The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-08-03
5000 AT PICNIC
YESTERDAY FOR
MISSOURI SIXTH
Cape Soldier Boys Highly
Honored by Citizens on
Eve of Departure.
BIGGEST PATRIOTIC
EVENT HELD IN CAPE
Society Girls Render Splendid
Program-Appear as Columbia
Girls and Soldiers.

The largest crowd ever seen in the
Fairgrounds Park thronged the place
during the afternoon and evening
hours to attend the farewell picnic
given in honor of the local company OF
the Missouri Sixth upon the evening OF
the departure of the men for the
training camp. 1t was a demonstra-
ton never paralleled in the history OF
the.city. The enthusiasm of the crowd
was mingled with loud cheers, inter
rupting the speeches, wild applause
was given the performers of the even
ing as an appreciation of the work
the young men of the city are ready
to take up for the country and its
democratic cause. 1t was variously
estimated that between 1000 and 5000
persons passed the gates during the
day.
The Introductory feature of the cele-
bration was the parade to the park
headed by DIR. Schuchert's band, now
the band of the new regiment. Hun
dreds followed the company to the
park. In compliance with the procla.
nation issued by Mayor Hirsch, every
business house was closed at noon
and every merchant, every citizen, in
fact everybody, assisted in making the
day one Of the greatest demonBtra-
tions ever witnessed in the city.
Col. Arthur Oliver, United States
District Attorney, of st. Louis, was
the main speaker. Recalling the days
when the old Missouri Sixth respond
ed to the call and led the Missouri
regiments during the Spanish-Amer.
lean War, the speaker paid high COM
pliments to the rejuvenated body OF
soldiers. and expressed the hope that
these men would return from the bat
tlefield with glory and victory waving
about the flag of the regiment.
Words of highest esteem for the
city in organizing such a strong body
of men, men who had given up their
professions and business positions to
hurry to the assistance of the Gov
ernment, were spoken by Col. Oliver
for the new regiment, and especially
for company L, the unit composed OF
men from the Cape and Cape Girar'
deau County.
Numerous times the audience in
terrupted the speaker with storm
of applause and loud cheers, sharing
with the speaker the esteem of the
Cape soldier boys who had already Of
fered their service to the country, ant
also of those who will soon answer the
call to arms.
Mrs. w. w. Martin, the first speak.
er of the day, explained the duties the
women of the city and of the entire
country should shoulder in order tt
do their part of the present crisis
Every mother, she said, who has g
boy of eligible age, should accept it as
the highest honor and her greatest
pride to see her son march in line
with the men who have been called out
to do their duty for the country and
perhaps, place their lives upon th'
altar of patriotism and defense Of the
country. 81, myself, have no son WHIT
could share this honor with the mel
who are ready to leave their homes il
this city and country to fight for theil
country, if I had, would see that HI
was among them," the speaker said.
Attorney Rush H. Limbaugh spok'
on the organization Of the Hom'
Guard for the maintenance Of domesti
peace, while the soldiers are calle'
away to the training camps and to th'
battlefelds. He pointed out the ne
cessity of this organization and urge
everybody, who, in no other way coul'
help this country, to assist the or
ganization of the Home Guard. Som
cities, he said, had already forme'
such bodies, and Cape Girardea'
should show an equal spirit.
The reasons for the United State
entering this great struggle wer
brought before the minds of the au