The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-01
Topeka Did Herself Proud in
Welcoming 10th Engineers.
Kansas Ave. Path of Glory for
Heroes Wednesday Night.
REALITY LIKE DREAM
Eager Crowds ignored ReguIa-
tiOns, Guards and Cops.
Flowers Thrown Out for Boys
To Garry and Walk Upon.

The long, long trail that leads from
home and loved ones to battlefield and
back again ended in Topeka last night
for the 10th engineers.
Between canyons of humanity, and
with the heart of a city beating in
rhythm with their marching steps,
the Kansas and Topeka overseas
heroes marched up Topeka's path
of glory. They marched between
surging walls of friends and into the
arms of mothers, fathers. wives, sweet
hearts-and in not a few cases
babies, when they reached the state
house grounds
1t was the end of two years of wait
ing of fears, of thrills for a city. 1t
was the end of two years of cutting
hardships, of danger and glory for the
engineers. But in all, it was the end
of perfect day, and the stars looked
down thru the blackness upon a street
draped in flags, crowned by trium-
phal arches, and resounding with the
tread of heroes. The engineers had
dug in and held amid hell in No Mans
Land for victory that all of it might
be possible. 1t was the best the home
folks could give.
Crowds Gathered Early.
Long before the three trains carry
ing the Kansas and Topeka men ar
rived, long before they could be ex-
pected to arrive, crowds began surg
ing on Kansas avenue, swept clean by
Suardsmen and police. The railroad
station was a sea of humanity. The
crowds waited-milled, were quiet and
then broke into hystericaI cheers at
nothing, anything, maybe just in ex-
pectancy. Then the crowd of friends,
relatives, sweethearts and mothers
heard the low, long wall of
whistle to the east. No sweeter music
ever reached human ears. 1t was
music that touched the heart music
that drew the great crowd forward to
the tracks. And minute later the
great, thunderous siren of the Beatrice
creamery whistle sent its rolling tones
into the air and up Kansas avenue
wave on wave came more cheers, this
time louder.
Another wait-only one special was
in. But not a person deserted the
sidewalk. Theaters were for once
without audiences. An hour later
word went from mouth to mouth like
wildfire that the hero sons were COM
ing. The word reached Tenth street
before the engineers reached the
Melan bridge.
Crowds Sureed Forward.
Across the river bridge. and up
Kansas avenue they came AS the en-
gineers marched forward in close
ranks the human canyon pushed for
ward as one man. Guardsmen and
police melted like chaff The white
lines drawn as a dead line for spec
tators in the street were as if they
had never been there. The mob
closed in in front and motorcycles,
suardsmeh and automobiles plowed
into it to clear a lane. much as a
plowshare clears a furrow. Then
came the officers, the band playing
the fighting tunes of France and of
home-the regimental overseas band.
And the men themselves-their step
was the step of heroes. Fireworks in
termittenly greeted their coming.
Flowers lilacs and roses and violets.
were thrown upon their heads and
. under their feet and passed into their
hands.
Plans Not Observed.
Some one who planned that wives.
mothers and sweethearts could only
welcome the heroes at the station and
at the state house grounds watched
their plans melt away like the German
columns melted before the guns of
the engineers. Wives, mothers and
sweethearts embraced the men-their
men-at the station, but all the cham
| berS of commerce, military discipline
t and what-not could not have pulle i
away the arms that were slipped thru
those of the Topeka engineers. And
i they did not pull away. When the
! men formed in parade order the Wo-
menfolk were still by their side and
clinginS to the husbands, lovers and
sons for whom they have waited for
! two years. They marched up the ave-
| nue. with them, and marched back to
I the train. Altho mutiny is an ugly
| word. that's what would have hap
pened if these women-the women of
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