The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-03-23
WHEN JOHNNIE CAME
MARCHING Home
Saturday, Crowds Met Him
at Depot in Welcome.
And the Board of Trade Gave Him a
Banquet at Hotel James on
Monday Evening.

The Band of the Second Florida In
fantry, which has been on border duty
in Texas for some six months, ar
rived home on the 11:30 p. m. train
over the Atlantic Coast Line R'y last
Saturday night. More than hun
dred Palatkans met them at the train
with automobiles. They moved down
Lemon street from the depot in a pro-
cession; autos shrieked and the young
men yelled welcome; then the band
played. Arriving down town, before
dispersal, the band played Home,
Sweet Home" One old fellow was
walked from his sleep in a hotel; at
| first he was inclined to be resentful;
then when he realized what it all
meant, he said "Hip-hip- -hurrah! Set
| em up again!"
Palatka is proud of its Second Reg
iment Band! 1t has every reason to
be. Did you hear it play at the cor
ner of Lemon and Third streets Mon
day evening? If you did then you
understand one reason why Palatka is
"some stuck" over this band. 1t is
some music maker Mark Shaw was
the leader. He is back in the post
office now; humdrum civil service. He
is some leader.
The personal of the band arriving
Saturday night is: Mark Shaw, leader;
w. w. Smith, assistant; w. C. Beas-
ley, J. C. Merwin, w. H. Griggs, E.
D. Simms, L. w. Estey (Kissimmee),
R. L. King, C. J. Hudson, L. E. Grid
ley, E. X. Sumner, John Marshall, H.
S. Allen, E. Hubbard (Rodman), Sam
Rosenthal (Tampa), and H. R. easier,
w. O. Thomas and H. L. Dawes of
Kissimmee. On arrival in Palatka the
band was in command of Lieutenants
Baker and Hampton, who could not re-
main for the Monday night banquet.
After the concert on Monday even
ing the band attended a banquet at
the Hotel James provided by the Board
of Trade. Col. H. M. de Montmollin
was toast master. Rev. R. L. Bon
steel gave the invocation that reach
ed the Throne, for it stirred the spiri-
tual emotions of all who heard it.
Col. Hilburn made a speech of well
come and preparedness; he told the
| pONS lI6tJ Nllllc lIlSy IletI SCtll llO ltdl
fighting, they went prepared to do so
in the case of need and that act made
them heroes. He told them he
wouldn't care to engage even for his
country in a fight of conquest, but
when the honor of his country was be-
ing spit upon he'd fight to the finish.
Then he told 'em something calculated
to make 'em all proud of their coun-
try, and when he sat down there were
lust 60 better Americans in the group
around the tables. If there had been
more present there would have been
more patriots; Sam Hihurn landed all
wi+hin the sound of his voice.
Mavor Merriam also talked and he
"cinched" all the good impressions
made by Hilburn. Hizzoner is some
tailor on patriotism, himself.
Then followed talks by f. M. Earn
est, nre=ident of the hoard of trade, al
so chuck-a-bock with patriotic utter
nrrns ard words of welcome and chow
rroud we all are" etc, w. Edw Wat
t1ov. thpr talked in chat pleasing kind
Of prattlp" chow my bozzum swells
with pride" etc. Capt. John D.
! Points, who had experience as "a hero
in the strife" when we were plaving
, With Spain. made good talk from
the shoulder John is soaked with pa
triotism clear through, and when, it
.oozes there is something doing. He
is also directly descended from one
Of the F. F. VS., a section of the
country where natriotism once work.
ed overtime without extla pay.
Moroor Doui- na11aI 11OnO 70