The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-02-01
.SH|PP'S FELLOW CITIZENS
Gave His q Royal Welcome When
he Returned from his Prison
in Washington

chattanooga, Tenn, Jan. 3l.-
With bands playing Dixie" and
Home, Sweet Home" Capt. JOS
eph F. Shipp was greeted here yes
| terday evening by at least 10000
OF his fellow citizens when he
nim from Washington, where he
had just completed a sentence in
prison for contempt Of court in con-
nection with the Iynching of Ed
| Johnson, a negro. 1t was the most
| unique reception ever accorded a
private citizen of Chattanooga and
! proba bly, one of the most unusual in
the history of the country.
For more than an hour before the
train arrived the terminal station
was crowded to its utmost capacity
| and the streets surrounding the
station were iammed with a throng
, of people such as has never before
assembled in this city.
Big Crowd in Frenzy
There was nothing else talked of
but Capt. Shipp. AS trains pulled
, into the shed the eager crowd burst
forth in cheer after cheer and necks
were craned for a glimpse Of the old
soldier, for whose coming they were
finally announced that his train was
| late there were murmurs of imDa-
tience.
AT last the Washington train
crept slowly into the shed. Imme-
diately the bands struck up Dixie"
and instantly the surging throng
was in state of frenzy. Men
wept, shouted and laughed almost
in the same breath: women became
frantic and all made desperate ef-
forts to reach the side of the griz-
zled veteran, but so dense was the
mass of humanity that there was
imminent danger of panic and pos
sible injury to women and children.
Greets Aged Wife
AS Capt Shipp walked slowly
down the length Of the shed he was
greeted by his aged wife, who SOB
bed quietly upon his breast for a
band who had been SO long absent
from her side. This greeting over.
the bands played Home. Sweet
Home" and again pandemonium
broke forth. The strains Of the
pathetic music drowned in the wild
cheers that were sent up.
Capt. Shipp was so moved that he
was unable to speak. He raised his
hat and bowed right and left to his
admiring friends as officers opened
a way for him to pass through to
the waiting carriage. AS he passed
along the streets the crowds closed
in behind the carriage, the deafen
ing cheers continuing until he
reached his home.
Ex-Deputy Sheriffs Nick Nolan
.;,l
their former chief and they, too.
were given considerable attention
by their friends.
A delegation of seventy-five Chat
tanoogans went to Knoxville this
morning to meet Capt. Shipp and ac-
company the party back to this city.
At all stations along the route
throngs gave the party rousing re-
ceptions. At the smaller towns.
country folk had driven in. in all
sorts of vehicles and the stations
were swarming with people. When
ever the train stopped there were
loud demonstrations and at several
places Capt. Shipp appeared and ac-
knowledged the greeting Of the
70 his friends.
Late tonight Capt. Shipp, having
recovered from the excitement Of
his remarkable reception, made a
brief statement. He said:
II am extremely sorry that | was
unable to speak word to the
thousands of friends who so cordi-
ally greeted ME at the station to-
night ! was totally unprepared for
such a demonstration.
While we were in the Washing
ton prison we were given treatment
of which no one could complain. The
prison officials were as kind and
considerate as they possibly could
have been to keep within the prison
rules. | have no criticism to make.
Ny enforced stay in Washington
was pleasant as could be under the
circumstances.
L have made no plans for the
f,turp