DEPARTURE OF THE GRENADIER GUARDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 195, 19 August 1890, Page 2

DEPART UR E OF THE GRENADIER GUARDS.

(Per San Francisco Mail.) The Grenadier Guards left for the Bermudas on the morning of the 22nd July. The scene at the departure was very affecting. The wives, children, sweethearts, and cnnrades crowded into the spacious yard, and from G o'clock until 10 no Guardsmen, were allowed to leave. An exciting but painful meeting was held in the yard and the canteen. At first the men of the second battalion bore themselves bravely, and laughed at the expressions of fear of their wives and sweethearts. The sympathetic words of old comrades, however, soon kindled the angry feelings that smouldered in their breasts, and the men were immediately aroused and inveighed bit" terly against the order that confined them. In one case the wife of a prisoner wns inconsolable. She had three children with her, and was in a delioate condition. As her marriage was without the consent ol tha Colonel the poor woman oould not expect to get thai, assistance during tbe absenos of her husband which thoee married by per* mission a' ways receive. At length, as tha bugle sounded for visitors to leave, the husband raised his wife and almost oarried hor to tbe gate, where a woman frienS took hia place and bore her hom9. Out» side stood a great crowd of sighteeere, who gazsd curiously and sympathetically, At 10 o'olaok in tbe evening the yard was cleared, and tha crowd, obeying tha ordera ol the police, sadly moved away. At midnight a small gathering reappeared and increased every hour. By 3 o'olook in tha morning it numbered more than 4000, At 4 o'olock tbe Birdcage Walk was thronged. The men gave way at the railings for tha poor women, who, with tear, stained eyea and haggard faces, held their ohildren up to see if they oould find out their daddies. At 5 o'clook the men were drawn up in double line, and 15 minutes later the Colonel gave the word to maroh. The great gates at tha Buckingham Palace end of the yard were thrown open, and while the band piayed tbe "British Grenadiers" tha battalion marched out. They were greeted by shouts and oheers by the enormous throng, 'ihe streets were blockaded, aud a large num™ bor of police wero formed in three liues to open the way for the soldiers. Alter the police came the sappers aud miners, and behind them the baud and Colonel Eaton at the head o! the regiments. As the battalion appeared in the road a mighty deafening cheer went up from the assemblage. They wore aooompanied. from the barracks to the station by 20,000 civilians, who cheered them incessantly. The troops pcoceeded by rail to Chatham, where they embarked on the troopship Tamar, which will convey them to their destination. Good order prevailed among the troops, aud the War Office was extremely pleased at the way the soldiers behaved. If their good conduct continues the regiment may be ordered back to London within two years. Previous to the departure of the battalion, the arrest of six of the Grenadiers, and their trial by court-martial, had tended to cast a gloom over the whole battalion. When the sentences were pronounced at parade ou the 21st some painful scenes occuired. The oldest soldiers of the companies seem to have beon selected for trial. The precise hour of their removal to the Brixton military prison was a well 1 * guarded secret, whilst their transfer to tho ambulance waggon was so quietly effected that only a few soldiers and spectators were present. When the men emerged the spectators raised a loud shout. The Grenadiera were handcuffed in pairs and escorted by non-commissioned officers and soldiers. They appeared dejeoted and haggard, Several of the prisoners burst out crying, the tears streaming down their faces.