The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-12
Cheering Thousands Line the
Streets Through Which Ar
tillerymen Parade
SALUTE BY BIG GUN
IN CAPITOL SQUARE
Ito Booms First Heard Here on
Sunday in Many Years.
Royal Spread For Men at
Annoy

Skins tanned and tinted with the
glow Of . TexAs grn. muscles hard
ened and smoothed by faithful. hardy
training in the border camps. and
aces sobsred and tempered by the
splendid discharge Of an arduous duty
the Richmond HowitSers. Battery A,
OF tho First Virginia neld artillery
yesterday marched proudly though
familiar nAS-decked streets OF home.
bringing TIE fulnllmant Of q trust as
Loble ~ that borne BY any victorious
army entering the gates Of con-
ousred CITY.
A. the boyv tn khaki detrained at
noon they were greeted by n balmy.
springtime air, adding all that was
necessary TO q triumphant home
coming. Forming In line at Sixteenth
and Main, the stream OF caissons and
,imbers filed mp the street. led by
musicians and the Boy Scout ffe and
drum patrol. Mounted policemen
feared out their path, and as they
rev opposite the Capitol square. .
cannou doomed twenty one times. the
Howstxer salute This was the hrst
time In the memory Of q great many
people that cannon has been heard
n this city on the sabbath day. but
The old brass howitzer. which has
food at the Soldierr home since
Iss4 was nmbered into commission
one OF the features OF the cslebra-
'lon.
Great welcome Il Given.
NJ Fifth street, the parade turned
Jefferson, to Broad. and east again
80 the City Hall Thence to tho
armorv on Eighth street. where the
sccoutrements Of war gave way TO the
rrore attractive festivities OF peace
Gld friends were met again. parents,
sac eethesrts brothers sisters wives.
al joined hands IN giving the boys the
F~eatcst welcome that could be given.
As the boys marched by, flushed
18th happiness AZ their return TO homo
and friends ther were cheered and
pplauded a. sincerely az II they had
inst emerged from the dangers they
lad shown their willingness to enter
Tor their countrv's sake. Franklin
- rect was packed from curb to curb.
md il required the united efforts of
the police and the Boy Scouts to push
hack the crowd and give the soldiers
marching room. As the big guns rat
tied by, manned by big. strong healthy
men Just In the prime OF vigor and
manhood. thousands OF flags waived
Eatly. and Sill more thousands OF
cheers went UP.
Down the streetss the crowds follow
snx. hands playing. cheers mingling
with the music and the rafting OF the
eaissons on the pavement, the soldiers
rode Here and there through the
crowd some one yelled: Hello. Eill."
ard a husky. red faced rider turned
his head to greet an anxious and ex-
nectant pal. Now and then. above
The hubbub. feminine shrek of JOY
would tell whore another familiar
face had come into view. Again. scat
tered about the crowd were ladies with
white-streaked hair. whose faces
seemed burning with smiles. and their
eyes flashed brilliantly, little wet.
bu; Iii with fires that do not smouId-
er in tears. Because some boys ont
there in the line had gone away from
home, gone to possible dangers un-
known. but now were safely back.
A Sight That Inspired.
when the boys had reached the ar
mory, they were met with a sight that
inspired The drill hall was lined
with flags OF all shapes and sizes,
guntinE. streamcrs. banners. hung
from every beam. flowed down from
tho walls. draped all the furniture.
filed every corner OF the place with
maze OF color that was frightened
stil by few rays Of the sun that
consented to shine just for the oc-
easion.
Then there was the spread Every
thing to eat from the first 10 the last.
and then some. About five hundred
people sat down to a feast thai would
have pleased any king. and for which
the ladies' committee of the Howitzer
,sn ;1,, ~. t<n hay nj I'd
During the proceedings. speeches
from Governor Stuart. Mayor Ainslie.
.rrdge George L. Christian. Iieuten-
ant-Governor El1yson. Captain Will
Yam NJ Myers, commander OF the
battery. and others. told OF the esteem
in which tho artillery organization
vas held. and spose the welcome that
the boys were due,
Captain Myers told with pride that
.he records made by his men. were
,,ncxccllod'by any organization among
tnc $4,000 troops that went out 10
irht Every man in the battery re-
turned home in as good physical con-
orion as when he went away. and
tho commander declared that there
was not man in the group who was
not better ''mentaily and morally"
Than when they left for Texas
VIII Pc Mustered Out Soon.
The battery consists OF 12S men.
and FIVE officers, and they brought
With them abou. seventy horses.
Major r. NJ. Workman has charge of
.he three units. including Richmond.
Norfolk and Portsmouth. Besides
:. t,a ptaia Myers. the officers of the
Howitzers are: First lieutenant. Ed
Recce: junior first lieutenant, James
q. Pollard: second lieutenant John
wood: iunior- second lieutenant,
George Myers
The welcoming celebration. and its