Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-22
THOUSANDS AT DEPOT WHEN
COMPANY C. TRAIN
ARRIVES
MARCH THRU LOOP
BOYS IN PINK OF CONDITION BUT
HUNGRY FROM HARD ExPERl-
ENCE IN CHICAGO RAILWAY
YARDs-BANoUET TONIGHT.


The home folks were not lacking IN
proper spirit when Company { ar
rived home last evening after eight
months service on the Mexican bor-
der. The welcome, in spite OF the IN
tense cold that made exposure to
biting north wind anything but pleas
ant. was one that the town and It's
people can be proud Of. 1t compared
in enthusiasm with the God speed CIV
en- the boys last June when they LETT
for the front.
Three thousand men, women ana
children, expectant mothers and proud
fathers faced the noither with grim
determination. as they waited at the
Rock Island depot for the soldier spe-
cial to arrive In Ottawa Hentfich
Band the firemen, O. II. S. Cadets,
Spanish war veterans, aud
civilians representing the three prin-
cipal Ottawa booster rganlzatlons-
Chamber of Commerce, Business
Mems Association and Rotary Club
served as escort for the company lads
and paraded them thru the down town
district to the armory.
Scheduled to arrive home at 500
o'clock, the soldiers did not pull into
the local station until an hour later.
Some OF the throngs who haunted the
depot waited there from o'clock un-
til the special arrived First reports
were that the train would be in Otta'
wa at 6 o'clock and then came more
authentic reports that the arrival
would be at s O'Clock. The fire bell
was tollcd at intervals sounding the
hour OF eight and everyone in Ottawa
was informed of the time the soldiers
would land in the city Mscalcula
tiCns at Joliet forced another hour S
delay
Crowd, Cheer Troopers.
Streets were lined with cheering
friends as the command proceeded
thru the loop The soldiers TOOK
their reception with good grace and
were not at all displeased with the
manner in which the home folk re-
ceived them. At the Armory there
was a general handshaking and more
cheers tieltrich's Band played up to
It's patriotic ardor by gratultously Of
feiing It's services to complete the
home coming program, At the armory
Home, Sweet Home and national
airs kept the audience on its feet the
greater part of the reception hour. At
1G:3C O'Clock the last Of the crowd
that had damned the armory to it,
doors wcnded their way homoward
and the soldiers were sent To then
homes for the first good nights rest
in their own beds since last June.
Hard Time In Chicago.
Stories of hardships that did not be
gin until the company was cntrainci
for Ottawa Nero recOunted by the mil
itiamen They were put aboard theil
special at Fort Sheridan at 10 o'clocl
in the morning and for the rest 0
the day were shunted about Chicago
until 6 O'Clock at night, when the,
finally were put on the Rock Islam,
tracks and pointed toward Ottawa.
They had their breakfast befor
leaving the fort, but that was tho las
food they had during the whole day
When they arrived in Ottawa the
we're ready to cat their canteens an
several rounds Of cartridges in an o.
fort to appc1se their hunger
Banquet Tonight.
Tho big celebration of the HON
coming will be held tonight at the Gil
ton hotel where banquet will b
served at which Company G will h
the guestsoof honor The feed will b
followed elN short addresses and Il
musical program. II is expected tn;
every available seat will bo taken fl
this event las reservations are beir
IN amid lv, Oadc tr thpI tssl