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Keystone Gazette July 12 1901, page 1
THE SOLDIERS HOME COMING
Heartily Welcomed by the Citizens of Centre County
In Honor of the Boys From the Philippines - Addresses by D. F. Fortney, Hon. John G. Love, Burgess Blanchard, Senator H. C. Heinle, Capt. H. S. Taylor - The Pageant and Pyrotechnic Display, Monstrous and Brilliant
"About two years ago our government opened recruiting offices all over the country, asking for volunteers to go to the Philippine Islands. During the Civil war Centre county furnished her fair quota of volunteers and likewise upon this occasion quite a number of young men in Centre county came forth and offered their services and lives for the cause. It was a sacrifice from the fact that like Abram of old, they were going into a strange land, not knowing into what danger they might be led. Those who enlisted from Bellefonte and in the county were as follows: Lieut. Geo. J. Jackson, William Runkle, Sargeant E. R. Taylor, Corporal G. W. Sunday, Corporal Jesse Underwood, James Vallance and Samuel Meese of company D, 47th regiment; Sergeant Clyde Z. Long, Corporal Samuel Switzer, Milton Reed, Milton Robb, Fred T. Tebbs, Joseph Grassmire, and Fred E. Frels of company G, 47th regiment, Samual Solt of company K, 47th Sargeant Frank T. Scott of the 40th regiment, and Eddie Hill, a gunner on the gun boat Monongahela.
About a year ago Lieutenant Jackson died in the hospital at Manila, and when the remains were brought to Bellefonte they were laid in the tomb with military honors. This was the only man from Centre county who met such a hard fate. William Runkle of Bellefonte is in the regular army and belongs to the hospital corps. He has a year yet to serve.
These volunteers were mustered out the last day of June and the boys set their toward home, sweet home. Realizing the sacrifice that these young men had made the Grand Army of the Republic, assisted by many of the citizens of Bellefonte and throughout the county decided to give the young veterans a hearty welcome on their return. Monday evening was the time set for the big blow-out and in the afternoon the following escort committee went to Tyrone and established headquarters at the Garmen House: G. W. Rees, Col. W. Fred Reynolds, Capt. H. S. Taylor, John P. Harris, Dr. Geo. F. Harris, Charles Smith, John I. Olewine and J. C. Meyer.
In purchasing tickets at San Francisco the boys became separated and it was impossible for them to reach Tyrone in a body and thus the committee was some-what disappointed in only finding Taylor, Vallance and Long. However Scott and Hill arrived home a week ago while Sunday and Underwood surprised their friends by getting off the train here on Sunday. Special trains were run on all the railroads and they brought to the county seat hundreds of people, most of whom gathered at the depot to do honor to the returning young soldiers. When the train arrived they stepped from the cars amid the blaze of red lights, shooting skyrockets and booming of cannons. This magnificent demonstration, such as is seldom witnessed in Bellefonte, was kept all along the line of the imposing parade which was through the principal thoroughfares of the town. Many of the buildings along the line of parade were very prettily decorated and the fire works display under the supervision of John D. Souerbeck was never better.
The parade formed immediately on the arrival of the train in the following order.
Chief Marshal - John I. Curtin.
Chief of Staff - Capt. H. S. Taylor.
Aides - Col. Amos Mullen, W. F, Reeder, Geo. A. Bayard, Dr. R. G. H. Hayes, Henry Taylor, William Coonley, F. H. Clemson, Capt. Geo. M. Boal, Dr. Theodore S. Christ, Capt. W. H. Fry, Samuel B. Miller, J. R. Pheasant, Joseph L. Montgomery, Capt. S. H. Bennison, John M. Shugert, Robert Morris, Edward Hoy, Dr. J. D. Geissinger, Frank T. Wallace.
FIRST DIVISION
Col. Austin Curtin, Commanding
Coleville Band
Company B, 5th Reg., N. G. P.
G. A. R. Posts,
Spanish-American War Veterans,
Philippine Soldiers in Carriages,
Speakers and Reception Committee in Carriages
SECOND DIVISION
Dr. M. J. Locke, Commanding,
Milesburg Castle, K. G. E.
American Mechanics,
Carriages with Boro., and County Officials
THIRD DIVISION
Thomas Shanghnessy, Commanding
Pleasant Gap Band,
Logan Fire Company,
Undine Fire Company
Milesburg Fire Company.
FORTH DIVISION
Col. W. Fred Reynolds, Commanding
State College Band,
Mounted Soldier, and Citizens
The speakers stand was located in front of the court house and after a final display of firework the returning soldiers and speakers took their seats on the platform. D F. Fortney, Esq., presided and after a prayer by Rev. W. Shriner, addresses were delivered by Judge John G. Love, Burgess Edmund Blanchard, Senator W. C. Henlie and Capt. H. S. Taylor.
The exercises closed with a luncheon served at Ceader's parlors under the auspices of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
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