The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-03-10

Three Days of Strenuous Life
Their Experiences In the Phe-
nomenhI Blizzard.


time of lit in their Washington trip so
much 80, in fact, that some ..of them be-
gan to think that if their selection to at
tend the inaugural was intended as
reward of merit it would have been bet
ter not to have been quite so satisfactory
in their military record.
The provisional brigade of the Nation
al Guard of Pennsylvania, in which we're
two companies of the Thirteenth regi-
ment and three companies of the Ninth
regiment, our Co. E being one of the
former, arrived washington on We'd
nesday afternoon at 4:30 O'Clock. The
end of their trip was by no means en-
joyable, as the march to the district
building on Louisiana avenue, where
they were quartered, was made through
downpour of rain. 1t rained so hard
Wednesday evening that there was no
chance for the boys to get out of their
quarters. The trip fromAWilkes-Barre,
where Company E, of the Thirteenth,
met the companies from that city, was
made without incident. Companies of
the various regiments we're picked up at
Sunbury, then the train proceeded to
Harrisburg, where Company 1, OF the
Thirteenth regiment boarded the train.
The next stop was made at Baltimore.
At the union station in Washington the
brigade was cheered bv large crowd
as they got offthe train. The provisional
brigade formed in City Hall Square at
l1:45 Thursday forenoon and marched
to Second and b street, to take their
position for the parade. Co. f left for
home on Friday afternoon at one clock
and reached Wilkes-Barre at IL O'Clock
the same night, after long and weari-
some ride, remaining there overnight and
coming home on Saturday morning.
They describe their outing as three days
of strenuous life in sunshine and storm
which they will not soon forget. They
all agree that the inauguration, which
was to have been brilliant affair, was
very much spoiled by the storm.
They tell stories of wild confusion in
the big Union station at Washington.
The place was packed to the doors, they
say, and it was almost impossible to
move about, much less fight way out
to the train shed. Everywhere trains
were stalled and unable to leave, and
whenever there was a rumor that some
train was about to depart, mad rush
for seats Immediately followed. All
wires were down, so that it was impos-
sible either to telegraph or talk over the
long g-distance telephone, and the rail-
road officers were in desperation at the
impossibility of relieving the congestion,
which became hourly worse. The wealth
er had cleared Thursday night, but no
one cared the Inauguration had been
pretty well spoiled and everyone was
anxious only to get home as soon as
possible.
The boys from here were quartered in
the old court building on Louisiana
avenue, which they say was furnished
with just about as much as they took
with them. The officres of the regiment,
however, were quartered in the Hotel
Normandie.
Perhaps the most impressive part of
all that they saw was the havoc of the
storm, which was everywhere visible.
Much of the magnificent display of bunt-
ing and flags which had set the city in
such gallant attire was blown down, and
along the railroad just outside the city
coming home whole mile of telegraph
wire in a place could be seen lying on
the ground. They say that all kinds of
rubber footwear was at premium in
the city, as the supply in the stores was
soon exhausted. The slush, through
which they waded in the parade, was
nearly shoe top deep. Slch downpour
of rain is seldom seen as came in that
city and snow never fell faster nor in
bigger flakes, but the storm cleared
away and the sun came out, and all had
a chance to see the president in the re-
view late in the afternoon. Though
most of the boys were not particularly
pleased with the rain and snow, but
little complaint was heard, they bearing
their discomfort like good soldiers, while
of the southern soldiers who were there,
many of them had never seen snow and
took real pleasure in wading through it.
AS the boys arrived in the city OF
Washington about O'Clock the day be-
fore the Inauguration they had some op'
portunity to see the city while they were
off duty, which they availed themselves
of and had a good time,