The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-06-26
Crowds Of Patriotic Chickasha People
Flock TO Station TO See Special Trains
Bearing Troops to Mobilization
Camp
KHAKI-CLAD BOYS
FACE DUTY BLITHEL Y
Dmant Company Marches TO Restaurants
for .Supper---FlOwers, Cigars and
Flag Presented viii Take Oath
at Fort Sill

| Chickasha did her part in cheering
the national guard and bidding them
Godspeed on their way TO the border
yesterday when four trains passed
through the city en- route to the new
mobilization camp at Fort Sill. The
first troop train arrived on the Frisco
lat five O'clock yesterday afternoon
FAnother passed over the same road at
I7:2O, and another at S;45. One train,
containing eleven cars. came to the
I"Y' north of town on the Rock Island
at 1857 and went on west on the Man
gum branch by way Of Anadarko.
/ A large crowd, containing several
hundred people, met the first Frisco
train, which came in with the military
band playing national airs and with
four companies OF jolly, cheering
guardsmen. The soldier boys met a.
welcome such as they had been meet
ing at every stop in the trip to camp.
The train contained Companies A, b,
c and d. coming from Oklahoma City,
Tulsa Chandler and Newkirk. On the
train also were the regimental staff,
Incuding Adiutant General Frank M
Canton and Major Charles F. Barrett,
-and the regimental and
1t was evident that the guardsmen
were anxious to get to camp where
drilling will begin and anxious for the
action that may follow from the great
demonstration Of cheering and yelling
With which they greeted the Chicka-
sha crowds.
Chickasha Boys on Board.
James Matthews, Chickasha lad and
a member of the hospital corps, was
on the train. as was A. r. Bird, a for
mer Chickasha boy who had a place
in the band
Flags were waved by dozens OF peo-
pie as the troop train stood for a few
minutes at the depot. Girls had flow
ers to show the boys they were think
ing Of them. Thanks; I'll send you
my first Mexican scalp for this" said
one of the boys as he took the bou-
quet. Everybody was in joking
mood.
Flag Is Presented.
Many people stayed at the Frisco de-
pot to see the second train go through
at 1920, half an hour before the regIs
lar passenger came through. They
proved to be as jovial and happy a
crowd as the one that preceded them,
keeping up a continual hubbub Of
cheers as far as they could be heard
by the people living in the southwest
outskirts of town. J. e. White met the
train with huge flag He presented
it to his nephew. a Muskogee lad.
Hundreds watched these men, who
are to be the defenders Of the border,
as they passed through in coaches,
but for the first time in years, no one
knows how long, a company of militia
marched down the street of Chickasha
just before 9 O'Clock last night when
the third Frisco train arrived and the
men were detailed to downtown res
taurants for supper.
Restaurants lnavded.
A total Of 9S men, in khaki uniform
belonging to the Durant company,
tramped down to Fourth street and /
Chickasha avenue, then they were
marched in smaller groups to the diff
ferent restaurants and given regular
lunch counter grub probably the last
they will receive for many weeks. pos !
sibly months
1t did not take long for crowds to
congregate along the side streets TO
see the men pass Automobiles fol
lowed them silently and men and boys
crowded about them in restaurants.
well. boys, ! may never see you
again. but want you all to have a ci-
gar to smoke after supper, one man
said down in Bill and Johns as he
passed can Of cigars down the line.
"And you fellows remember that we're
all for you and we're all with you, and
when you want anything for yourselves
or the folks, just let US know"
Included in the two companies we're !