Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-04
HUGE THRONCAT
STATION TO SEE
DRAFT BOYS OFF
Three Thousand People Jam Into
Milwaukee Yards To Bid Local
Men Farewell
LEAVE FOR FORT ROSENCRANs
Parade Through Loop Is Held at S
O'CIock-Many Touching Scenes
Are Witnessed.

In the midst of cheering, patri-
otto airs from two bands. heart
throbs and sobs Of relatives. the
special Milwaukee train bearing 1874
Rock Island county draft men
pulled out OF the Milwaukee yards
st the foot OF Fifteenth street at
S:35 last night, bound for Fort R0s-
eucrans. Cal.
The Milwaukee yards on the river
front was tust one mass of human
5ty most of the evening. it being
estimated that more than three
thousand people were on hand to
give the local boys a rousing send
of.
Five boys. Edward Weitz, Edward
Daebelliehn, George Woeber, ". H.
Wayne and John d. Mason, missed
the train. B. D. Connolly. clerk Of
the local board, put these boys on
later train at 1890 According to
a telegram received this morning
from Kansas City from Kenneth
Welch, who is in charge Of the con-
tingent, only two were missing
when roll was called there. these
being Edward Weitz and Edward
DaebeIIiehn. The local board has
as vet been unable to locate these
Two men. 1t is presumed they also
missed connections at Kansas City.
Much confusion attended the en-
trainment of the men last night,
most OF this being due to the i'm
mense crowd. The men called pre-
scented themselves for roll call at
4 O'Clock yesterday afternoon at the
Rock Island club. all being present.
Dinner was served at o'clock. the
members Of the canteen committee
Of the Red Cross waiting on the ia
bles.
At the club the Kings Daughters
presented each boy with a comfort
kit, and patrons Of Martins cigar
store distributed 200 packages of
smoking tobacco among them.
Formation Of the parade was
started Al I.50, but it was s o'clock
before the procession proceeded
through the loop district 10 the Mil
waukee station. In line was the ".
o. ". drill team. Rock Island Bel
American band, Bleuer's band.
Ill furnished by the local Eagles;
" Amoo grotto drum corps, G.. A. r.
drum corps, members of Red Cross.
Ladies Of the G. A R.. members OF
Amoo grotto. Boy Scouts and the
contingent of draft men. It was
after the parade the confusion
started and the board members had
great difficulty in checking up the
draft men on the train. B. d. Con-
nelly and DR.. G. L. Eyster, members
Of the board, rode on the train to
Davenport At that time the train
men stated that there were 169
men aboard. When Mr. Connolly
returned he found FIVE men who had
missed the train.
PathOs In Farewell.
Many touching scenes attended
the entertainment Of the local boys
The special train was sidetracked
Just below the freight depot, and
the crowd about the train was so
great that many were unable to get
within q half block of it. Many
climbed upon box cars nearby.
Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers,
sweeth carts and friends, those who
were able to get near the train.
sobbed q last farewell. Two women
tainted, but we're soon revived.
Many Of the boys lost track of their
kin and could not locate them when
the train pulled out Two bands
played almost continuously near
the train until leaving time, light
being furnished by torches. Many
who went 10 the Milwaukee station,
stood there and kept looking to the
east for some signs of the special
train, not knowing 1t was side
tracked below.
Traffic in the loop was complete
~ paralyzed during the time Of the
parade. Street cars were all off
schedule and many of the residents
Of the outlying district were unable
to get TO the loop in time to see
the train pull out
One aged man standing near the
train seized the hand OF one
Of the draft men. His eyes
were filed with tears and his emo
ton was 50 great that he was IN
able TO speak for a moment. 4
have a boy in the trenches" he sob
bed, Good luck and God bless you"
was his parting word.
The entertainment Of the boys last
night stirred patriotism to a fever
heat, and brought home to citizens
Of Rock Island in z forcible manner
that America is still at war.
The local contingent Joined with
Moline's quota of PIG men at Kan
sas City this morning. The men
will arrive at Fort Rosencrans
sometime Sunday Kenneth WEIGH
was in charge Of the men He was
assisted by Elias Musselman,
Charles Pogemiller and Charles
Wheelan.