The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-10-09
|E1NUK NURSES GIVEN
| GDDSPEED ON DEPARTURE

~ DAD uoaH
waving flags, the Keohuk contingent
of nurses were escorted to their
train as they started for active serv-
ice in the war.
The long column came marching
down Water street past the rear OF
the union station until it filled the
esplanade there from one end to the
other.
Scene at the Station.
The various civil organizations
stood In open order, while Captain
Powell's drill squad marched at port
arms as escort for the nurses through
the lines. At the lower end of the
station esplanade the nurses alight-
ed after which the column broke
ranks.
By that time the platform was
filled with people Goodbys were
said hastily. Every nurse was smil-
ing cheerily. The big band played
-'On the Hike" Conductor Riley
stood on coach platform, watch in
hand. The nurses were led to their
coach while the band played THE
Star Spangled Banner"
The train began to crawl, almost
imperceptibly at first Every mans
hat came off, and every woman's
handkerchief was waving, every flag
was floating, some from the elevated
position Of the tops of loaded trucks,
the band played "AuId Lang Syne,"
there were few shouts of goodby-
and the Keokuk contingent of nurses
had started for active service in the
war.
All Under Great Difficulties.
All this occurred in the semi-dark-
ness Of a dense fog in the very early
morning.
All those who participated had to
get up at 6 o'clock or earlier. and
the damp, chilly morning was no
more conductive to a large attend !
ance than was the unearthly hour. |
But Keokuk was thoroughly repre-
scented in the honors shown the
nurses. There was one exception
noticed:
Everybody is here except the
Country club people," said C. T. Nc
Farland, chairman of the Keokuk |
Red Cross, land not one of them is |
here. If you see one, tell me- |
want you to mention this as coming
from me-"
The Country club people is the
designation usually meaning the
smart set Of Keokuk. There were
two or three of them there.
Where keokuk Is Lucky.
"Keokuk is lucky to have man
its parades," said a man at the sta
ton
c. s. Abel, as marshal in com
mand of the whole thing this morn
ing, handled the unframed marchers
like q colonel handles a regiment He
was everywhere at once, keeping the
various organizations at proper dis.
lance, giving orders for the various
and keeping everything L
moving like military organization
throughout the march and at the sta
ion. He started his -s4--cession at
The Elks club as precisely on time
az the train started out of the sta
ion.
Before 1t started, he placed every
in it's place in line, an
;wered two or three questions at II
once, decided instantly number OF
and made tie thing go
With a remarkable precision. All the
line, he was so self-effacing that he
vas hardly noticeable. He has
,nOW0u genius IOf managing Dig
larades all this year that justifies
he remark of the man who said Keo-
luk Is lucky to have him for one OF
is busy citizens.
Nurses Who Went This Morning.
The nurses who volunteered under
he urgent call of the Red Cross and
vent to Camp Dodge with such
lonors were Josephine Blondil, Iona
icCoy, Ella Whittier, Helen Oertel,
Helen Sawyer, Lydia Howe, Daisy
Tale, Pearl Cassidy and Martha Haley.
Those who were ordered to leave
lext Saturday morning were at the
this morning and said
hey will accept the big demonstra-
ion of today as covering their de-
'arture also. They are Elva Wieg,
Ter, Roxie Phillips, Nellie Phillips
nd Florence Wahlgren.
Three nurses who were ordered to
amp in advance of those today were
Ivelyn Tate. Elizabeth Welsh and
lena Sansone who slipped off with
ut the public knowing about it sew
raj days ago.
A telephone message to the Keokuk
Ted Cross from Des Moines at 8
clock this morning said the inf1u-
MA endemic ia not imDrovinp much