Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1917-10-25

street. They turned south on Church
street and marched into the Trade
street. Here the final lap of the jour-
ney Of six and one-half miles was be-
gun. They turned west on Tande
street and marched down hill to the
Tuckaseege road where again they
turned to the left and marched up
long grade to division headquarters,
and their spectacular hike was ended.
The parade passed through more
than 32 city blocks, Of the business
section of the city, as we'll as nego-
tiating the other four miles or more.
Few of the men fell out of line,
though there was ambulances sta
toned along the way to provide for
any that were unable to make the
long hike. The men were in light
marching order, only the infantry
carrying their rifles, and this made
it easier; but when the close, rather
sultry weather is taken into consid-
Grafton, it was considered a remark
ably good record by officers of the
division.
Witnessed by ThrOngs
1t would be hard to say which of
the two was the most interesting, Or
the greater spectacle, the men in
uniform or the far larger assembly of
people that lined the streets along
which the soldiers and civilians pass
ed Few in the vast assemblage had
ever witnessed such great parade,
but more especially a parade made up
of practically all the several units of
an army, ready to take the field. Be-
sides the regular fighting units, there
were the Red Cross, bakery COM
panies, supply companies, signal
corps. People just stood and watch
ed silently, awed, while the great pa
rade tramped solemnly by.
1t was $3.50 o'clock when the final
military units passed the reviewing
stand and the civilian organizations
came by. Citizens did not turn out
in any great numbers, certainly their
ranks were not as we'll filled as had
been hoped. Doubtless many, un~
willing to miss the sight of the mil
itary feature of the parade, were not
in the line of march. However, those
organizations that did muster enough
to carry their banners came in for
considerable attention.
After the Parade
OF interest after the parade was
the untangling of the tremendous
crowd. 1t seemed as if every one was
in the wrong end of the city and was
trying to get through the crowd to
the other side. It WAS hours after
the parade had passed before the
streets were anything like normal
again. Street car schedules were
wrecked, and drug stores and soda
fountains were entirely unable to sat
isfy the gigantic thirst of the multi
tude, that crowded into them after
their long wait in the warm October
sunshine.
Units in the Parade
Leading the army of 10000 men
was Brigadier General E. A. Wedg-
wood, riding a dashing black horse at
about 100 feet ahead of the headquar-
;ers troops, which we're first in line
As General Wedgwood passed the re-
7iewing stand he saluted. The salute
vas returned by officers on the stand.
Following the headquarters troops
vas the 116th Regiment of engineers,
ed by the regiment band. Just be-
ore the band reached the reviewing I
tand it played "Dixie," which was ,
eceived with many strong cheers and
utbursts of applause from thousands
+ people lining the streets, on each {
ide of South Tryon. Engineers are {