Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-19
BLUES ARE GREETED
BY CHEERING CROWD
Great Outburst of Patriotism as
City's Best-Known Command
Returns From Border.
PARADE ON FOOT TO ARMORY
Slight Delay Brings Train In Af-
ter Church Services, and Many
Line Route of March.

bfphseu bN the suns OF many DAYS
on the border and looking as if they
had actually seen service in some
hard fought campaign. the First squad
ron. First Virginia Cavalry. reached
home and welcome yesterday after
noon at $50 o'clocH. and. after passing
in review before 10000 cheering citi-
zens. went to the armory 10 lay down
their arms. No Roman triumphal entry
bringing In prisoners Of war lashed
TO chariot wheels could more have
stirred a Roman populacc than did the
homecoming OF Virginia's only cav
airy command quicken the martial
spirit in Richmond people and arouse
In them AN unbiddcn and unstaincd
applause.
|; had been complained after like
paradcs OF other military organiza-
tions that Richmond ciiizcnry was
cold. There could be no murmur
against the manner in which the city
yesterday welcomed back its favoritc
command. And tho cavalrymen from
tho border, clear-cyeh and clean un-
derneath their tan. furehanded in the
knowledge of the welcome awaiting
them. stepped with livclier tread as
they swung into position behind the
long column and turned their faces up
Main Street hill.
PARADE COMES AFTER
CHURCHES ARE OUT
An accident which delayed tho ar
rival Of the former Blues for several
hours might be regarded as fortunate
as the parade was begun after church
hour and was finished before. for most
people. it was dinner time. Tho blues
full l-dress uniform. marched by the
First Baptist Church just as the con-
gregation was coming out and there
was no disturbance of the service. The
cavalrymen had been expected to ar
rive ats o'clock, but the derailmcnt Of
"A freight train eighteen miles south
OF Petersburg delayed them several
hours. Long -distance telephone COM
munication was established. and 1t was
ascertained at what time the squadron
would reach Main Street -Statiou:
Meanwhile the uniformed Blues were
drilled IN the armory and were kept
under orders until it was time to move
They were under command OF Captain
Raleigh Hicks. while the older mem
bcrs OF the association, not quite so
quick of step AS once they were. though
still as buoyant OF spirit were under
command of Major Luther L. Cheat
wood. Every member was present for
roll call. at 1880 o'clock, and when
they moved 10 the street and took up
their position there were present 500
men ready for the service men when
they should detrain.
After = long wait in the cold
home guard. as it might he termed,
was taken back into the armory and
held there until final notice came that
the squadron had passed through Pc
tersburG and was a, last nearing Rich
mond.
CADETS AND BOY SCOUTS
DO WELL THEIR PART
The John Marshall High School ca
det corps. under Commandant Ayres,
reported a, - o'clock at the Grays'
Armory. and the Boy Scouts fife. drum
and bugle corps reported to Scout EN-
ecutive Weaver after Sunday school.
appearing in uniform and with their
stats. The Howitzers' Band reported
from the Iirays' Armory. and Kess-
nich's Band reported At the appointed
hour in proper position.
At 1885 o'clock Captain Thomas g.
Mcdowell. who acted as marshal. an
ing into Richmond, and the command
10 move was shouted down tho line.
With the iIowitzers' Band leading. the
Blues Association. with two companies
in uniform. marched out of Sixth
Street. glad that the long wait was
over The line lay down Broad Street
TO Thirteenth. 10 Main, where the mem
bers OF the association in civilian
dress rested The uniformed companies
were rested on Thirteenth Street, be-
tween Main and Cary
BY this time Main Street was massed
with people from building to curb.
and every available inch of space was
parked with automobiles When the
veterans from the Soldiers Home ar
rived to take up their position. tho
Blues broke ranks and crowded TO the
corner TO cheer the men whose home
coming more than half a century ago
was under such tragic circumstances
Rut these men Of an ancient day had
lost no ttngc of the spirit which sent
them forth in that other time, and
from their throats ratified out the old
rebel yell as they answered the huzza s.
OF their sons. And then, with their
parchment faces crinkled into smiles.
they passed upward TO await the com
ing Of those who were bearing arms
HORSES ARE SENT
DIRECT TO FAIR GROUNDS
During tho wait the Roy Scouts. with
their stavcs, were positioncd to keen
the anxious crowd in place. aud po-
iiccmen Kept open an avenue against
the beginning Of the parade AZ l:oO
o'clock the long train of Twenty-Five
cars in which the squadron Travelled
from the border crcpt along the Via
dnct over Main Street. and at once
thousands OF voices. with the stacca to
trcblc or the women mingling half
hystericallN. shouted, Hero they come.
Here they Gomez
The train. loaded with men and
horses and all the equipment Of war
save ammunition, pulled into the plat
form shed, and in ten minutes tho
squadron had detr3incd and was placcd