The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-04-04

The vast majority Of the boys had
come back safely. They had come
home in triumph from the crash and
horror and beastly brutality of the
most cruel war of history. They
had stood true to the traditions OF
their sires. They had stayed until
cit was over, over there" and they
had come back to the peace and
safety of the homeland. And the
crowds were unspeakably glad, and
didn't care who knew it,
Long before the hour set for the
parade to move, the crowds began to
gather along the line of march. The
Charleston delegation was at the
booths early in the day with a live
marine band, and they had played
only a few selections before one side
of the street was blocked with peo-
pie. By II o'clock the steps of the
State House were speckled with scat
tered watchers who rapidly increased
n number. Soon the windows fac
d, on Main Street began to fill up.
By 2 o'clock venturesome youths be-
gan to show their heads above the
tops of buildings on Main Street.
Through the residential sections,
cars from various towns began to
arrive. The trains coming in were
packed and bicycles and motorcycles
began to bring their quota into Co.
lumbia.
About 2 o'clock, residents in the
suburbs dismissed the servants that
had not already dismissed themsel-
YES, locked up the place and boarded
street cars for Main Street. The
residential sections of the city were
practically deserted from 3 o'clock
until 5.
While the crowd was the greatest
that ever gathered in Columbia,
there was absolutely no disorder.
The good order that was preserved
was commented upon frequently. In
front of the reviewing stand, the
crowd began encroaching on the
street.
A Boy Scout, who was on police
duty on the block, seized his staff,
motioned to a comrade and said,
"Say, we've got to push these things
back" But "these things" proved
obdurate, and didn't push back to
any great extent. A police officer
soon came on the scene. "You must
move back nearer the sidewalk" he
said GAIL right" said a spectator.
"Well, don't say all right and stand
STILL" said she officer and when the
crowd realized that he meant busi-
ness, it telescoped into itself and
backed off a section of the street.
Shortly after four o'clock a truck
dashed through the streets at a high
rate of speed and its inmates were
giving a good imitation Of the rebel
yell. The crowd Strengthened up,
and a moment later the mounted Of
ficers swung into Main Street. A
cheer swept up the length Of Main
Street, and WEAKNESS was forgotten.
The crowds surged forward. but
the police lines held firm. and the
way was kent clear. Soon lie cheers
were accompanied by the undertone
of the tread of hundreds of hob
nailed army shoes. General Tyson,
wher opposite the reviewing stand at
the corner of Hampton and Main
Streets, issued quick order and the
lines marked time. General Tyson,
accompanied by his staff, mounted
the reviewing stand. Still the lines
stood motionless.
A corporal emerged from the lines
and mounted the stand. The crowd
stilled suddenly. The corporal ad-
vanced until he stood in the front of
the reviewing stand beside General
Tyson. Speaking with clearness, Gen.
eral Tyson said that this young cor
poral had been awarded the distin-
guished service cross for distinguish
ed gallantry in action. He pinned the
medal on the breast of Corp. George
w. Batson of Greenville, saluted him
and then congratulated him.
And then a striking scene was en-