The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-07-28
LAST OF LOCAL
SOL der UNITS
HAVE DEPARTED
Throng Of Three Thousand
Jams Depot to Bid Boys
Fond Farewell.
WIFE OF ARTILLERY
MEMBER HYSTERICAL
Battery B Pulls Up Stakes
at Park and Will Hike to
Camp at Mantle.

Three thousand people, cheering
wildly, jammed every available foot
of space at the depot this morning
and gave to the departing members of
the 11th Company, Connecticut Coast
Artillery, and hospital detachment, a
rousing send-off, the demonstration
reaching it's height as the train slow
.ly started on its journey.
Battery B, Conn. National Guard,
also pulled up stakes and left Sea.
side park this morning. They are
making the journey to- the Mantle
military camp on foot and horse. AS
they passed through the streets of the
city they were clapped and cheered
hundreds shouting good wishes to
the sturdy khaki-clad soldier boys
The demonstration att the depot
this morning surpassed anything of a
like nature ever witnessed in Bridge
port. With their band playing and
colors flying the 18th Company
marched up the depot steps to en-
train. Mothers, sweethearts and
friends sweltered and sttove to OBJ
tain comfortable standing space.
The members of this command will
stop temporarily at Fort Terry. Plum
Island, where they wall be completely
outftted. federalized and for a short
time assigned to duty at the coast
fort, following which they will prob
ably be shipped to the front.
Extremely touching scenes were
witnessed. A number of women were
overcome by. their emotions and sew
eral tainted. Mrs. George Gompers,
2 Revere street, whose husband is a
member of the company, collapsed.
She was revived by friends and start
ed for home when she became hys-
terical atAFairfeld avenue and Water
street.
Dr. J. F. Keegan of the emergency
hospital. was called and the woman
taken into Long1ey's lunch room. DR..
Keegan found her in a serious condi-
ton and removed her to the home
of her mother-in-law at 1910 STRAIT
ford avenue.
The platforms were lined with peo-
pie before the scheduled arrival OF
the troops and their appearance was
awaited anxiously. Lieut.-Col. Vim
cent M King and his staff led the
coast artillerymen from the .armory
through Main street and Fairfield
avenue, the Coast Artillery band fol-
lowing the. staff officers and the hos
pital company bringing up the rear
Police officers along the. line o.
march stopped all traffic for the
troopers The men attired in heax.
marching order kept their military
bearing and observed the customar!
demeanor in spite of the fact tina
farewells were shouted to them al
along the line.
On the station platform when tn,
mhn arrived, Captain Louis r. O'Nei
Y Il Al I,a
the affecting scenes were enacted
Mothers and fathers. sisters ant
brothers with other relatives ant
friends surrounded the men and tn
parting kisses and caresses were il
order. A large number of the WON
en- and many of the men wept, bu
there was evident throughout the BIZ
throng a desire to make the parting
sincere without being sorrow
While cheering and waving as th'
train pulled out, there was not a maj
| in the u coaches that didn't appreci
| ate the serious mission on which h'
was enbarking and the capital sacri
| fees that he was prepared to make
| The last of the national guards O
Bridgeports' big. contribution to th'
nations fighting force have gone ans
| the city scan be Justly proud of tn
send-off it gave them.
| The train which today bore ava.
the local men was carrying the 12tl
| of Greenwich; 7th and 9Th of STAN
| ford; 8th Of Danbury and 6th of Nor
awlk, all with a fun quota of mel
and officers! The Norwalk boys wer
given a generous send-off in thei
town this morning, parade AM
presentation Of $500 being features o
the departure.
Battery B, Connecticut Nationa
IGuard, left their encampment at 10:1
o'clock The march to camp at Man
tic had been decided upon by foot, t
be made in four stages. A stop vii
be made at New Haven tonight.
The unit ezAoerienced difficulty i
getting out of Bridgeport because Q
Warrenite- pavement. The officer
feared for their horses drawing tn
heavy guns, stating the pavement wa
too slippery for proper draft and tn
guns so heavy that the thin coatin
: over the macadan base would hav
crurnbled to deep ruts under the artil
lery wheels.
The line of march therefore had
be changed.
II sDESERTERS LEAVE CELLS