Evening journal., 1900-10-30
Enthusiastic LOndOnerS Rush
MadIy Through Lines
TWO CHILDREN AMONG VICTIMS
Casualties Exceed the Losses Of the
Corps in It's TWeEty-Six
Battles

London Oct. sO.-The City Imperial
volunteers, who arrived at Southamp-
ton from South Africa Saturday, reach
cd here by train yesterday, marched
through London in a drlzzllng rain,
along streets packed by thousands, and
received a tumultuous greeting. Such
a demonstration was probably never
before evoked for such a small body of
volunteers.
With the exception that the volun-
teers were rather Drowned, there was
little In their appearance to indicate
that they were returning from a hard
campaign Their new khaki kits,
served out at Southampton, gave the
men disappointingly spick and span
look.
A captured Boer flag, carried In the
center Of the column, elected great
enthusiasm, thunderous cheers going
up as this first real trophy of victory
was born triumphantly through the
crowds.
The exuberant throngs proved un-
manageable, and the police and sol
diers we're quite unable 10 stem the
ugly rushes. The crush of the populace
became so terrible at the marble arch
that the people broke through the cor
don, and when the field was again
cleared 40 persons requiring the ala OF
ambulance surgeons We're left lying on
the ground, several OF them suffering
from serious injuries.
Along the whole length OF narrow
fleet street the scenes could only be
hkened 10 q continual football scrim-
mage, but IL was even more exciting.
Shrieks and groans filled the air. peo-
pie were hurled to the ground and
trampled upon, life guards. on horse
BACK, were swept of and lost In the
struggling mass OF humanity after i'm
potent struggles to stem the pressure
OF the semi-panic stricken mob.
The list OF casualties among the well
coming multitude was longer than that
or the whole corps in It's 26 engage
ments in South Africa Partial returns
from the hospitals and police stations
indicate that more than 200 were badly
hurt and three or four killed outright
There we're 1000 police and 22OOO
troops on duty along the line of march,
but they were unable TO manage the
crowds. Women and girls tainted and
were trampled under foot. Stands
overloaded with sightseers fell In.
Twelve persons out of 80 who were
riding on top OF a mail wagon, whose
wheels gave way, had their bones
broken. Two children were killed.
A man leaning over the parapet OF the
roof OF a four story building lost his
balance and fell upon a group Of wo-
men, killing one and hurting two
others, but walked away himself an
parently uninjured.
Many Of the soldiers on the line Of
march were hurt in cOmbats with the
crowd. Altogether London had a wild
day, with much fun, and, unfortunate
ly, deal Of grief in many households
because of the accidents
Indeed, the only surprising feature is
that the casualties were not twice as
for when night fell the
streets OF London would have done
credit to the commune. II was a scene
Of unchecked saturnalia that met the
eye. Fighting and swearing throngs
fought vainly among themselves for
the right of way. Half an hour was
needed TO made hundred yards prog
ress along the Strand, and the feat
could only be accomplished at the risk
on life or limb. The few isolated DO
licemen In evidence were borne help
less upon the tide Of patriotic enthusi-
asm, whose invariable Characteristic
was drunkenness, partial or complete.
The night was a repetition OF "Mafe-
king night, without the redeeming ex-
,uses of that celebrated orgy. London
was turned over to the worst elements
)f It's population. Women were insult
I'd, kissed or thrown down with i'm
ounity In street fights Pursued at the
sweet will Of inebriate brawlers from
he sidewalks they streamed along his
orlc thnroughfares shouting. sobbinc
ma brandishing peacock feathers with
insane depravity Many of them Of
cred no exception to the rule Of drunk
'nness. Babes IN arms could fire.
lucntly be seen. Countless different
Uniforms Of soldiers Of the empire. reg
liars, volunteers and colonials. added
vivid color to an extraordinary spec-
acle. the like of which was never wit
lessed in any American city.
In Justice to the heroes Of the de-
nonstration, 1t should be said that few
u them participated in the nights
celebration. Indeed, they seemed to be
lmost forgotten in the general desire
o take advantage Of the opportunity
Il unbridied debauch and the defiance
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