The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-09-11
NEW YORK WELCOMES
GENERAL PERSHING
Pen Picture OF General as He Receiv.
es Plaulits of People.

New York, Sept. S.-A wonderful
smile enveloped the face of John j..
.Persning as he walked, with elastic
soldierly step, down the gangplank
from the Leyiathan, along the pier
roaring with cheers, to the little po-
lice tug waiting to take him on his
triumphal glide across the river
straight into the open arms OF Go
than gone wild.
1t was boyish smile. Icdeed, in
many other ways the tall almost
.gaunt, general seemed like big boy
coming home-a bit bashful, hesitant
now and then as to just what to do or
say amid all this fuss; continuously
chucking back Jumps in the throat
and fighting something that struggled
to rush from the depths of his very
being up cover the top" but withal
strong and self reliant and-oh so
happy to be home again.
The struggle of emotions was mir
rored on his features as it swayed to
and fro. To those who watched him
at close quarters, especially on that
ride across the river, it was the most
striking, the most touching thing
about blackjack Pershing's home
coming.
His main ally in his inner struggle
was his sense of humor. For in
variably when emotion seemed near
overpowering him something happen
ed to ease the heart strings and make
him laugh and his eyes would sparkle
with boyish cheer.
AS he swung from tbe gangplank
down to the tug he sent back a swift
glance up to the huge liner whose
decks swarmed with doughboys all
men with at least three, most of them
with four service stripes. In front OF
him, working feverishly, were half
score camera men pausing now and
then in a crouching position to take
-'his measure" They looked like a
squad of frogs hopping backward ev-
cry time he came too near. His smile
broadened to wide grin, and the
@'snappers" grinned back at him anc
made remarks that seemed to please
him. 1t was the plain American way,
no bearded kisses nor monocles, and
he liked it immensely.
Stepping On board the police tug
he was greeted by new barrage OF
cameras, and it kept on al the way to
the battery, the enterprising photo
graphers having poised themselves in
all sorts of perilous but advantage
Gus perches.
Pershing and his party went to the
upper deck and the general took up
position on the forecastle flanked by
Secretary of War Baker, and Gen.
Peyton C. March. His first glance
went to the Leviathan, where thou
sands of doughboys cast longing eyes
over to New York. 1t was a warm
glance. with touch of pity in it, az
if he meant to say, you poor fell
lows, l wish could take you along"
AS the band ceased, fleet little
yacht circling the patrol gave the
sign for the big noise.' It's aristo-
cratic whistle uttered sound that
meant well, but was more a sigh
than a cheer. Promptly cumbersome
ferry sardined with men, women and
children. answered. deep throated,
husky growl.
''Hey there, altogether now" came
the sharp command of destroyer's
siren and altogether" they began to
loar and shrek and moan.
Directly behind Pershing the tugs
horn let out a crescendo. For just
second the general shut his eyes and
his mouth twinged ever so slightly. In
that moment it could be seen that,
rosy and vigorous though he looks, he
is badly in need of rest-an i'm
preston strengthened by a slight
show OF nervousness.
By this time all around the little
tug swarmed vessels of every descrip-
tion, flag bedecked and crowded with
wildly cheering humans. That was
the moment when John j. Pershing
was touched to the core. His face
showed it. He gazed from vessel to
vessel. He seemed unable to grasp 1t
all. The smile left his lips. The mus
cles of his powerful js VS. were work
ing. He looked at t,rry on whose
forecastle stood women with signs
printed on them in huge letters were
names of doughboys. He DOTTED his
hat to the women, then, looked over
to the Leviathan and waved, thrust
ing out his right arm and moving
his large index finger back and forth.
The soldiers answered with a yell.
Next he saw little barge, undecorat-
ed. obscure looking amid the riot Of
color, floating past in the course OF
its working routine. A couple of men
in overalls looked up at him. He doff-
ed his cap and nodded vigorously,
then waved. Those men, he knew,
with millions of other "stay at
homes" helped him win the war.
AS the big tug bore down toward
her pier at the Battery, he saw a
row of white dressed children waving
tiny American flags. His hand shot
up to his forehead, then gripped the
rail with a force that made the fin
er muscles swell. He sent a search
ing glance about those surrounding
him. 1t rested on the face of his boy,
Warren the sole survivor of his fam