The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-10-05
COMPANY h ENTRA|NED
AMID HEARTY CHEERS
Great Demonstration For the
Brave Departing @
Fighters
School Children Were In the
Line; Also College
Students s
Monster Gathering at the Union
Depot; Say Godspeed
Young Men
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily. .
| One hundred and fifty young men
most of them residents of Mankato
and Blue Earth county, members of
Company H, entrained this afternoon
for the training camp at Deming.
1t is unnecessary to say that the
good wishes, the love, the hopes and
the respect of Mankato go with these
boys who are to represent this city
| in the splendid battle line which is
arraying against the grim front that
threatens the liberties of the world.
The spirit of he people of Mankato
will be with these gallant young SOL
diers as they line up on the field of
battle and their prayers will be for
their success. All Mankato and Blue
Earth county know that the young
men who left today will do their part
to insure a splendid victory for the
United States.
Again there was a spontaneous
| OutpOuring of people of Mankato and
vicinity at the Oman passenger de-
pot this afternoon to bid farewell to
local boys who were to depart for the
| war service. This time Mankato was
sending larger contingent than ev-
er before, For it was Company H that
was going. 1t was really a more
heart stirring occasion than has ever
occurred here before. When the con-
scripted boys left, there were not so
many of them, nor were so near to
the actual firing line. Those raw re-
cruits were to be trained and equip
ped and prepared in every way, but
these things had already been done
| III large measure for Company H, and
the expectation is that that company
| will be in France long before any of
the national army companies are sent.
1t was indeed military day at the
local railroad yards. Three military
| trains were due in and out At 1880
this afternoon, the train bearing the
companies from Faribault and North
| field came into Mankato. This was
a train of fourteen cars. This train
carried the medical detachment from
| Mortified, and from Faribault it
brought the regimental headquarters
company, with Colonel w. T. Molli-
son and his staff, the band, mounted
| IL,
the band, mounted orderlies, non
machine gun company and Com
| pany B. s.. .. T.. .-
| Looked For Special Train.
Early this afternoon all were look
| ing eagerly for the special train from
New Ulm, bringing Company M from
Madison and Company L from Red
| wood Falls. These two companies
We're to leave on special train to-
gether with Company H of Mankato
on the way to Deming, N. NJ, the
destination of the whole second regi-
| ment. 1t was in this Omaha special,
made up at Mankato, that the people
were most keenly interested. The
| depot and depot grounds were black
| with crowds of people. Boys clam
bered upon box cars in the yards or
to any other points of vantage whence
| they might be able to catch glimpse
of the departing lads over the heads
| of the throngs of older folks.
| Yet another train that was to go
through Mankato on the way to Dem
| ing was that from Winona, bringing
| Company from Winona, Company
D from Rochester and Company l
L
uled to arrive at Mankato at 2:3O, but
none of the railroad men at the de-
pot would risk their regulations by
ventrlring an opinion on the time
when the train would actually arrive.
Box of cigarets.
Company H boys had their baggage
piled high on the depot platform.
There was one piece of more than
passing interest to their friends and
that was large box of cigarettes, TO-
600 in all, which was presented to
Company H by Company C at the ar
mory last evening. 1t is but fair to
say that the box was joint gift from
the home guard company and the
Mankato Commercial club, as the
club had made an appropriation COW
ering a large part of the purchase
price. ..
The farewell on the part of Man
| kato took the form of a long parade
of several blocks, which occurred ac-
cording to schedule, early in the aft
ernoon. Judge w. L. Comstock was
the parade marshal. Mounted on a
spirited steed, he quickly directed the
contingents into their several places.
The parade formed in front of the
armory and marched down Second
| street.
The Police Escort. #
Back of the marshal marched the
police escort, headed by Chief of Po-
lice Ario, with FIVE members of the
lrolice force marching abreast. After
these and also marching abreast came
the mayor and four members of the
city council, carrying flags. Then fol-
lowed two large flags, each carried
| by standard bearer on foot. Then
marched Company G of the home
guard under Captain G. A. Lewis and
after that body the Sandon band in
the red uniform. Next followed Com
pany H, in whose honor the process
sion was taking place
| Just before the parade started, w.
G. P. Smith, who carried a large flag
back of Company c., called out to
that body, whats the matter with
Company H?" and the home guards
quickly responded with the familiar
cry 20 the effect that Comapny H was
all right. Then Company H paid the