Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-08-02
FINE SENO-OFF FOR
NEGRO REG|STRANTS
When 6S3 Colored Draftees Left
Delaware Yesterday for Camp
Upton, N. Y.

The 40 Negro registrants who went
from Wilmington yesterday afternoon to
Camp Upton, \. Y, were gwen cordial
send-off not only by their own race, but
bv the community generally A credit
able parade by colored organizations
lad been arranged, with plenty of music,
dc. and the new soldiers made a good
appearance as they marched down Market
street AZ French street station they
were Joined by the delegations from the
rural districts. making a total OF tSh
for the State. who went to Camp pton
on special tram The members Of the
draft boards marched at the head Of the
several divisions and the rcgisfrantS
carried flags, making patriotic demon
stration.
The scenes attending the departure
Of the men were inspiring and rcplctc WITH
heart interest In the first place It was an
apparently happy and carc-frce con
tingent, and gloom had no place IN the
ranks of the marchcrS. In the line oi
march. some of the rcglstrants were seen
with their arms affectIonatelv thrown
about the shoulders Of their little ones;
while proud mothers and wives marched
beside their sons or husbands. Five
engines added their greeting along the
line of march.
As the train pulled out Of the station
carving the 653 Delaware rcglstrantS,
great cheer went up from the throug~
packed about rho station, punctuatcd
with many a God bless YOU boys
Their special train Of Is coaches pulled
out about 1 O'Clock
MAYOR HEADS PARADE
The parade was headed by police
escort. followed by Mayor Lawson. Chiet
Marshal Edgar Starring and representa-
tivcs az the organizations participating.
Tho Paul Laurence Dunbar lodge OF
ElkS. that contributed 100 members 10
Yesterdays quota. made tine showing IN
line. Al the head of their division was a
banner bearing the slogan Over here,
with figure Of a clock pointing - II
@ clock. the mystic hour Of Elkdom WhlIr
beneath il were the words. Hello hlll-
Nero organizations turned ouf 10
salute the men and lined French street
from Sixteenth street 10 Eleventh. where
The turn was made towards the oh court
house. t> the draftces passed IN the
middle Of the street, the organizations
stood nj salute until the last man had
passed Among the organizations to
attend in body were. The Nasons. the
knights of PvthlaS, the Odd Fcil"wS,
all in full attire, ard II" fIkS hearing
the sign. The Flks are feet Of foot and
are sure to get the KAISER. and the sons
Of Veterans in khaki.
Previous to leaving the headquarters
Of the local boards comfort KITS were
distributed tn the men by Red Toss
unit. This arrangement proved 10 he = |
time saver nv eliminating the task OF
distributing the Kits At the station. as
was the custom with the previous quotas
As the men proceeded towards Market |
street, later Joining the 222 men from
board al the old court house, who took |
up an entire block IN the parade. the |
business section of the city seemed 70 have |
taken a recess To see the boys of ami |
many were the exchanges Of z oodtYce from |
those in the parade and the thousands Ct |
spectators lining Market street IN one |
thick mass Of humanity.
At the station and right al the front |
of the trains. the drafted men were greeted !
by two colorcd Red Cross units. tie West /
End Willing Workers and the Home
Nurses Association Of the Red Cross
headed by Mrs Ella Waters and Miss
Mary Waters respectively, who supphcd
the BOYS with cigarettes and candy 70
last them all the way 70 the camp
Or. 5. G. Gilbert, on his own behalf dis
tributed cigars and other smokes among
the bows He was assisted IN several
friends The mayors committee, toe,
distributed smokes.
Once entrained, the registrants crowded
the car windows and sang Justify over
There" as they waited for the train to
move.