Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1903-05-14
A TRIP TO ST. LOUIS AND DEDICATION
OF WORLDS FAIR.

tt LeaVenWorth, Mans, may 0Ln'-
AS / have number OF friends in the
little valley of Sequachee that have re-
quested me to write to them ! will now
do so by having my trip to ST. Louis
published in the News The soldiers of
this post left here April 97th at o.
clock, p. M, and a the sun was lower
ing behind the western hills we pass
through Kansas City merrily waving
our hands at the people that had gath
cred about the railroad to see us pass.
An hour later we had lunch of corn
beef and hard tack, and after lunch we
sang few hymns, smoked few cigar
cites, and shortly afterward we were
doing off to sleep. dreaming of the
morrow. AS soldiers are great sleepers
everything was very quiet until next
ing above the plains of Illinois we
were nearing the Fair grounds of st.
At 7:l7 the train side tracked and we
had another lunch same as the night
before. AS soon as lunch was over we
got off the train and marched, dis
tance OF half mile tc the Fair Ground,
and went into quarters in one of the
buildings nearest completed. We were
issued cots to sleep on. We were busy
all the morning getting fixed up and in
the afternoon we went out to meet some
of the boys in different outfits. You
could see them meet each other and
shake hands, Well, that night after
supper and retreat was over all had to
go to the great city. Soldiers were
1ocking the streets like sheep, but by
II o'clock all were back in quarters and
quietly went to bed.
Next morning when first call blew
every one greeted it with pleasure for
we hadn't rested any too easily on our
new hunks. After breakfast was over
we polished up our quarters, and at a.
m. we had a company drill out in the
park just outside of the fair grounds.
| We executed our movements on the
green grass under the shade of the
young leaves of the shade trees of the
park. BY the time drill was over the
roads were crowded with people. wheels
and carriages, and on the way back to
the fair grounds the captain was contin-
ually saying 'gangway, please When
we reached quarters we put our equip.
ments away, and took smoke. That
was all for the day But in the mean
time soldiers were coming in as fast as
trains could get them there until 4,00(
U. s. troops and 1900 State troops had
arrived. This was Wednesday, and on
Thursday the big parade came off. The
next morning at a. m. we started out
We were formed in column Of platoon'
on Grand Ave, We had to wait 30 min
utes for the President and the minis
ters of the different nations to get tt
the grand stand in the fair grounds. Al
a. m. we started with the parade, the
Sth U. s. in the lead with Maj Gen
Bates in command, bands playing, col
ors flying, solid mass of people or
each side Of the streets and in the win
dows. And on top of the buildings
were hundreds of people,, and even OF
the telephone wires were men and boys
swinging over the street waving flags
hats and handkerchiefs, holloring ant
clapping their hands.
When we passed Teddy we saluted
bim by porting arms as armed parties
do salute. He raised his hat very po.
litely to us.
The parade lasted until 1880 p. m
and after we got dinner we we're called
to stand guard around the Natural Ar
building where the President was Il
speak in the afternoon and Co. L., 6tl
U. S. Infantry was put inside to opeI
up an aisle way for Teddy to pass out
We were kept busy pushing people bacl
when he started out for everybod.
wanted to see him. After he passed ou
we went back to quarters and tina
night the fire works'began and Of cours
l had to see them. 1t was something
grand. Natural pictures of Washington
Jefferson and several prominent mel
and the white house. The picture
consisted of blazing powder of all color
and booming of shells and floating fir
in the air.
Friday was field day. There wer
horse races, foot races, jumping Of al
kinds, sack races, three-legged races
and wheelbarrow races.
Saturday the city parade came of
All the different unions paraded, th
merchants, wholesalers, bar tenders
mail carriers, steeet cleaners, cand
factory boys and number Of others to
numerous to mention.
On Sunday morning we began to e
to come back home and by ] o'cloc
everything was ready to be loaded o
70 the train and at o'clock we VOL
j marched to the railroad where we fir
j. landed. At 5:45 we we're all aboard an
q the train pulled out and the girls 10
. lowed US to the train 10 tell us goo
bye. We would all like 10 stay at 5
Louis because we we're treated so mic
ly there.
q. At 6:t5 Monday morning we land'
> back at Ft Worth where we will beg
IS our target practice In few days
IS will bring my letter TO a close.
f- BYRON +. GRIFFITH.
l. Co. L. 9th u. s. InfL,