The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1917-09-29
BIGGEST CROWD IN HISTORY.
Last Saturdays Turnout Exceeded
All Expectations.

Crystal Falls had a record turnout
last Saturday. the event being the
farewell TO the recruits that were
leaving that day for Battle Creek to
take their places in the new national
army The invitation extended to all
OF the people OF Iron county was ac-
cepted. and very large delegation
from the Iron River and Stambaugh
districts was present to help the Crys-
tai Falls people do honor to the boys.
Amasa. too, was well represented.
and had not the people OF Alpha been
held at home by the community fair.
they too, would have been here en-
masse.
The crowd was conservatively es-
timated at 5000 people. They jam
med the street from the court house
to the upper railroad crossing when
speaking was in progress. and when
the parade was formed the rear end
was up at the postofiice when the
front ranks were at the station and
the S0-foot wide street was packed
with marching humanity from curb
to curb.
Five Failed 10 Appear.
When the first roll was called five
men whose names were there failed
to respond and five OF the alternates
that the board had summoned were
sent into the ranks in their places.
The entire command was entrusted
to Clarence Johnson, son OF Pres. Leon
Johnson OF Iron River village, who
had had former military training and
who acquitted himself with great
credit during the day.
The men were then dismissed 10
report again at 1870. and promptly al
at 1850 the citizens committee loaded
all OF them who wished 10 go to AL
pha into autos and took them down
to our neighboring town where they
spent two hours as guests OF the Al.
pha people.
At 1880 the ranks were reformed
on the court house lawn and the re
cruits were marched down TO the
/ Crystal Falls club for supper.
Red Cross Ladies Active.
There they found an elegantly pre-
pared meal awaited them which the
ladies had been busy with all of the
day The arrangement was such tha,
there was no wait. The men marched
to their places al the tables. sat down
and ate their meal and were at liber-
~ again inside OF half an hour.
The ladies also fed the home guards
from Iron River and the two bands
one from Crystal Falls and one from
! Stambaugh.
This feed was prepared NJ the re-
quest OF the Crystal Falls committee
on entertainment, MFR. Leigh c. Cas-
well being principally responsible for
II. A small collection was taken up
to help defray the expenses OF secur-
ing meats. but all of the other stuff
was donated by the Red Cross mem
bers. tt
The ladies OF the Red Cross who
gave their time and attention 20 the
supper were: Mrs. Leigh {. Caswell.
Mrs Jas J, Ganney. Mrs. VIM. IL
Jobe, Mrs NJ r. Richards Mrs. Or. A.
l.. Haight. Miss True Cassday. Miss
Kathrine Thelan, Miss Ada Richards
Miss Winnifred IIarrigan. Miss Edith
Seymoure and Mrs. Frank scadden.
Many Wet Eyes In CroWd.
When the recruits emerged from
the club rooms they found the streets
in the Vicinity OF the Lockwood hotel
packed with people listening 10 the
speeches that we're made by Hon. NJ
II Goriarty and John McHain. The
committee had arranged for bat two
talks and designed them To be repre-
sentative OF the entire county Mr.
McHale's talk was devoted 70 the sub
iect OF patriotism and he struck fear
less at the anti-American sentiments
and actions OF some people in this
country.
Senator Moriarty dwelt upon the
qualities OF patriotism shown by the
Young men who were responding TO.
their country's call. 20 the sacrifices
OF the mothers OF the nation and to
the zeal evidenced on all sides among
the American people TO do their duty.
There were but few dry eyes among
ne women in the audience and many
OF the men were visibly affected at
II A 49,.