The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-08-02
YOUNG MEN CHEERED
DEF|ED THE RAINFALL
Happy As They Marched On
Their Way To Berlin
.DRAF TIERS LEAVE CITY
Goodbyes Said BY Thousands Of
Grateful People; Supper
Was Served

Threatening clouds and a heavy
rain failed to daunt the spirit of Man
kato and Blue Earth county people
who gathered at the depot yesterday
afternoon to bid farewell to It's Sc
lected men who departed for train
ing at Camp Wadsworth, South Car
DINA. This was the largest quota to
ever leave the county and friends
and relatives gathered in the city in
large numbers to bid the men fare
well and Godspeed.
Just as the men were enjoying their
supper at the Masonic Temple a
heavy windstorm, followed by deluge
of rain sent spectators in the
streets scurrying for setter. The sud
denness with which the rain came up
MADE it impossible Cor a number to
get under cover and not few peo-
pie were thoroughly drenched before
the shower abated. The rain con-
tinued to fall all during the the aft
ernoon and just as the boys reached
the depot to entrain the rain came
down in sheets and the men hurried
into the coaches with all speed pos
Sible
Yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock
the men gathered at the court house
and were given final instructions with
regard to their trip and entrainment.
w. d. VillarS was appointed COM
mander of the IT'S men and assistant
squad leaders were also appointed at
this time. The assistant leaders were
assigned to the squads they were to
command and remained in charge OF
these men for the rest of the after
noon. Professor j. A. Hancock ad-
dressed the men at the court house
and wished them success and good
luck in the service.
Marched to Masonic Temple.
About five o'clock the men, escort
ed by Sheriff Anton Osten and Coun-
ty Auditor G. l.. Kennedy marched to
the Masonic Temple where a fine din
ner had been prepared by the ladies
of the Eastern Star. While the Blue
Earth county men were enjoying
their supper, the train bearing the
men from Lincoln, Lyons and Brown
counties arrived at 4:35.
IHGSc IuSu WtIc IllCt dI I1C uCpOI
by the Second Regiment band and Of
ficers of the national guard compan-
les. Captain Budd Cain was in
charge of the quotas from Lincoln
and Lyons counties and escorted these
Toys to the armory where the ladies
of the W. R. c. had prepared din
ner fer the men. The Brown coun-
ty contingent was marched to the
Swedish Lutheran church where din
ner was served. A train of eleven
coaches with two engines brought
these men to the city,
The last quota to arrive in Manka-
to were the st. Peter boys. They did
not reach the city until nearly six
o'clock. Captain Fred Otto of the
Supply company was in charge of the
Swedish Lutheran church where they
also, were served dinner. The Mic
ollet county contingent numbered
forty men, The total of the other
quotas was 100 men, comprised of
sixty from Lincoln county, one hun
dred from Lyons and thirty from
Brown county.
Men Show Fine Spirit.
Despite the rain and storm the
boys had fine time and appeared
to enjoy themselves greatly during
the dinner hour. They sang and
cheered and seemed in the best Of
humor. Many of the men from neigh
boring counties had been soaked in
their march to dinner. but did not ap-
pear to mind this in the least
IF we never have to do anything
more than this to lick the kaiser I'm
good for all night in the rain" sang
one of the Nicollet county men as he
sprinted up the street through the
rain on his way to the Swedish Luth-
eran church
While the men at the armory were
eating dinner the Second regiment
band took their places on the plat
form and played number of selec-
lions. The original plans for a par
ade by the men with a military es-
cort were carried out. The rain had
abated considerably and it was decid-
ed that the original plans would be
carried out
Men from Blue Earth county were
marched to the armory about six
o'clock and took their places inside
until the line of march could be
formed. While the men were waiting
committee of ladies passed out.
frappe to all the men, As soon as
they had finished supper the Nicol-
let and Brown county men were
marched to the armory from the
Swedish Lutheran church and the
line of march was formed.
The procession was headed by the
Second Regiment band, followed by
M. d. Fritz and c. w. Fisher, repre-
sentatives of the canteen committee.
who had charge of the arrangements
for supper for the men. C company
of the home guards under command
of Lieutenant John R.. Snow formed
the military escort for the mon and
was next in line. After the company
the neighboring county quotas from
NiCollet, Brown. Lincoln and Lyons
counties followed in the order given.
The Blue Earth contingent brought
up the last of the line. Captain Roy
Allison, Sheriff Osten and County
Auditor G.. L. Kennedy were at the
head of the procession of home col1n-
ty men. A full It's strong the boys
made an exceptionally, fine showing
and the long ranks of men, four
abreast as they marched on through
the rain seemed to carry a message
of the determination and purpose of
this county in the struggle.
Crowds Packed the Streets.
al along the line of march, up
Second street to Cherry, down Cherry