Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-10-01

evening came with the response of
W. b. Mcintyre, who was down on
j the program as warrior who re-
nained at home, to the toast.
The Ladies Whose Thoughts Were
With the Soldiers at the Front. -
He had the guests in an uproar in
momen. with his witty description
! of his warrior-like career. He said
his bones had bleached upon hun
dred fields. and that he fought at
home while the boys were at the
front. Slt he was now regretting that
he did not go to war He did not
take his fortune at the tide because
he was tied at home. However, he
would have arranged to go had he
known that he could have come back
safely. But he said he was a soft
mark. From this funny strain Mr..
Mcintyre passed to the sublime with
his characteristic ease aud grace, and
reverently referred to those of the
passed through the door of death.
As if inspired he entered upon
the main part of his topic.
Ten followed tribute to woman,
| which for eloquence, for lofty gran
deur of sentiment, has not been heard
in Rock Island for many day. The
influence of woman was pictured in
beautiful words-mother, wife and
sweetheart. They We're the silent
forces that had been the sustaining
power behind the clash of arms. MIR.
Mcintyre, in conclusion, proposed a
toast of crystal water to woman,
which was followed by all rising to
their feet and responding.
Col. Foster on the Sixth.
Col. ID. Jack Foster, the gallant com
mander of the 9th, in a brief and
pointed speech, told of the history of
his regiment and the part it had taken
in the war now coming to a conclusion.
He said that the first attempt to or
ganize the Illinois National Guard was
made in 1877. Five years later the
9th was formed, and it had seen more
service in its time than any other vol
unteer regiment except one in the
country. Its members responded with
one accord to. the call for volunteers
| last April. and during the months that
followed obeyed every order to the
best of their ability. The record
| made by them was recorded in Wash
| ington, where it stands second to
none in the volunteer service.
| Col. Foster said it always had been
the endeavor of himself and his men
to emulate the regular army. The
highest compliment, he believed. that
could be paid the 9th was that no
kick came from it throughout the
war. Rock Island had reason to con-
graduate herself on having one of the
best companies in one of the best
regiments that ever went out from
the best state in the union.
Under the head of "reminiscences,
| the closing number on the program,
there were remarks by Lieut.. l.. +.
Hemenway, Serg. Alfred Bear, Chap
lain Ferris, Lieut.-Col. Kittilsen, Pri-
Yates Bowen and Graham and Seaman
Paul Henneberg.
Maj. Stanhope +. Blunt was accom-
panied by the following officers from
the arsenal Capt. o. b. Mitcham,
Capt. VS.. Pierce, Lieut. o. C. Hor-
ney. Those of Col. ID. j. Foster
staff present were: Lieut.. Col. Ed
ward Kittilsen, Majs. w. L. ChannOn
w. Ferris. Capt. G. Med. Townsend
represented the engineer department
of the army, Lieut.. Charles Keller, TO
whom an invitation was also ex-
tended, being still confined to his
home with typhoid fever. Lieuts.
l.. f. Hemenway and George w.
Flood were the commissioned officers
at the head of Company A, Capt.
William McConochie being at Spring
field.