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

about the table of honor, over which
| lights of gorgeous candelabra shed 8
brilliant lustre. After an hour had
been consumed in the practical dis
| cussion of the elements that entered
! into the feast, the orchestra rendered
the STARS and Stripes Forever. .
Then Mayor Medll. as toastmaster,
arose. and by way of introduction,
spoke from the topic. The City's
Pride" He said the gathering was
for the purpose of celebrating the vic
tory of glorious war, and to again
express thanks that our soldiers had
returned safely to their homes from
foreign lands, but in the midst of the
iolliiication those who had answered
deaths call should not be forgotten
one sleeping in the national cemetery
at Rock Island arsenal, and the other
in Porto Rico-or those who were
sick in the hospitals. Rock Island
should, as indeed she did in fullest
measure, feel proud that her brave boys
were permitted to participate in n
struggle of such glorious ending
c. j. Searle in responding to the
toast. The Citizen Soldiery, the
Bulwark of the State and Nation, "
said that he was not used to such
a spread, but that undoubtedly the
boys were during their war travels,
They should not think they were the
only seldiers-many warrior was
developed on the street corner who
could have outdone Dewey or could
have given Shafter cards and spades.
Becoming serious, Mr.. Searle said
the citizen soldiery was the pride of
the country because they were the
ones depended on when the flag was
imperiled. He was proud to say that
Rock Island had furnished more than
her quota of men to defend the coun-
try in the conflict with Spain.
The Boys in Blue of Other DAYS"
was the subject assigned to M. NJ.
Sturgeon. He stated that the toast
carried him back many years and to
the thousand and one contests in
which American soldiers offered and
sacrificed their lives in behalf of their
beloved country. They were all made
of the same kind of stuff, born with
the same spirit, and marched
to the front to the same music to
which the boys of today marched.
God was with them all and over all.
He recounted many of the battles,
beginning with Bunker Hill, in which
the boys in blue had covered them
selves with glory. In conclusion he
paid fitting tribute to the regular
army, speaking of its brave deeds on
the western frontiers, and particular
ly to the heroic manner in which Gus
ter and his men went to their doom,
and spoke at length of the storming
of Santiago.
Mai. Halves spoke of The Rodman
Rifle ~ Il stand before you" he
said las relic of previous war.
diers my heart is made sad
by "reminiscences of the past"
Maj. Halves was member of COM
pany which marched away from Rock
Island in 81 for the war of the rebel
lion. 1t was two years before New
Orleans was reached. Thirty-three of
his comrades fell and were buried in
the south. The same prayers of par
ents followed the boys then, but an
fortunately they did not return as a
body. He said the story of his COM
pany was told on the monument in
court house square. 1T is 4 coinci-
dence and as well suggestive
of the rapid flight of time continued
the major, THAT this occasion, held in
honor of the heroes assembled, is
practically the anniversary of the Rod
man Rifles. In this month we at
tanned our ma jority as a company. L
say we, speaking feelingly, for as with
the ancient artillery company of Bos-
ton, the membership of today, |
glories in the record of the past, while |
the surviving members, possibly in
for active service, |
but retaining all of their |
fervor for and interest
in the organization, rejoice and glory |
in the record made and plaudits won |
bv their SUCCESSORS The speaker |
here recited the history of the Rod
man Rifles. The first meeting for |
and drill was held in a
where now stands Harper's
theatre. The company was mustered
into the state service by Capt. ID. o.
Reid of Moline, Sept. 3, 1877. w. p.
Butler, who conceived the plan for
was elected its first cap
ain. His successors were G. w.
Abel, w. II. Channon, H. A. j. Me-
Donald, E. NJ. Cook, John McCono-
;hie (deceasedl and William McCeno-
,hie. the present captain.
Maj. Channon's Remarks.
Maj. w. L. Channon said that \
Company A, in Peace and in War,
vas always ready to do its duty,
whether for the state or nation
Company A responded with almost a
ull complement when the president
,alled for volunteers, and but few
we're rejected in the rigid examiDa-
ion carried on by the government
surgeons at Springfield The boys
IN reaching Camp AIger soon learned
low to get along without feather
,eds, and would have earlier been
obliged to accustom themselves TO
.rmy fare if the people at home
lad not been so generous in
heir donations of food. Mai. Chan