Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-27

without its Incidents. Women swoon-
ing and an attempt by one mother to
do herself bodily injury out of grief at
parting with her young son, were
among the Incidents. Perhaps never IN
the history of the city has there been
a more closely packed mass of human.
ity jammed up against the train as on
Sunday morning. One had to move as
the crowd moved or stood still. Once
in the jam one became an atom In the
mass and was scarcely able to move In
any direction save as the crowd ruled.
There was no disorder despite the
mass. Friends were unable to give a
personal goodbye to some of the boys
because they could not penetrate the
crowd until the boys being permitted
to get off the train for awhile, reached
some Of their dear ones for farewell.
The leave takings Of members OF fam
lilies and friends was affecting and
many wet eyes testified to family
sending son, husband or brother.
The First Cavalry band having sta
toned itself under the train shed
alongside the mems waiting room, was
generous in the selections it played for
pieces OF stirring character were
played and applause and tears followed
according to the character OF the
pieces Having escorted the members
of Co. G to the station, the band fol-
lowing their departure, lead the process
sion back as far as it's armory just east
OF Court street on Main.
\ Demonstration Large.
Ottumwa showed her real patriotism
and appreciation of the Company g
boys and their work in the big public
demonstration held Saturday evening
ing the city park. =.
It was the largest affair of its kind
ever given in the city and between
5000 and 5000 are estimated to have
been in attendance. It's wholesome.
free, patriotic spirit which prompted
it and the deep feeling Of gratitude
which the guardsmen showed through
the speech OF their captain, c. f.
Schamp more than repaid the effort
put into it.
Special drill work by the troops and
the Elks cadets around the park be-
tween 1880 o'clock and was a draw
ing card for the crowd half an hour
before the program proper began.
Everything worked together for the
thorough success of the affair. The
beautiful summer evening, a clear
sky and cool wind, furnished suit
able stage and the foliage Of the trees
and flowers in the park the scenery
The band stand in the center, housed
the members of the First Cavalry
band, singers and the speakers for the
evening. The stand was draped with
the national colors. Far above the
many heads, alone in the starlit sum-
mer sky, swung Old Glory at the top
Of the large staff which has recently
been erected at the Court street en-
trance to the park.
Three old soldiers, veterans Of the
civil war, Major r. P Spilman, H. L.
Waterman and SAINT Kirkpatrick to-
gether with E. G. Moon and Senator
c. w. Whitmore, soldier of the
Spanish-American war, had been chos-
en- to speak. A double quartet made up
Of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Daggett, DR..
and Mrs. N B. Blish, Frank Daggett,
Grant Keyhoe. Mrs. Geo. Porter and
Mrs. Guy Kitterman sang patriotic
selections, leading the crowd in some
and singing others with the bands
accompaniment. The popular Ottum-
wa megaphone chorus, which is COM
posed Of James Riggles, George Potter,
Arthur Griffin and Will Hahn, was call
ed back time and time again on their
numbers.
Mayor Urges People.
Mayor Fred Carter, who acted as
chairman, announced the early mass
to be held for the company and also
the time Of departing Sunday morning.
He said that inasmuch as the boys
had been ordered out to defend their
country's flag, that it was up to the
citizens of the town to show their ap-
probation of the loyalty and patriot
ism. He urged the townspeaple to be
present Sunday morning when the
train left for Des Moines to give the
boys a proper send-off. The invocation