Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-08
First Virginia Regiment
Marches Through Human
Aisles From Station.
GOVERNOR AND MAYOR
TAKE PART IN WELCOME
American Flags Are Waved BY
Thousands as Bands Play
Patriotic Airs.
IN FINE PHYSICAL CONDITION
rev, II Any, Regret Experience in
TeNas, Reports Colonel VIII
liam J. Perry.

summoned by the ella rion call of tbn
alarm bells. all Richmond turned ON,
yesterday morning to greet the I.irst
virginia Infantry on it's happy return
from the Mexican frontier with the
bearing "r seasoned warriors but
plainly showing evidences OF eager
hess 10 clasp loved ones in their arms.
me hronzcd Youngsters marched
through living aislcs formed by M,
thousands who damned tho streets
over which the regiment marched to
the armories in which it will he quar-
tered until released from the United
states service. II will be at least on.
week before the men return to civil
life
Promptly on tho minute the Grs;
section OF the troop train pulled into
BYRD Street Station. Notified hy M.
military call of fifteen strokes sounded
from all fire stations at : o'clock thai
the guardsmcp would arriyc tbrcn
hours later. II great crowd was on hand
10 greet the boys. The first section
was followed twenty minutes later by
the second. the entire regiment being
d'trained within thirty minutes From
every direction groups of men women
and children continued TO come. bur
hundreds were unable to get near tho
station Thousands made no effort to
do so. but were coutent to tlnd posi-
tons of vantage along the thirty
blocks over which the troops marched
GRAiS GIVEN OVATION
As THEY FILE OUT or STATION
s, Tempered by the Sabbath day. the
| enthusiasm of the huge crowd was
confined Chiefly to the waving 20 r. Nh rs,
and handkerchiefs and handcla ppine
Rut spontaneous outbursts or genuine
cheering occurred several times, the
troops as they filed out Of the station
being greeted with a tremendous ova-
! ton. AS the Richmond t;rays BAT
talon started into its armory, police
reserves and BOY Scouts were swept
aside by the mad rush OF several
thousands who just couldn't wait an
other minute 10 get to the local lads.
Headed by Major John Fulmer
Bright. Company \. of the t;rays, COM
'nanded by Captain Harry Howell was
the first to leave the station. follow
ed by Companies B, and T.. COM
inanded by Captains w a. Stack,
James Sheppard. Jr.. and c. A. Radv
They marched into "a hollow square.
the sides OF which were marked hv
lines OF Boy Scouts with joined staffs
Back of this line were tho mothers.
fathers, wives. swceth ca rts and friends
OF the Richmond lads. Only the brief
eSt greetings could be exchanged, but
happy smiles on the faces of the
Suardsmcn found their echoes in the
surrounding crowd. while many OF the
women made no effort to hide tho
boys.
COLONEL. PERRY HEADS
PARADE TO ARMORIIs
Coionei William j. Perry. regimcntaI
commander. Was board the first
section. which also carried the head
quarters company and the regmental
band The second section brought
Lieutenant Colonel Robert T.. Craig
| hill. III command OF the Second Bat
TALON in the absence of Major pevton
and Major Stanley w. Martin, i'm COM
inand Of the Third Battalion. together
| with the supply and machine gun com
paues
as soon as the entire regiment de-
| trained. Colonel Perry gave the com
mand which started the parade To tho
! armorics. Headed by Major louis
Werner. chief of police. and a platoon
ot mounted and bicycle police tho pro
cession started. The Boy Scout Fife
and Drum Corps. OF hfty under Sidney
> Macfarianc. and kessnich's NUM-.
cipai t'and. followed Then came Coto-
mel Ferry and his staff, followed by
the regimental band. and the Second.
Third and First Battalions in that or
der. This put the Richmond Grays in
. h,
p!ause was reserved for them. the out
of-town companies were afforded a
generous slice OF the welcome
Waiting 10 greet tho returning
suardsmen at the station was the com.
mittec Of 100 appointed by Mayor
Ainslie 10 prepare for the reception
Headed BY the Mayor and Chairman
Alvin NJ. Smith. the committee sepa-
rated and mingled among the COM
panies. shaking hands with the men
and officers and welcoming them to the
city.
REFRESHMENTS WAITING
FOR MEN At ARNORiEs
In each OF tho armories cigars
cigarettes and tobacco were passed
around. while colored walters presided
ever huge bowls of punch and disp.ns-
ed other soft drinks. Governor Henry
Carter stuart greeted the regimentsl-
officers at the Grays Armory. Bands
played. and until the regiment marched
of TO dinner. jolly time was hHd
During the afternoon the regiment,
except those required Tor duty. were
given liberty. All remained in the arr
morics over night
Men and officers were highly graft.
Continued pn rifthf lags,J