Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1917-10-19
COMPANY N. 9Th
ILL. INF. LEAVE
COLORED COMPANY WHO HAVE
BEEN STATIONED HERE SEW
ERAL WEEKS WAITING FOR
ORDERS TO LEAVE, DEPART
ED FRIDAY EVENING.

The man who ploughs the frrrow
The man who fells the tree
The statesman and the scholar
At the first word OF fear,
Turn to their country breathing
My mother, am herel
The boys OF Company NJ. 9th H.
Inf. voiced the above sentiment FRI
day afternoon when in response to an
order received by Capt Arthur Viii
liams. Thursday, Company NJ. began
to pack up preparatory to leaving for
Houston, Texas. Company NJ. march
ed from their hall on 7th & Pearl Sta.
at 2 o'clock to the court house where
parade was formed. The Metro
polls band took the lead, followed by
Company H., then the colored pupils
of the Dunbar school who were in
turn followed up by the II. 8. Cadets
and scholars from tho different city
schools, and all marched to Washing
ton Park, where, according to a pro-
gram previously arranged by DIR. J.
A. Neville and others, several excel
lent talks which were listened to with
deep interest by Company NJ and 9th
ers of the vast crowd Of citizens pres
ent, were NADIA
Mayor T. +. Mccartney presided
over the program arranged and intro
duced the speakers billed for the &C.
casion-Judge ]. c. Courtney, Ed. w.
A. Spence, Sen. D. w. Helm and
Capt Arthur Williams of Company
NJ.
Judge Courtney was /. troduced as
the first speaker and he made a spir-
tied address TO Company NJ. and told
them that he was proud of them from
the fact that they had stood forth at
their country's call and had in a man
ner said to others of the white race:
We viii do the fighting in your
stead as thousands of you did for our
race back in the dark days of slavery
when the shackles of same were for
ever broken and we were permittd to
bask in the sunshine Of freedom" His
speech was highly applauded.
Rev. w. A. Spence followed Judge
Courtney in a short address and paid
a high compliment 10 the soldiers of
Company III. who were leaving. lie
voiced his deep appreciation Of the
great service rendered those. who had
it not been for Company d., would
have been forced to leave their happy
homes and hresides TO go forth and
meet the foe. He compiimented Capt.
Williams, Lieut.. Burke and the other
officers Of the Company on the excel
lent work they have done in turning
out one Of the best drilled Companies
in the state and told them that he
had no fears but what Company M.
would conduct themselves as gentle
men and soldiers should in time of
war and he believed they would de
liver the goods" and come back home
to their friends and families covered
with honors justly merited.
Senator ID. w. Helm made an ex-
cellent talk and complimented Com
pany NJ. on its fine appearance, the
progress they had made in drilling,
and also praised the officers for the
excellent order and discipline that had
been maintained and the work that
had been done for the past several
weeks which had developed Company
NJ. into a Company Of fine soldiers
that all were proud Of.
Capt. Williams next gave a most
interesting farewell talk that was ap-
preciated. He stated that he had i'm
plieit faith and confidence in the boys
and that they would bring home the
bacon"
Several songs were sung by the
schools, america" tramp, Tramp.
Tramp, the Boys Are Marching"
"Just Before the Battle Mother" etc,
and then Company NJ. lined up and
were presented with Comfort Bags
by the local Red Cross, Mr.. w. p.
Baynes, D. w. Helm, Mrs. J. c..
Courtney and Miss Bess Park being
chosen TO distribute same to the SOL
diers.
After q dYill given by Company NJ.
they formed q line and hundreds of
citizens shook hands with them wish
ing them a safe return back home.
They marched TO the !. C. depot later
on where a special train stood in wait
nig-four passenger coaches, bag
gage car, etc., and left at $50 for
Houston, Texas.
A large crowd was present at the
bhyeBdepot composed prlnciplayyf o
depot composed principally Of the
friends and relatives Of the soldiers
leaving, and as the train pulled out
one member of Company NJ. sang out: