
ment of pushing, screaming. cheering and
singing.
Column Could Not March.
The column had hardly covered q hum
cred yards when 1t again intermingled
with the surging crowds. who had undis-
puted sway along the route Many Of tho
volunteers escaped through side streets,
and others struggled along In single file by
two and threes. BY the time they reached
the Thames embankment the crowds had
become a conglomeration, women's hats
being as numerous In the mass al volun-
teers' headgear.
Over an hour was consumed In traversing
the mile to Westminster. There the po-
lice arrangements improved. and the null
t.tudes were marshaled into some kind of
order. The windows. roofs and every
other vantage point were crowded with
singing, cheering humanity. waving BAN
ners, hats and handkerchiefs.
Departed Amid Cheers.
Finally the column reached Nine Eims
station, bearing numberless traces of tho
difficulties of the march. The public was
excluded, the final leave taking being held
outside, and the volunteers entrained and
departed amid cheering and the singing Of
Aud Lang Syne." Rule Britannia" and
God Save the Queen
The lord mayor, sheriff and councillors.
IN their state robes. accompanied by many
ladies, took another special train for
Southampton to bid farewell to the volun-
teers on board the transport Briton. The
latter arrived soon after the lord mayors
rarty and was saluted with ringing cheers
from the huge assemblage on the quays
as they boarded the liner.