Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1917-10-04
REMARKABLE SCENE AT GREAT
NORTHERN STATION AS WILL.
LISTON SOLDIERS LEAVE
CITY SEEMS DESERTED

BRAVE FRONT is SHOWN BY
MEN AND RELATIVES WHEN
FINAL PARTING IS REACHED
Probably the most remarkable as
semblage ever gathered in Williston
bade farewell to Company E, First
North Dakota regiment, when Cap
tain H. r. Evans with Lieuts. Jeffrey
and Erickson and $50 men entrained
here for the first stage Of . journey
that will eventually take them to
France to fight the battles of World
democracy.
The assemblage was remarkable in
many ways. At the early hour when
most people are slumbering thousands
had turned out to say goodbye. Martial
music to which the town has grown
accustomed now announced that the
kahki clad men were leaving and its
shrin fife notes and sharp staccato o&
the drums brought home the thot:
@tWill they all come back, sound and
WELL" And in this was the assemblage
most remarkable, it brot the war home
to Willston. We realize now, what
we are in for. We miss the boys of
Company E and probably no other
move has done more to bring US all
together to do our share and to aid
rather than deter those who have war
duties to do them to the best of their
ability and with all the help we can
give them. -.....
And so the war came home to US.
Mothers and sisters and sweethearts
knew it Saturday morning. The men
of Company E knew it and it is doubt
full if there was anyone in the large
crowd at the depot who did not Won
der "What can I do? Where is my
place?"
The members of the company start
ed their packing Friday evening. A
special train Of cars was set out for
them here and when morning broke
Saturday Company E men had begun
their march to the front. Their
equipment was in the train and i'm
pedimented only with rife and pack
they marched from the Williston arm
,ory to the Great Northern Depot. At
a party in the armory the night be-
fore all had taken leave Of their rela-
tives and it was only a few moments
from the time they reached the depot
until they were on the train.
The line of march had scarcely
halted at the depot before the people
rushed in to clasp hand or for q
final embrace. Tears there were of
course but bravery and spirit of sac
rifce and love of country shone thru
the tears as loved ones said goodbye.
And in this the scene was remarkable.
All Williston knows how good this
city looked to some of those lads in
kahki. Everybody knows of the sac
rifce that many of them are making,
the heart pangs that parting must
have given. But it were as if they
had faces set toward Central Europe
where madman directs carnage and
from where he has threatened the flag
and the nation which every man in
that company holds dear. It was a
privilege to witness the scene Of Sat-
urday morning and it could not but
build in the hearts of the people left
behind the right spirit for the Stars
and Stripes, the boys who are fight
ing for us, and for the men of this ma
ton who have such important tasks
in directing the struggle for freedom
for the world.
And the men of Company E board !
ed the train at the home hearth. 1t |
was a moment, of striving to keep
back the tears, glance attempting
to fix the faces of every man as they
smiled back A thot Of the dutiful /
sons, true-blue sweethearts, the manly |
men and the good fellows Of the best
Company of North Dakota, and then
."All Aboard"
The train moved. Softly, as if to
disturb no thot the big drivers start
ed their revolution. Kisses waited on
the breeze to the departing men.
Flags, hats and handkerchiefs tokened
a farewell and as the Williston band
played softly the inspiring "Star
Spangled Banner" every head was
pared. Company E was on the way
md in the hearts of thousands, with
,ut voice uttering it Company E
lnew and Williston felt with all its
leart:
"Goodbye, Good Luck-God Bless
You.'
Company E moved to Minot from
lere and special train with both
companies moved to Grand Forks, and
he Twin Cities. Friends and relatives ,
lere received cards from St. Paul in
Heating the arrival there Of the train !
Sunday afternoon and everyone n
good spirits. -,. !
And Williston is just little bit S