Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-07-23
PHENOMENAL FAREWELL
Big Contingent Leaves-PatriOtic Ad-
dresses and Music-Business
Suspended

dresses and Music-Business
Suspended
There was no question about the
| interest of Wausau and Marathon
county's citizenry in their soldier
boys last evening and this morning
when a phenomenal number gathered
here for a tangible demonstration OF
| that interest. There is no way to
estimate the number present, other
than to say thai everybody was there
On Monday afternoon the contin-
gent, numbering ACT of Marathon
county's fine men, gathered in the
city, the first district at the city hall
and the second district at the court
house. Roll call was taken, and they
were properly. indicted into the SER
vice of their country by the Exemp-
ton boards, given instructions as, to
entertainment, had pictures taken, etc.
They were then excused until this
morning at nine o'clock when they
were asked to report for roll call, and
to be present for the final ceremon-
les previous to their departure
At an early hour this morning men,
women and children gathered on our
streets, in the court house square,
in the circuit court room and at the
depot by the thousands, to bid fare
we'll to the selects. During the time
the usual activities were going ON in
city hall and county building, the
Tenth Infantry band in full uniform
played several patriotic airs. Com
pany G, Tenth Regiment, w. N. G.,
was divided into two squads, and es-
corted each group of selects. Instead
of leading the groups they formed in
line on each side and kept the large
crowd of people away, SO that every
thing run along smoothly, and so
as not to delay entrainment The
very long procession to the depot was
headed by the band, followed by Sc
lects of District No. and
District No. 2, members of the
Exemption boards, representatives
of the Marathon County Council of
Defense, and Marathon War Fund, the
Loyalty Legion and K. c. cadets, and
citizens, and marched to the G.. M. &
st. p. train awaiting them, going down
Third street to Franklin and east on
Franklin street to the depot. School
children gathered in line on Frank
lin street between Third and Seventh
streets.
At this time, just before entrain-
ment, there was a lull, which gave
way to unrelenting things, to things
deep down in the hearts of those af-
fected by the departure. 1t was not a
tirop for CT in ha Iiua,
of those so fully aware of what the
possibilities of the future had in store
the invisible distance of the reunion
was serious barrier, especially to
those left at home. 1t was doIbiy
hard for many today, as no one was
allowed to say goodbye at the depot.
Owing to the large number of
selected men leaving this morning it
was necessary to draw the lines with
reference to saying "farewells," more
strictly than on any previous occasion.
Heretofore relatives could go to the
train and were at liberty to go where
the young men were entraining. This
morning relatives had to say their
good-byes before nine o'clock, the
hour set for the selected men to
gather. This had to be done on ac-
count of the very large number leav-
ing and the further fact that bust
ness in the city, all the morning was
practically suspended, making the
crowd unusually large.
After roll call in the court room,
where the second district selects were
remarks and introduced the speaker,
C. B. Bird
Mr.. Bird delivered an eloquent ad-
dress to the selects in the very short
time he had to give it, which was very
well received by them, according to
the applause he received. He said in
part: There are times in the lives
of all men, when they have to stand
up for themselves and be men even
against hardships. The man, who
when he is going away from his home,
has not some sentiment in him,
and some regret for his departure,
is not much of a man and will not
make much of soldier. On the whole
| want to congratulate you boys be-
cause it is an opportunity for con-
gratulations. Uncle Sam has found
every one of you physically and men
tally fit to do mans job, one which
you can be well proud of, for there
is nothing higher than standing up
for your country and defending it's
rights and freedom. You are going
into this thing because there is great
turmoil taking place in the world to-
day. We built a nation over here,
which is run for the benefit of the
people. We never supposed that we
would be molested by any country,
and by despotic rulers. After Germany
became well prepared for the big
struggle, and after a short while of
hghting was not satisfied with the way
things were going, so went into poor
little Belgium, and destroyed the
country and people, also making them
slaves. They finally went further
and further and attacked our people
on the high sea, and the Kaiser stated
| that he did not care about the rights
of our people, only the interests OF
Germany. The Kaiser stated that he
would take no foolishness from
America and would soon turn on us
Uncle Sam had taken all he was going
to and had tried very hard to keep
ont of the war but he finally said tC