The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-09-21
Magi & ut Patriotic Demon
strs-16f With Spectacular
Parade
Mankato Played Large Part In
Making the Affair Great
Success
Addresses In Which Cause of the
Government Was Strongly
Upheld


ing to make last nights patriotic
rally at st: Peter the magnificent
success it was. A legion of autos
went down from Mankato, to say
nothing Of the people that went back
and forth on the regular trains. 1t took
about fifty cars to transport the two
military companies from Mankato to
st. Peter and back, Company H of the
national guard and Company c of the
home guard. These two units, CARRIED
in the regulation khaki uniforms, fur
nished about two hundred and twenty
five men for the parade. The long line
of cars, with their red and white lights.
moving along the st. Peter road on
the way to the celebration, just after
darkness had set in, was a very in
spring and unusual sight.
The cars were parked soon after
the Mankato contingent arrived in
st. Peter. The two companies at once
formed in marching order. Amid music
from various bands and drum corp,.
the CLEAN of fireworks and countless
flags, large and small, that could be
seen on every hand, the parade was
formed with ease and skill, and the
marchers were soon on their way.
One Of the most impressive units of
the parade was the body of Shriners.
These were from many different parts
Of the state. This contingent was led
by the Osman temple drum corps.
arrayed in white.
Selected Men In Line.
A large body of young men Of
Nicollet county that had been selected
for the war marched in the parade.
Nicollet county is to furnish in ali
1O5 as her quota for the national
army, in addition to what volunteers
and militiamen she gives. 1t was really
in honor of the drafted bows that the
whole affair was held. Nicollet county,
like many others, was determined to
show her boys that she was not un-
mindful of the sacrifice that they were
making, and would do whatever could
be done by the folks at home to look
out for their welfare
North Mankato was on hand with
big delegation and fine large banner.
The Mankato companies vigorously
applauded the North Mankato body as
it marched by and they recognized
their near neighbors.
The march was arranged in such
way that everybody in the parade had
chance to see the parade. This was
a clever idea. The parade moved along
Minnesota street, made turn and
marched back along the same street
in the other direction. So it happened
that the parade itself was seen by
the paraders.
Uncle Sam In Line.
A feature of interest was the auto
mobile in which rode Uncle Sam in
his proverbial suit Of clothes of red.
white and blue, formed into the stars
and stripes. In his car were some la
dies in white. There was. however.
another contingent in which the
ladies were far more adequately rep
resented. This was the unit of the
Red Cross nurses, arrayed in white
and wearing the Red Cross insignia
on their caps. This was large body,
and its effect was enhanced by the
appearance Of very considerable
company of school girls, who marched
back Of the nurses, and carried flags.
There were many other bodies that
carried flags. The appearance of flags
was a characteristic of the celebra-
tion both in the parade aud around it.
The st. Peter high school cadets
were on hand and did themselves
credit with the marching skill they
have developed. Lafayette was on
hand with a big banner and band.
These and many other contingents
made up procession that in itself
could not fail to arouse the proper
spirit on the part of the vast crowd
that was gathered there. The torch
when parades that were thus IL
Illuminated were common.
There was no lack Of spectators on
any Of the streets along which the
procession marched, but it was on
Minnesota avenue that the people
lined up most numerously. and kept
up continual hand-clapping.
AS at New Ulm, the celebration
proper. where the speaking program
took place, was held on the court
house grounds. The large building
was lighted up at the main entrance
where the speakers were stationed.
with an elaborate array of red, white
and blue incandescent lamps, which
hung in festoons. Here also flags,
large and small, were used in pro-
fusion, yet with a tasteful arrange
ment, in the decorations.
How manv people gathered on the
lawns and the adjacent sidewalks and
in the street can hardly be estimated
with anv passable degree of accuracy.
Some placed it as high as ten thou
sand.
On platforms. arranged for the oc-
casion, in front Of and around the
main entrance of the building, were
Continued on page two