Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-27
O1TJJMWANS BID
GOODBYE TO GUARD
at Camp Dodge. Mr.. Miller was a
Iogner quartermaster in the Oskaloosa
CONTINUED From Page u

at Camp Dodge. Mr.. Miller was a
fosmer quartermaster in the Oskaloosa
company.
Tho armory was cleared about 7:1b
OF the civilians and the company
formed on Fourth street. The band
led the parade and following the mu
sicians came the G.. A. R., in goodly
numbers with the martial band that
added much to the military air of the
occasion. The guardsmen of Company
"a, with their camp outfit slung over
their shoulders brought up the rear.
Crowd 10 Scattered.
S N crowd that was scattered from
Court to Wapello streets along the
Burlington tracks at the union station
surged and swayed to and fro in an
effort to get good places Of view. Ev-
cry available place about the depot
was alive with humanity for Ottum-
vans were out in thousands to see
their boys OF to war. So at least
they seemed TO feel and despite the
fact that the guardsmen were only
bound 70 Camp Dodge for mobilization
the atmosphere was pregnant with
tho thoughts of war and its awfulness
and the farewells we're spoken with
this thought in the minds of those left
behind. ..ss
Ottumwa is proud Of the manly
bearing and general demeanor of her
boys that wear the khaki. The tear
stained faces Of many Of these manly
lads did not detract from the strength
OF character Of the Steiner sex. The
weeping mothers, wives, children, sis
ters. sweethearts and friends never
found greater sympathy from peo-
pie than was evidenced in the throng
that gathered to bid. farewell to the
soldiers. . The cheers that were given
@ the train pulled out were numerous
ut through all there was tinge Of
sadness. The cheering lacked some
81 the vim that the athletic hero or
political favortte receives. It was not
the less sincere, but it was hard to
give lusty cheer with full heart
and those who could not raise their
voices IN cheer waved their hats or
handkerchief and many were the
prayers for loved ones and friends
that were breathed as the train rolled
out OF the station on its way to Des
Moines.
Use -Four Cars.
"A baggage car and three coaches
were attached to No. % over the Bur
nngton and part OF these was used
for Capt. c. e. Schamp and Ottum-
was own boys At Abba the local
guardsmen were joined by Co. D Of
5Centervi1le and the two companies
went on to Des Moines and Camp
Dodge Two engines were used to
haul the train out of Ottumwa, En-.
gfneers George Haddon and James
Warren on engines No. 81 and GA re-
5spectively and Conductor Walter
Ruckman had charge Of the train
which pulled out of the station be-
tween immense crowds that thronged
the tracks on either side.
An instance of the safety first idea
as 1t Is being carried out on the rail.
roads was evidenced in the manner IN
which the morning passenger train No.
and the fast mail train No. 7 pulled
into the station. The presence of
several thousands of people Of all sizes
and ages made the approach of the
trains one Of the gravest danger, but
the snail like movement Of these de-
spite the fact that one was the govern
ment's own fast mail train running I'M
der short time schedule. showed that
safety first is practiced in deed as we'll
as in name. Switchmen rode the pilot
OF the engine and No. 23's conductor
and other Burlington officials made
clearance. The approach was so slow
that should person have fallen down
In front of the train they would have
been in no real danger.
Pathetic Scenes.
The scene about the station was not