Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-06-09

Interesting Of His Exper-
i-enccs-Other Addresses Made.
All that could be expected as a patri-
otto and loyal welcome to<a home COM
ing soldier of the Philippines was the
reception given Lieut.. Ernest G. Smith
and other soldiers of the late war at the
Opera House. in Martins Ferry, last
evening. The programme Tor the even
ing was most interesting. and the diff
ferent speeches and talks brought forth
much applause from the large audience
present.
AT 1880 O'Clock Meister's band played
dn front of the Opera House, and at s
O'Clock the house was filled, and a large
number were seated on the stage as
guests of honor. The stage wa hand
somely decorated with the national col
Ors and flowers and presented a beauti-
ful appearance. The soldier boys were
eated in front, with Rev. c. H. Null
hearn. the president of the meeting, in
the centre.
Rev. Father Mulhearn introduced W.
II. Dixon, ESQ, who made the address
of welcome. lie stated that the music
made him feel as If he would like to be
home. Mr.. Dixon made a most eloquent
speech regarding the American soldier
and touched on many of the incidents
of the late war and ~eulogized the SOL
diers who have fought in foreign ISL
nnds. His speech was we'll applauded,
especially his closing words of welcome
to the soldiers.
Albert Blumenberg then rendered a
pleasing selection IN the musical
glasses, which received so much APP
plause that he was called back for a
second selection.
Rev. Father Mulhearn then introduce
ed Lieut.. Ernest G. Smith. who spoke of
the feeling of one soldier for another
and that the longer n serves he real
ICES that he is n cog of the machine.
4 "a thalh IL pCOPlC " tACll
welcome. He did not know how the
boys came back from the war of 1851,
but he did not doubt that some of the
stories of the '9S men would be
what expanded in years to come. He
then excited considerable applause re-
garding the incident of building bridges
in the Philippines, and told some of the
bids received from the natives, and that
the wood was genuine mahogany. While
securing this timber a party of soldiers
had been attracted by much firing, and
supposed their comrades had been at
tackled, but Upon arriving found they
mad only killed a python snake over fif-
teen feet long, but when the story got
raround the army it had grown to be
over forty-eight feet.
Lieut.. Smith stated that he could
not attempt to give a description of
his experiences, and told of leaving
the transport Sherman from Brook
lyn harbor. His, description of mess
was very interesting. as was also the
story of reaching Gibralter and its in
tense heat, and from there through
the Suez canal and on to the China
sea, and that nearly all were afraid
the fighting would be over. When
they reached Manilt they marched into
the city, were given ammunition and
marched out through another wall: and
from that day his regiment had
never seen Manila. His description of
the first firing was most l~lughable;
but in six weeks they were into fight
\ ang territory. Then in a realistic
way he described the first battle.
At San Fernando, he said, was a
trying time. Many volunteers had
been sent home, and they We're short
of men. 1t was here he saw General
Aguinaldo. He also described the first
achievements to their ranks, and said
that the band struck up The Star
Spangled Banner They received a
warm welcome. He paid a high trib-
ute to the irish-American soldier. and
his story of the beer drinking was
very laughable. He stated that officers
and men would often visit Spanish
houses. and when asked why they
were there, their answer was. We
were there to study Spanish. AS to
the country, he stated that the men
did little work, and that the women
did the hard labor. Al to business
the larger part was done by the Span
Yards. although the Americans are
gradually taking their places. The
CIYE NOn TN