The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-04
WELCOME FOR
FAV0RITE SON
Great Demonstration GreetS
Victor Murdoch
UPON HIS ARRIVAL HOME
thousands of People Met Him
at the Depot.
STEAM WHISTLES BLEW
As the Delegates Train En-
+oI N.I
STEAM WHISTLES BLEW
rs the Delegates Train En-
tered City Limits.

Victor Murdoch, upon his arrival here
yesterday morning, had ample opportun-
lty to realize that a well spent life, no
matter how long or short it may be, is
never lived in vain. The warm and cor
dial reception he received at the Mis-
souri, Pacific depot, by thousands of his
fellow-citizens of all shades of politics,
and in all walks of life. was such as to
stir the emotions of any man. Victor
went through the exciting DAYS of the
contest at Great Bend with remarka BILE
calmness and accepted the great honor
which his countrymen rendered TO him
with comparative GOODNESS of head. but
when he saw that ocean of familiar faces
at and near the depot yesterday his heart
was fun 10 overlooking with that great
sense of gratitude which everybody
knows he possesses. Victor is and always
has been a thorough Wichitan and would
rather have the friendship and the ex-
pressed esteem OF his home peoJSe than
..-e patronage and the favor of a king
None but those who are nearest to him
can appreciate the feeling that made his
plood tingle yesterday when he arrived
home.
1t was after midnight Friday morn
Ing before he could get away from con-
graduating friends and Republicans at
Great Bend. He went to the special
train in which the Wichita delegation
lived during the convention and went to
bed. AT o'clock in the morning the
train started and as it crossed the county
line into Sedgwick the Sumner county
delegation, headed by A. A. Richards,
filed into the Wichita delegations car
and fraternized with the victorious legion
from this city. An era of good feeling
and handshaking followed. 1t was only
little while till speeches We're called
for. Major Levi Ferguson Of Wellington,
chairman OF the Richards delegation
made a powerful and enthusiastic speech
pledging an unprecedented majority in
Sumner county for Victor Murdoch The
major is a great talker and fun Of good
humor
Judge Wall responded in one of his
brilliant short talks and added to the en-
thusiasm.
Mr.. Richards. Victor Murdoch. James
Lawrence, S. S. Ashbaugh. MIR. Nc
Dougal' of Drury. and others also spoke
Singing was feature of the trip, Mr..
Fred Bell of this city, a fine singer.
leading the chorus.
When the train reached the West Side
several from the city boarded it and the
handshaking began in earnest. As the
train crossed the Arkansas river bridge
several scores of steam whistles began
blowing in every direction and the dele
cation then began to realize the enthusi-
asm of the city over the honors paid a
favorite son.
Long before Il o'clock people began
gathering on the platform of the Mis-
souri, Pacific depot The night before
when people learned of Victor Murdocks
nomination everybody asked when will
he be homer" The announcement in the
Eagle and those who received the word
by telephone spread the news and every
body who could leave their work for
few moments went to the depot. The
train was 80 minutes late but the crowd
was patient and grew larger every
minute
The most conservative estimate places
the number of people at the depot at five
thousand. while many go double and even
treble that number. The Missouri Pa
cific depot platform is very large one
and this could not hold the people. out
into the street. along the tracks. back Of
the depot in carriages. the crowd eX-
tended.
Everybody was enthusiastic and happy.
Nearly all who have studied the political
situation in this district were surprised
al the wonderful stampede to Victor Muir
dock. Not one person expected him to
be nominated on the first ballot. Every
one expected him to come home the victor
but ten or twenty ballots were thought
necessary before he could be named on
this account and coupled with the fact
that Victor Murdoch is Wichita's con-
gresham made every one enthusiastic
to q very high degree.
Sanford $ and the lines bands marched
about town a while before train time and
then went To the depot. Both bands were
on the platform and playing when the
train backed into the station. No one
heard them when the train was pulling
into the depot. lor everybody was footing
his own horn for Victor Murdoch and
some of the band boys could restrain
themselves no longer, stopped playing
and yelled as loud as the rest
When the whistles began blowing a
mighty cheer broke forth and every body
shouted Here he comes All snNiously
craned their necks to catch the first
glimpse of the next congressman. The
train ran nearly TO Second street; NOT a
soul was visible on the platforms as the
train began backing down 10 the station
Everybody was watching FOR the appear
ance of Victor Murdoch on the rear plat
form. The car was nearly to the depot
platform when Mr.. Murdoch stepped out
of the door and pandemOnium broke
loose and ran. Hats were thrown INK
the air. and waved. umbrellas. flags and
all maner Of things carried in the hand
and cheer after cheer broke forth. The
cheers grew louder as the train crept
closer TO the end of the platform and came
TO a stop. They were deafcning, involun-
tary and came with all the. power the
most enthusiastic person could give.
Victor Murdoch stood on the rear plat
form. smiling but Nisibly affected He
hastily scanned the crowd in search Of
relatives and the trsin moved slower and
slower as the mass of humanity backed
slowly away to allow the ears TO get into
the depot
Mr.. Murdoch did not take a step to get
of the car. He was dragged on and
hoisted 10 the shoulders Of two big men
and with two policemen to make path .
was carried to the main entrance OF the +
depot, on the steps of which stood his
wife and little daughter, Marcia, his
mother and father and sister.
After the greetings with his parents 4
and family the crowd sureed in-nnd he
was pushed slowly toward the street
Sanford's band picked their way out Of
the crowd and formed at the depot plat /
form and waited until Mr.. Murdoch es- /
corted by numerous friends reached them I
when the march was taken up.
In the miNup at the depot Mr.. Murdoch !