The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1916-06-29
OUR SOLDIER BOYS
! OFF TO THE war
2
Immense Crowd Pays Tribute to the
Members of Co. ID and Co. E Upon
Departure for Ft. Lincoln Sunday

a glowing tribute to the "boys" of Co
D on their departure for the mobiliza
tion camp at Fort Lincoln Sunday
morning. The special train over the
500 was scheduled to pull out prompt
ly at nine o'clock, but it was nearer
ten before the coaches bearing the
members Of Co. D of Minot and Co. f
of Williston steamed away amid the
cheers of thousands and prayers fol
their safe return.
| The company appeared on the street
at o'clock, and shortly after the train
bearing the Willston boys arrived
Headed by the Minot band the soldier
boys marched through the streets anc
they were cheered by every man. wo-
man and child with red blood in theil
veins. The boys stood "at rest fol
some time while the members Of theil
families and other friends bade then
goodbye and many who were complete
strangers passed along the line, bid
ding them farefell.
The Minot band played number OF
patriotic airs and as the train Wa:
pulling out the band struck up "The
Girl Left Behind Me"
The Knights of Columbus marched
in body to the station, paying q
splendid tribute to the departing com
pany Ten Of the Co. D boys are mem
bers of the K C. Council.
Shortly before the boys boarded the
train, Judge Palda gave short ad-
dress which brought forth frequent
applause. He told the boys that should
they be sent across the border to re-
member that this is a civilized coun-
try and although we might be called
to fight lot Of savages, we should
| fight like men, and at the same time
fight like Hades.
The whole city was alive at seven
o'clock Sunday morning and many
gathered at the Great Northern depot
to meet Co. E of Williston when the
train pulled in. Company D marched
to the depot and fell in behind the Will
liston company which was in charge of
Captain Evans.
Every member of the two companies
! were presented with red and white
carnation each by Geo. E. Walker, the
Ainot florist.
The doctors of the city presented
Captain Frank E. Wheelon of Co. D
with beautiful gold wrist watch the
evening before his departure. Captain
Wheelon for years has been one Of Nj
not's popular physicians and surgeons.
The watch was suitably engraved.
Silk flags were presented by Mrs.
Day Okes, Mrs. L. D. McGahan. Miss
Peggie Clapp, Miss Ruth Carroll, Miss
Aileen McGahan and Miss Bertha Alp
stag.
Knights of Columbus rings were pre-
sented to Corporal Hugh Taylor, Pri-
vate Leo S. Kigin and Private H. Lar
idaen by the local council of that or
ganization.
The city Of Minot contributed to the
Co. D relief fund in highly commend
able manner The committee raised
more than a thousand dollars by pub
lie subscription which with the S136
as receipts from the Lyceum enter
tainment Friday night and the ball at
the armory, amounted to $500. This
will be used in equipp!ng the company
with library and with an outfit for a
gymnasium and for luxuries for sick
members. 1t is only little remem-
brance from our citizens but is appre-
ciated by all the boys who have gone
to fight our battles if called upon.
Before the train departed, Captain
Wheelon issued the following state
ment:
"On behalf of myself and the other
officers and the men of Company D,
wish to express to the people of Minot
the gratitude of US all for the mag
nificent manner in which the city and
its citizens have shown their appreci-
alton of the men who are going out to
serve their country wherever. duty
calls them.
"The men who have enlisted in Co.
d and the men who were members Of
It before the recruiting orders were is
sued realize they are going on no lark.
They understand the seriousness Of
the task for the accomplishment Of
which they have entered into a con-
tract sealed with the pledge Of their
lives.
Company D is the same company
and will be part Of the same regi-
ment which served with honor to the
nation and the flag in the Philippines.
The men have changed, but the fight
ing spirit is tradition of the COM
pany and Of the regiment, and those
who have bid the company 'Godspeed'
Louay Will nave no apologies 10 MAKE,
no explanations to offer for it's record,
no matter where it may be called. The
helpless will learn to respect Company
D because of its protection and the
enemy will respect it because of its
fighting qualities.
Minot will be heard from wherever
the company may go, and the loyalty
and sympathy Of the thousands who
have come out to bid US goodbye will
be an inspiration for the best service
and the noblest purposes Of every
man."
The special train was decorated in
the national colors. At every station
between Minot and Bismarck it was