The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-09-21
Were Escorted To Station
By Civil War
Veterans.
DINNER WAS FINE AFFAIR
Number of Interesting Short
Talks Were Made To
The Lads.

Fairmont said good bye to the sec.
ond quota OF the National army men
yesterday in way that reflected
credit upon the patriotism of the
townspeople and must have been graf.
flying and even inspiring to the men
who went. eli
me program for the afternoon and
evening which had been so excellentIv
planned by the members of the Fair.
mont Chapter of the Red Cross. az.
slsteo oy the local Draft board and
the Fairmont Chapter OF Commerce
was only small factor in determin.
ing the success Of the affair. II was
the outburst OF brotherhood and love
ior tellow.man that drew thousands
TO the heart OF the CITY to extend Tho
5000 Luck, Goodbye. God Bless You"
~ was this same feeling that brought
seNs from the eyes of NAM who
lined the side walks.
coupled with this evident feeling
OF friendship there was another force,
Ine love OF country. that was no less
dominating. 1t was this that brought
smiles OF pride to the faces of the
thirty drafted men as they mrrcbnd
70 the railroad station
Just as all of the thirty men appear.
ed at the first roll call at nine O'Clock
IN the morning they were all present
Tor the afternoon roll call, which took
place in the office rooms of Cantain
kemble White promptly at $3.50
o'clock. Here they discussed their
departure until AIS O'Clock when
Captain Homer C. Toothman gave his
first command and in an instant every
man was in rank. prepared TO march.
Hundreds had gathered on both sides
OF Main street to be the first 10 view
the marching soldiers. Proudly they
marched from the Watson building
down Main street to the Y. NJ c. A.
Here they were received by the mem.
bers OF the Fairmont Chapter Of Red
Cross.
The members of the Red Cross had
spent the day at the building prepar-
ing for the drafted men and were
ready to care for them upon their ar
rival. With the members of the Red
Cross taking the part Of ushers the
thirty young men walked into the
banquet room on the third floor of the
M. c. A. building and quietly
took their places around the tables.
Following the drafted men came the
near friends and relatives who had
been invited to the dinner. Each of
the young men was permitted 10 invite
two OF his friends or relatives to at
tend the dinner. The seating ar
rangements permitted the men to sit
with their guests.
Major Henry S. Lively was toast.
master and won much praise for the
cleverness with which he introduced
each speaker. Mayor Anthony Bowan
was the first speaker. In introducing
the Mayor, Major Lively told the
drafted men that when they had ar.
rived In France and wished to drive a
truck over IS miles per hour that they
would not have Mayor Bowen to con.
tend with. which was doubtless con.
soling to several Of the men who sat
around the table.
In his short talk Mayor Bowen EN-.
phasized the honor that had been Civ.
en- to the thirty young men in call.
ing them first to represent the city of
Fairmont. He expressed a faith that
while they 90 forth to defend the ma.
ton that they should defend them.
selves and refrain from any bad hab.
its.
Captain Kemble White. chairman OF
the local draft board. a man of much
military experience, having served the
United States throughout the entire
Spanish-American war as a volunteer
Continued on page two