Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-06-27

one where business was meant an
there was no time for frivolity. Ma
ior William M. Smith was the mar
shall and everything was conducte'
with military precision. The bands
cadets and civilians, who formed tn
escort, marched from the corner 0
King and Washington street to tn
Armory where the parade was form
ed Promptly at $50 o'clock it movet
up Royal street. When the parad'
started the military call, three times
seven, was 1ung on the city hall bel
and all the bells of the city commenc
ed to clang.
First came the police of the cit!
headed by Chief Goods. Every police.
man in the city was in line and the!
carried three large American flags
The American Indian Guard Band
followed under direction of Walter
S. Nicklin. The boys were in their
new uniforms and made a fine show
ing. Then came DR.. VIM. M. Smith
the marshal with his chief OF staff,
DR.. Thomas B. Cochran.
Riding in an open carriage drawn
by the two black horses of the Re-
lief Hook and Ladder Company and
driven by John Clapdore were Amos
T. Fisher, the only local survivor OF
the Mexican war, and William H..
Phillips, who was in the band that
led the Alexandria boys when they
left here for the former fray with
the Mexicans.
Representative Charles c. Carlin,
Mayor Thomas A. Fisher and Judge
Louis c.. Barley marched with mill
tary precision and then came the
members of the city council, city
school board, police commissioners
and city officials. In an automobile
were P. M. Bradshaw, chairman of
the school board and DR.. S. II.
Lunt, a member of the board.
The Volunteer fremen, so strong,
wearing their blue uniforms followed
and then came the object Of all eyes.
the Alexandria Light Infantry, now
a part of the United States Army,
ready for business on the Mexican
frontier.
The soldiers looked like they were
ready for any thing. There was no
fuss and feathers about them. Their
uniforms were old and dirty. their
equipment gathered here and there
and lacking uniformity, their line was
their step uneven, but in every
face was seen that do or die" spirit
which has ever made the American
soldier the equal Of any upon the
face of the world. Captain Conrad
johnson was in command with his
two lieutenants, Douglas Mclean and
Clinton Knight.
The High School cadets, so in line,
came next and marched like regulars
The Boy Scouts, under Scout Master
Rudd, followed and a dozen young
sters carried a big American flag.
The Holy Name Society Band, un-
der the direction of Sylvester Breen.
made an attractive appearance in
their blue uniforms and led the dele
cation of members of the Chamber
of Commerce and Retail Merchants
Association which brought up the
rear.
The line of march was up King
St. to Payne, where the parade turn
ed and marched up Payne street
to Queen, then down Cameron to Fay
cite, where a special train. was wait
ing their arrival. Upon arrival at
the train, the line of march was
broken and the Light Infantry were
stationed by Capt. Johnson at the
side of the train. DR.. Smith, in a
few remarks touching upon the de-
parture of the soldiers and voicing
his sincere regret that he could mot
accompany them as he had always
done in the past when the troops
were called out introduced Represen-
tative Charles c.. ,Carlin, who address
sed the company of soldiers and the
huge crowd that was packed within
the block. Following was Mr.. Car
Inns speech:
Captain Johnson. officers and mean
bers of the Alexandria Light In
fantry
Again during a period of twenty
years. this Nation of liberty loving
people finds it necessary in the de-
Tense of humanity and OF our Nation
nj honor. to call it's organized militia
TO arms. 1t is source of great pride
10 those charged with the RESPONSE
III