New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-10-13
CITY IS READY TO
HONOR SOLDIERS
Continued From First Page).
the Bell City council and officials of
the towns of Plainville and Berlin.
Splendid Welcome for Troons

the Bell City council and officials Of
the towns of Plainville and Berlin.
Splendid Welcome for Troops.
New Britain welcomed her soldier
boys home last night in a manner
that carried many back to Spanish
war days. but even the strenuous
doings of '98 with all the enthusiasm
that could be raised at the close of
war that was nothing but a Sc
quence of victories for American
arms did not surpass last nights
event, indeed if it approached it. For
one thing New Britain's population
las doubled and more since '98 and
the city has grown and improved in
q. manner that nobody in that day
could have even guessed
1t is estimated that fully 10000
people witnessed the parade from
one vantage point or another. Be-
ginning early in the afternoon when
the arcade and space around the
depot became TANNED with expectant
humanity until long hours afterward,
when after innumerable delays and
false alarms the troop train puffed
into the station. the crowd constant
ly increased True many became
weary of the interminable delays and
went home. but these were passed
by hundreds more eager to be on
hand when the Boys Of 49, arrived
after four months absence.
Young America Triumphant.
Young America won easy honors
in point of numbers and enthusiasm
and for hours damned the platform
fronting the station while hundreds
more fringed the lines of freight cars
on the Commercial street siding. With
the heedlessness of youth they lodged
in front of switch engines and
! climbed under and over cars, giving
the police heart failure a score of
times through their daring actions.
When the second battalion passed
through the city at o'clock it was
| quickly reported that the boys would
be back early. The hour was placed
| at o'clock and when one of the
| factory whistles blew continuously
for several minutes the business sec
ton of the city was deserted by
| magic as thousands rushed towards
! the station. But it proved a false
I alarm and from that hour until the
boys arrived at 7 o'clock it was one
| false alarm after another The tele-
graph operator at the passenger sta
ton was bombarded by hundreds Of
eager questioners and in each case
the query was the same. "Have the
boys left Hartford" The answer
brought no satisfaction as the oper-
ator could get nothing definite on
| the matter from the Hartford end
of the line. In fact Just why the
troops were held in Hartford until
| long after dark could not be ex-
planned by the soldiers themselves
when they got back here.
Paraders Form in Line.
Shortly after 6 o'clock the local es-
cort marched down Church street and
| formed in line at Depot Square. This
division was led by the reception
committee at the head of which was
B. C. Morey, Mayor Quigley, Senator
Klett and ex-Mayor G. M. Landers
Every man was provided with small
American flag. Back of the recep-
! ton committee came the American
band, the discharged men of both
! military companies and the Boy
Scouts under Scout Commissioner e
T. Themes and division of the Camr
Fire Girls. Colonel A. L. Thompson
acted as marshal and was mounted or
dashing steed.
/ Everybody concluded that the bows
would be at the station when the re
ception brigade moved down Church
!, street, but it was nearly an hour
afterwards before the troop trair
pulled in and the cheers and shout.
of the waiting throngs announced