The National tribune., 1902-11-06

is not SO great hardship after all, when
lit cannot be helped.
We were the laughingstOck of the army
about Manila as we marched out of town
on our way to the field. They all envied
us our chance to go home first, and there
fore made endless fun of us for pointing
our noses in the opposite direction They
had much to say about walking home;
about the Hancock being good land
boat; about her being right around the cor
ner, and we would miss her if we did not
hurry. All this our men took in good part,
and sent back as good as they received.
But when we returned and were again as
signed transports, this time the Newport
and Ohio. the joking ceased and it was
realized for fact that the Oregons were
actually going home, and that this meant
the others would soon follow.
HoMEwARD BOUND.
1t was beautiful morning, the 18th of
June, the two transports lifted anchor and
started on the long voyage across the Pa
clhc, amidst the cheers of the feet, the
blowing OF whistles and the noisy
rejoicing of cur own resurrected regimen
tai band. There was other noise also.
Family we could hear from the south the
guns of one Of Dewey's ships bombardng
the insurgents at Las Pinas The day
before Lawton, who had planned another
raid and assembled another force. had at
tackled and captured Paranaque, which
the insurgent had used for Headquarters
on the south three months longer than
Otis should have permitted But, as /
have already said, he could not give the
south line attention while he was doing
the work of his subordinates during the
campaign on the north.
Six days later we dropped anchor in the
harbOr of qNagasaki, Japan. There we re-
manned for twO'days cOaling, and the men
were given shere leave from in the morn
ing till 6 at night. We were the first
American soldiers ever seen in a japanese
port, and our conduct during those two
days was so exemplary that we received
the compliments of the Japanese and the
foreign residents alike. We improved to
the full this brief opportunity to see Japan
and the japanese. We visited the tenn
pies, the tea houses, the theater, and the
stores. We went Summing, took long
jinrikisha rides through the streets and
over to the seaside resort of Mogi, saw
how the ground was cultivated, and final
ly spent much money in buying more pres
ents for the folks at home. Again l was
called upon to advance money to men who
had spent their all, fortunately having
enough on hand to accommodate them to
the extent of about $500, all of which was
paid back except by one graceless youth.
HOME AND MUsTER-oUT.
Twenty days later, after long and
voyage across the sea- Just as
we were sitting down to the midday meal.
there was a burst of cheers on the spar
deck, and man came in and announced
that the dim outlines of Point Reyes, Just
outside San Francisco harbor, could be
seen. Late that afternoon the transports
slowly into the Golden Gate,
escorted by feet of tugs and steamers,
while every steam-whistle in San Francisco
was splitting the air with its shrill notes.
When we landed the next morning and
marched through the thronged streets, we
received an ovation that made our hearts
warm. l have been in some pretty noisy
places in my life, but never did | hear
such noise as these enthusiastic Californ-
ians made the day the first troops to re-
turn from the war marched through the
streets of San Francisco to the Presidio
1t was solid four miles of din and cheer
ing. Other regiments were greeted with
as they came in one at
time for the next two months, but that
first greeting was not duplicated until
own regiment returned Then
they could scarcely do more, strive as they
might.
swept and dusty Preside brought us to
the final day of muster-out. Those were
weeks of hard work by company command
ers and their First Sergeants, Quartermas-
ter-Sergeants and a few clerks, but of
pleasure and idleness by all the others.
They drank to the bottom the cup of joy
placed to the lips of the returning war
hero. On the day of final muster-out there
were rumOrs that some of the officers who
were not in good favor were going to be
tossed in a blanket, but the tossing did
not materialiZe, and whatever grudges
there We're because of treatment during
service were permitted to slumber. Some
,f the officers were cheered by their men
md others were not.
1t will be one of the best recollectiOns |
have of the entire service. the cheer my
company gavelme after we had been mus
.ered out and while they were standing
N line waiting for their final pay. l had
not always been easy on them, and had
lot allowed thrm as much latitude as some
,ther commanders, but l had always en-
leavored to treat them like men and to
iemand nothing of them except what they |
very well knew was right. Discipline is |
lot always pleasant, but if administered |
n the right spirit and without a show of |
personal feeling or contempt for the feel |
ngs of the men, it never makes enemies, |
except of the occasional rogue, "whO never |
eels the halter draw with good opinion |
# the law"
i
and on a special train. About Il third of |
he men scattered Immediately upon being
discharged, but the other two-thirds held |
ogether and remained subject to the COM
nand of their officers for the home journey
At every station as we pass
ID through the State crowds greeted us.
md here and there Il company or man
n two dropped off and fell into the out
stretched arms of relatives and friends.
Six companies with a third to a half of
heir original strength finally arrived in
Portland, and were given hearty recep-
ion and banquet. That was the last of
he Cd Oregon Infantry. United States
Volunteers, except its record mt Washing
on and its cOlors filed away in tho State
House 1T Salem.
The end)
His Profession.
(Smart Set)