, 1908-07-29
THEY HEAR.
GOOD BAND
CITIZENS ATTEND CONCERT CIV
EN- BY MUSICAL ORGANlzA-
TON OF TWENTY-FIRsT.
Hundreds Gather At Fair Grounds and
Ente rtained for An Hour-coionel
Williams as Head of Regiment
Graduate of West Point and Fought
at San Juan Hill.

ct So' Sd&h thu
A large number Of the best citizens
Of the city were at the fair grounds
last night to listen 10 the excellent
band concert given by the twenty-five
members of the band OF the Twenty
first infantry, which was encamped at
the fair grounds for the night. The
rain of the afternoon had made the
street in not good condition, but it
had served to cool and clarity the
air, and the evening was delightful.
The band occupied n position on the
track directly in front of the grand
stand, the seats in the stand being
nearly all filled with visitors and
members of the regiment. 1t was re-
marked that the band had no more at
tentiye listeners and the members of
the band more enthusiastic admirers
than the soldiers themselves, hand
some, manly young fellows. who could
no more keep their feet still during
the rendition OF some march or waltz
than the veriest habitue of the popu
lar city dances. They were in motion
and assisted the band by whistling the
air, making time with hands and feet
and occasionally humming in accom-
paniment to the instruments They
were among the first to begin the ap-
plause and the last to leave off after
the conclusion of a number.
Valiant Soldier.
h military editors of The RepubL
lican had a delightful half hour with
Colonel Charles A. williams, command
ing the Twenty-first infantry, after the
concert. Colonel Williams had sat
during the evening with President n
Mrs. Miller, and when they started
home the newspaper reporters were
introduced. Colonel Williams Is in,
deed a veteran. He began life in the
West Point military academy as a
cadet in 1870, graduating with the
class of 1874 and being assigned at
once to duty. He was born In Virginia
but received his appointment from Ma
con. Mo-. where his home then was.
During the Spanish-American war Mr.
Williams was a captain of Company A.
T~wenty-first infantry, and was at the
San Juan hill engagement, his conf
pany being in the thickest of the fight
ing up that famous Spanish hill.
Promoted to Be Colonel.
For several months Captain VII.
liams was collector of one of the Gu
ban ports, finally returning to active
duty with his regiment and being as
signed again to the Twenty-frst, re-
ceiving promotion after promotion. be-
ing now its honored head. beloved OF
every man on his staff, every battalion
nffiear -every COMPANY officer and -ey-
cry man of the nine companies in the
present march and encampment.
Beloved BY Men.
1t was notable to see the Difference
paid him as he was met on the pa,
rade ground by officers and men. 1t
was not the formal salute that is due
the colonel of a regiment, but the gen
uine smile of personal friendship, the
Difference to his bright face and shin
ing eyes, the alteration of one soldier
for another who has gone to the top
by sheer force of character.
Colonel Williams is ~soft-spoken, po-
lite and suave.. He will have nc trou-
BILE in winning friends everywhere.
His face lights as he is spoken to, his
answer is polite and earnest, and he
says he delights in talking shop"
with those who know little of the life
of the soldier.
Wife Coming Later.
Mrs. Williams and her family are
still at Fort Logan, but it is probable
that she will spend some time both at
the camp and in Laramie,
there being m excellent road between
the city and camp, so that she may
make the journey with comfort and
ease. Colnoel Williams and his COM
mand, embracing nine companies, the
band. regimental and battalion head
quarters. a mule battery of two ma
chine guns. the hospital corps and wa
gon train, left for Camp Emmett Craw-
ford this morning intending to COM
plete the journey today and go into
camp there for the next thirty days.
Colonel Williams has been three times
to the Philippines, twice to Cuba and
has seen service in Hawaii.
Had Brother at Buffalo.
Colonel Williams is the brother of
the late Wilbur Williams of Buffalo. a
prominent stockman of Johnson u
ty. who died a few months ago, be