The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-05-20

i Bemidji and southern Beltramf
county Joined Saturday afternoon in
one of the most spectacular parades
ever staged in the county. 1t was
the prelude to the opening. of the
nationwide campaign Of the Amer
ican Red Cross drive for a war fund
of $2O0,000,000 and a conservative
Elephants in the line at 1000, while
humanity packed the walks and autos
:held hundreds more .''
:. Bemidji ji&turnedtout, towns and
villages turned out. The people of
the farm turned out, and all Joined
in the spirit of the occasion. 4"
Parade Was Faultless.
The parade was put together in
faultless manner, decidedly un-
usual feature of parade formations
of magnitude. e. H. Denu was in
charge of this part of the program
and he chose as his grand marshal
Chief Ripple of the police depart
ment The latter in turn selected
his block captains. Grouping of
units were on cross streets, the units
facing Beltrami avenue. The head
of the long line started on Eighth
street and as the end of the line
passed other streets to the south,
the units grouped thereon swung in
to line and paraded the business dis
trict, and to Library park where it
disbanded.
A speaker was scheduled to be
present from Minneapolis but failed
to come as assured by wire, and that
part Of the program was omitted.
Colorful Pageant.
Heading down Beltrami avenue,
the long procession presented an ami
mated riot of color as it stepped to
cadance of martial music from the
bands and drum corps. Chief Ripple
led the calvacade mounted on horse
bearing on it's breast q huge red
cross, backed by a white shield. The
bride and reins were also patriot.
fcally decorated.
Band Heads Line. -
The head of the line was the Four
teenth battalion, Home Guard, band
In two detachments came the Home
Guard, under command Of Captain
Swinson, the sanitary corps Of the
Fourteenth battalion accompanying.
The Fourth Minnesotans command
ed by Captain Franklin, were next
and made splendid showing. Fol-
lowing them came Carr post, G. A.
r., and the Ladies Circle Of the G..
A. r., and the veterans, proudly car
rying the flag they fought for, re-
ceived applause all along the route
traversed. ~. i.l.. >.,' s,.'
,'"' Surgical Dressing Glass.
The Red Cross surgical dressing
class made fine showing also. The
pleted, as many members are also
members of other organizations, and
the juniors also marched with the
adult organization.
Wilton's Red Cross was splendidly
represented by it's Red Cross ladies,
several of them in the uniform Of
the surgical department.
The Swedish Lutheran Unity club
also turned out it's membership, be-
ing we'll represented, patriotically
decorated pony cart filled with chill
dren in gala attire being an accom-
panying float.
65 Stars in Flag.
st. Philips Red Cross circle was
another unit that made a splendid
showing, American and British flags
being much in evidence, while the
service banner with it's 65 stars oc
cupied a conspicuous position OF
honor.
The Methodist Ladies Aid, in ad-
.dition to it's patriotic flags and ma
tional coloring, also proudly flung
it's service flag to the sunlight. The
Baptist church was likewise repre-
sented and the Lutheran ladies
Haunted a we'll starred service flag,
as did the Presbyterian church la
dies.
The trim Bemidji Y's girls were al