Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-12-20
THOUSANDS MEET
TO-SAY GOODBYE
Large Crowd at Rock Island Depot
Early This Morning to Bid
God Speed to the Soldier
Boys Going 90 Camp

Inc tnlrQ increment or the draft
for the first national army was call
ed to report today. Audubon's quota
was SO and for this number SO men
were ordered to appear at the court
house not later than one o'clock yes
terday afternoon. The young men
and their parents began to arrive
early in the forenoon and by the mid
die of the afternoon the streets were
thronged with people. On Broadway
and South Park flags were flying
and the scene presented reminded
one Of big celebration.
While everyone was apparently
happy, yet there was tinge of sad
ness. The young men were eager
to go to the front to fight for their
country and their flag and yet they
regretted to leave home and the low
ed ones. But they had no choice in
the matter. Uncle Sam had called
them to the colors and they respond
ed without murmur. The crowd in
creased in size with each succeeding
hour and by supper time all avail
able space on the main streets and
side streets was occupied.
The Masons of Audubon county
had arranged to give a banquet to
the departing soldiers and the bands
who were to- furnish music during
the evening. They regretted their
inability to banquet all who came,
but many of the relatives and friend
were invited to bring their suppers in
baskets to enjoy the hour with the
boys. Many availed themselves of
this opportunity and for almost two
hours the hall was crowded to ca
pacity. At eight o'clock all marched
10 the Methodist church where a pat
riotic program was to be given.
The Kimballton band came over
to furnish the music and after few
selections on the street and in the
church, s. c. Kerberg, as chairman
took charge of the evening program.
Rev. Jensen, Rev. Fuller, Rev. Mack
and Rev. Proctor each delivered a
short address. All were filled to ov-
erflowing with patriotism and this
they impaired freely TO the audience.
1t was the best patriotic meeting ever
held in the city, and the audience
was generous with it's applause as
the speakers scored point after
point.
Many of the parents and relatives
give their parting farewell to their
sons and brothers this morning. For
more than an hour before train time
hundreds of people gathered at the
Rock Island station. BY the time
the tram pulled in a crowd number
ing into the thousands had gather
cd to bid Godspeed to the splendid
young men of the county who were
spfr
ton, where they will enter the coast
artillery branch Of the service.
They were anxious moments for
ALL Men and women wept but all
were pleased with the manhood the
older boys exhibited. Their eyes
were moist but none of them gave
any evidence of sorrow. They were
a brave lot of young men-the flow
err of the nation, and how sad it
makes us all feel that they are COM
PEELED to leave their homes and
loved ones. Sheriff Wilson accom-
panied the men to Atlantic where a
special train from Des Moines took
the special coach in which the boys
left Audubon.
The Eastern Stars of the county
furnished 60 boxes filled with food,
each one containing enough for four
or five meals, that were given to the
boys, and were gratefully received
The merchants of the city gave them
600 cigars and a lot of tobacco and
chewing gum, so the Audubon county
soldier boys will enjoy life on their
long trip to the coast.
Following is a list of the men who
left this morning: