The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-11-03
FIRST CONTINGENT
OF NEGROES EVER
TO LEAVE STATE
Station Crowded With Relatives
and Friends.-Patriotic Cheers
and Martial Music GIVE Them
A R0using Send-off.


=.
The Negroes of the city of Mime
apolis drafted for the war service, left
Tuesday morning over the Rock
Island railroad for Camp Dodge, Iowa.
Their departure marked the entrance
OF the first Negro troops from this
state They were given an ovation.
fhe Dunwoody Naval Band furnished
the music. The boys began to arrive
early. They were besieged by many
friends and relatives who had come
to say goodbye. every arrangement
was perfected for their comfort. The
ladies Of the Red Cross Society were
on hand to distribute supplies. They
were Mesdames Chas. Roberts, BENZ.
F. Cabbell, Noah Stone, s. G. Frank
lin and Fannie Pierre. The Porters
and Walters Club had made it pleas.
ant for the boys since drafted, and
Mr.. John Sampson Allen, who had
been active in the mobilization of the
selectmen was placed in charge of
the draftees to Camp Dodge. Fifty.
three men constituted the party. Mr..
Geo. w. Holbert had charge of the
publicity for the Porters and Walters
Club and streamers for the cars and
banners bore the inscriptions: MIN
NEAPOIIS NEGROES FOR CAMP
DODGE" which was to be placed out
side the cars.
The banners read:
"We'll take Berlin, like we took San
Juan HiHr fi@.H
I'VE Give Our Men--we bought
Liberty Bonds"
,,. mo % y,l,s s,asfsEsase Eass sP!sszNo Trait'
Farewell! from the Porters and
Walters Club"
The Red Cross women gave out the
bags Of lunch which were prepared by
Chef BENZ. Hicks Of the Porters and
Walters Club. Mr.. Glover Shull pre-.
sented each man with flag. He was
assisted by VIM. H. Walter, Lee
Wheeler, Edw. Boyd. Fuller Thomp.
son. Ewing Shannon and Alex. Rogers.
AS the men passed to the train they
were given the tobacco from the fund
collected by DR.. JOS. Sizer. Ike
Thompson, Charley Harden and VIM.
Stirman helped fill the bags with
the smokes. The station was filled
and the crowd swarmed into the
train shed, where the band played
1.-THE Star Spangled Banner" Then
the serious nature of the occasion
brought tears from nearly every eye,
and as the train pulled out to st. Paul
q rousing cheer went up from the vast
throng, bidding the boys a deserving
and heartfelt goodbye" Chas. Sum-
ner Smith had charge Of the entrain-
ment. The members of the various
draft boards were present and there
was no delay in the program. Noah
Stone ably assisted him.
Leaving ST. Paul.
Several persons went to st. Paul,
where the entire draft was entrained.
Selectmen from Duluth and about the
state were ASSEMBLED at the depot
waiting for the Minneapolis boys.
Delegations from the Odd Fellows and
leading citizens were there. Religious
services had been held. Patriotic airs
were sung and the bands which had
been in the parade from Rice Park,
remained till the departure. When
the train pulled in the boys were lean
ing from the windows. holding out the
banners Ozzie Hawkins led the
cheering from the draft. The great
crowd at the station was anxious to
get parting word with their favor.
ties The He'd Cross ladies OF Mime.
apolis distributed the bags of lunch
which MIR. Shull brought over in his
auto to several of the boys: also gave
them flags. Attorney W.. T. Francis,
Rev D. N. Murrill, Than Travis. Fred
d. McCracken we're especially notice
able by their activities to make the
departure a success. Owing to the
crowd. some boys were left. rs the
train pulled out They we're sent on
the next train This demonstration. of
the loyalty os the Negroes was a mem.
Orable event in the history OF Mime.
sofa worthy of n prominent page on
It's records.
TOBACCO GIVEN THE BOYs.
The contributors for the tobacco
given the boys we're 'Syl w, Oliver.
Benj. Jones. Andy Cloughton. las
Harris. Wesley Hin. Ross Hamilton.
Chas. Welborne. Joseph Thomas. VIM.
Mcdowell. Robt. Ice Diggs, Albert
Carr, Mr.. Farrow. e.. q. McAifee. John
w. bright. w. G.. Cunningham. A
Friend. Johp Webster. Pete Crosby.
Cash Terr..-. J. H. Brown, Robert