The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-24
ONE CONTINUED OVATION
Missoula Wishes Her Brave
Troopers God Speed.
SOBS WERE CHOKEO BACK
The Train Was Three Hours Late in
Getting Started They Were Es-
corted by the q. A. r. n
Leading Citizens.

Missoula, May 2S.-Not three hours
of waiting i'm the chilly evening air nor
repeated reports that the troop would
not start tonight could damp.n the
ardor of the people Of Missoula who
watched and watched and then watched
for the appearance of the boys of
Troop +, who We're billed to march
across the bridge at $50 o'clock to-
night and did not show up Till $50
o'clock. 1t was not the fault ~ the
soldiers: they were ready at 6 O'Clock.
and they waited az impatiently as did
those who had been on the lookout to
see them and bid them God speed.
The railway arrangements. for s"me
reason, We're tardy and IT was this fact
that made the procession so long I'm
getting under way. From McLaugh-
Inns mill, i'm South Missoula. to the
Northern Pacific station. there was
not a point of vantage that was not
occupied n the distance, "A mile and
"A half. was one long continued cheer
as the boys moved forward. They had
entered the cars at the fort and Lad
ridden I'm as far as the mill. From
there they marched through the city
to the station, where they took the
train again and were whirled toward
Butte to join their fellow riders from
the Smoky City.
That was all there was i'm the SIM
pie statement, but the scene itself was
one that no pen picture can properly
present. 1t was a simple march from
one n of the city to the other and
then n goodbye. There were cheers
and flags and h~andshakings. but there
was much more than that. With cheers
there We're mingled sobs. choked back,
brave attempts at smiles, rayer for
safety n health were breathed be-
meath the cover of the crowds noisy
demonstration. Mothers, sisters, sweet
hearts and fathers, brothers and
friends tried To suppress the sorrow
that the departure of the boys occa-
stoned and to put on a brave face that
the lads might not be discouraged, but
II IA "A hard thing to do. 1t had
seemed "A grand affair while the boys
were preparing for this event. but
when IT came To the show down IL was
more than human nature could stand.
Words failed and the hearty grasp of
the hand, the embrace and the last Tool
told all that words could not express
and the boys knew as they sped south
ward that the love and good wishes #
"A whole city go with them and that
their progress will be. watched by
thousands of eyes. They are good boys
and Missoula Is proud of them. That
they will honor the name of the town
that sends them forth, no one here
doubts for a moment. God keep them.
was the prayer that hundreds of lips
breathed as the train sped eastward
tonight, and that will be the wish of
the community that they represent.
The procession from the mill. where
the boys left their cars. was one con-
tinued ovation. All along the streets
Of South Missoula. headed by the state
University band. the troop plodded
manfully along, eyes front and chins
steady, though there We're some that
would have qulvered a little if il had
not been on parade. From sidewalk and
lawn n houses there Were flags waved
and cheers sent after them. Across the
bridge TO the foot of Higgins avenu
the boys marched on. There they were
met by the veterans of the Grand Army
and "a line of citizens that included all
of the leading men of the town. Two
blocks long was the line that had form
ed to escort the boys, and at the corner
of Main street and the avenue his line
was augmented by the fire department,
with the apparatus decorated and the
whistle on the steamer footing a well
come and a God-speed, and all along
the streets on both sides, on walks and
on blocks. at windows and on balconies,
crowds and crowds of people waved
farewell To the boys. II eclipsed the
big meeting that was held for the boys
in he theater Sunday night and that
was the biggest thing that the city had
seen up To date. 1t was the most en-
thusiastic turnout that Missoula ever
made and the boys certainly deserved IL.
They presented "A fine appearance as
they marched down the streets. All of
them were in uniform. though they were
without rms They We're proud of the
demonstration and they showed that
they intended to merit Ii. The entered
their train at the station, and as soon
as the necessary work was done by the
railway people. they We're on their way
to Butte. After many h~andshakings
and cheers and words of encourage
ment, a wave of the conductors hand.
an answering signal from the engineer,
and an all aboard. and thus departed
Troop +.
Early this morning the horses of the
troop We're driven over from the fort
and loaded at the stock yards into
stable cars. so that they can feed with
out unloading Then the preparations
for the embarklng of the men began.
The issue of government rations was
made and loaded. and the h~ome-cooked
lunches that had been prepared by the
women of this city were sent To the
train. This latter contribution filled
a big t~wo-horse dray and was cheered
this afternoon as IL passed through the
streets to the station. The boys will
probably appreciate IL before they
reach the end of their journey. The
horses went East on the same train
with the boys. and will travel all the
way with them. according To present
arrangements. DIR. Rockman presented
the boys with a full equipment of to-
bacco and cigars before the train left.
and the troop will honor him i'm their
thoughts. All i'm all. IL was the finest
demonstration that Missoula ever wit
messed.
Lou Hunt and his string band gave
a pleasant serenade while the crowd
was waiting. The boys OF the uniyer-