Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-11-05
JoLLlTY AND LICENSE SWAY THE
GREAT METROPOLIS.
OVER SOLDIERS RETURNING
Tremendous Demonstration at the
Homecoming of Imperial VoIun-
teers-Many Hurt and a Dozen
Killed in the CroWds-Night
Scene of Widest Bedlam.

London, Oct. 29.-The city Imperial
volunteers who arrived at Southamp-
ton from south Africa Saturday,
reached here by train yesterday. They
marched through London, along
streets packed by thousands, and re-
ceived tumultuous greeting. Such
demonstration was probably never be-
fore evoked for such a small body Of
volunteers. After an eight hours
march, broken by sermon at ST.
Pauls cathedral and speech by Lord
Mayor Newton in Guild hall, the vol
unteers sat down to dinner where
Lord Wolseley and many other notable
persons received and addressed them.
After the usual lot Of tOasts Lord
Wolseley read telegram of congratu-
lation from Queen Victoria. The
members of the corps then separated.
They had muf1ed themselves.
in overcoats and other DISCUSSES in or
der to avoid recognition by the
crowds Even then several were near
ly pulled to pieces in rough embrac-
ings and hand shakings of drunken
men. The list of casualties among the
, welcoming multitude is longer than
that of the whole corps in it's twenty
six engagements in south Africa. Par
tial returns from hospitals and police
stations indicate that more than 200
were badly hurt and dozen killed
outright. The 1000 police and $4,000
! troops along the line of march were
unable to manage the crowds. Women
and girls tainted and were trampled
under foot AMI stands overloaded with
sightseers fell in. A man leaning over
the parapet of four-story building
| lost his balance and fell upon group
, Of women, killing one and hurting two
others, but walked away himself ap-
) parently uninjured.
| Many soldiers on the line or march
were hurt in combats with the crowd.
! Altogether London had a wild day
with much fun, and unfortunately a
| deal OF GRIEF IN many households.
When night fell the streets OF Lon
don would have done credit to the
| commune. 1t was a scene Of uncheck-
ed saturnaI4a that met the eye with
the throngs fgnLlLg and swearing Tor
! the right of way. The few policemen
in evidence were borne helplessly upon
! the tide Of patriotic enthusiasm whose
| invariable characteristic was drunken
ness. The night was a repetition of
''Mafeking night" without the re-
deeeming excuses OF that celebrated
/ orgy. London was turned over to the
worst elements Of it's population. Wo-
men were ilsulted, kissed or thrown
down with impunity in the street
fights. Pursued at sweet will by in
ebriate braWlers, they strea1ned along
the historic thoroughfares, shouting,
sobbing and brandishing feathers in in
sane depravity. Many OF them offered
no exception to the rule Of drunken
ness. Babes in arms were frequently
seen. Countless different uniforms of
soldiers of the empire, regulars, volun-
/ teers and colonials, added vivid color
| to the extraordinary spectacle, the like
| of which was never witnessed in any
| American city. The heroes took little
/ part in the celebration. Indeed they
seemed to be forgotten in the general
desire to take advantage of the oppor-
tunity of unbridled debauch and de-
| fiance of all law, order and decency.