Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-06
RICHMOND BLUES
LEAVE FOR CAMP
Squadron of Cavalrymen, Pride
of City, Is Given Great
Ovation.
CROWD CHEERS AND WEEPS
Mothers and Sweethearts at Sta
ton to Bid Soldier Boys
Good-By.
CROWD CHEERS AND WEEPs


Richmond poured out last night to pay
homage to the departing Blues. that
historic detached battalion recently
transformed into the First Virginia
Squadron by orders from the War De-
partment The conspicuous and out
standing fact OF the whole scene was
the prevailing spirit Of Spartan pride
and stoicism that was everywhere seen.
For the first time IN It's recent his.
tory Richmond cast off without reserve
| its feeling of repose and quietude. and
openly displayed its pride In it's boys.
The crowd could not be controlled 1t
was an orderly. but thoroughly deter
mined mass. and that determination
was to see each one of their loving
boys, tell him how proud the folks
were of him, and kiss him good-by
| In the face of such appeals the no
liccmen who had been stationed to
keep the crowd back could not refuse
the pleading mothers. sisters. sweet
hearts and relatives. Even the Old
| Blues who led the parade. and who
were supposed to restrain, IL necessary,
an unruly mob. gave way to this un-
conquerable procession. and the crowd
surged forth unchecked and unhin-
dered
IMMENSE CROWD PACKS
STREETS ABOUT STATION
| And crowd 1t was-or rather a sea
OF floating people, for they crowded
closer to the lines in order to see their
loved ones regardless OF the jostling
and the pushing. 1t has been stated by
experienced ones that 10000 or $4,000
would be conservative estimate. It
! hat ~,
understanding among the people of
! Richmond to make this last farewell
to the Blues-Richmond refuses to call
them by any other name-a scene that
would never lie forgotten by the bows
who will soon be ordered to the front
in the battle for the supremacy of
dem ocracy over autocracy and to ex-
emplify to the world that tho theory
that might maker fisht IS false.
1t was understood that the parade
was to form at 1920 o'clock last night.
by $3.50 both sides Of Broad Street were
lined with crowd that was in no
hunor TO brook resistance. Traffic for
the time. was held up altogether. See
Ing that there was not enough room.
mo crowd surged out into the street
until the only space on Broad Street
that was not taken was the street car
right of way. The policemen. conform
ing to the feelings and emotions of
the situation. did not demonstrate, ex-
cept to warn the people that a path
way was to be left open for the oncom :
| ing Blues.
PARADE FROM ARMORY
THROUGH HUMAN AISLES
The people knew what route the
Blues had chosen for their march to
the Byrd Street Station. At 1915 o'clock
there was mighty line of human be-
inGs focking the streets from the
Blues Armory up Sixth Street, down
| Broad Street. and from there down
| Eighth Street to the station.
At 1885 the buEle command sounded.
All tumult and hubbub in the crowd
Immediately ceased. The people around
the corner on Broad Street passed along
| the word, The Blues are coming
Everything was quiet awaiting their
coming. The line OF parade was form
ed. IN the front were 800 members
of the old Blues, commanded by Cap.
tain Wyatt, waving a!oft red torch
lights and American nags. The mem
bers of the First Virginia Squadron
had already taken their post in accord :
| ance with their order.
AT The command from Major Bowles.
the march began. For some time moth
ing could be heard but the steady
tramp, tramp of the soldiers. At FIRST
the crowd. with uncovered heads, paid
their respect to the departing soldiers
with a silence that was almost rev.
| erent But this silence was beginning
to tell. and finally they could contain
themselves no longer. Then it was
"Good-by. Bill; Good-by. Jack, Goe
bless you" In reply came the steady
| tramp, tramp of the soldiers, for they
were marching at attention and were
performing the first duty of a good
| soldier-strict obedience to orders.
ONE MOTHER FAINTs
AFTER GREETING HER BOY
On Eighth and Broad Street one true
| American and Virginia mother said to
her son as he passed: "Good-by. Jack.
| May the Lord bless you. Be sure to
do your duty, and come back alive
Having uttered those words in iioarse,
catching voice. she tainted. But she
! had done her duty. She had shown her
son how proud che was of him, and then
| was brave enough to conceal the face
ol al DTcuhiHS laSaTI from MIN. J3uL
her sorrow told on her after the strain
| had passed.
AS the procession neared the station
the command halt" was given, for
| there was freight train blocking the
| line of march. But even the train
seemed to have a sense Of feeling and
emotion. and Immediately gave way to
the soleInnity of the occasion, and the
parade was halted only momentarily.
! On reaching the station there was an
| other great crowd waiting to receive
the soldiers, and thunderous cheers ono
after anothee echoed and re-echoed un-
I'll even the quiet and respectfuf mounts
of the cavaIrymen, penned up in the
| stock cars, became startled and had
| to be soothed by the men In. charge.
The whole march had been executed
very quickly, and almost tso quickly.
for some Of tho admirinS and almost
!. Continued on Second PaYe.) &