The
enthusiasm of the citizens of Simcoe on Wednesday evening of last
week, was unbounded.
The arrival of
the train bearing Frank L. Coombs, Simcoe's representative in the
Second Canadian Contingent just returned from South Africa, was
announced by the ringing of bells, blowing of whistles and booming of
guns and canon crackers.
The 39th Regiment
band with two companies of the regiment with officers, were on hand to
welcome him home.
A torch light
procession was formed, our hero riding in a carriage with Mayor
McGill, ex-Mayor Sutton and others.
Houses along the
line of march were brightly illuminated and crowds lined the streets.
On the arrival at
the opera, Gunner Coombs was borne on the shoulders of the men to the
platform, which was decorated for the occasion with flags, guns, etc.
On the platform
were Mayor McGill, Wm. Sutton, Geo. Wells Q.C., Col. Coombs, Col. I.
E. York and others. Forming a background were the soldier boys.
Mayor McGill,
after a few words of welcome and well-wishing to our returned soldier,
called on Col. I. E. York, of Waterford, who responded in a short
address, full of fire and enthusiasm, which evoked loud applause, as
he detailed the work of keeping up the line of communication that the
troops had to perform, and praising the work of the Canadian boys,
among whom was Gunner Coombs.
He was followed
by Mayor Atkinson, who gave a strong address, detailing some events in
which Coombs had a part.
Geo. W. Wells,
Q.C., then spoke of our pride in being able to welcome home from his
dangers and wanderings in South Africa a soldier and the son of a
soldier, who had stood bravely on the post of duty.
He also referred
to another Simcoe boy who was now doing duty on the field, Duncan
Campbell, eulogizing the work of the colonials in the battles of the
motherland.
The torrent of
eloquence was often checked by cheers, as he described the difficulty
of the task before the British army, the mobilization and steady
progressive advance toward victory, and crushing of a rebellious
colony.
Ex-Mayor Sutton
then read an address and presented a handsome gold watch to Gunner
Coombs, who was only able to utter a few words of thanks in his reply,
so great was his emotion.
The following is
the inscription engaged in the watch:
"Presented by the citizens of Simcoe
to Gunner Frank C. [sic] Coombs,
of the Second Canadian Contingent,
on his return from the South Africa war,
January, 1901."
