Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-04-02
Marathon COuntys Fourth Contingent Of
Selected Men (YOlunteers) Highly
EIOnOred Before Departure
Leaving Home on a Glorious Day; Escorted to the
Train by Thousands of Our Citizens; Band Played
Whistles Blew; Crowd Cheered

The realization of war is constantly
brought home to us. On Friday morn
ing. March 29, 1918, the fourth con-
tingent Of selected men from Mara
thon county, numbering thirty-one, de-
parted for Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill
Last Thursday afternoon the bows
were notified to appear at the court
house before the exemption boards, at
which time they were inducted into
the military service of the United
States. They were given instructions
and took the cath, and Immediately
following entered into the service of
their country. During the afternoon
they also had their pictures taken.
The Rotary club of Wausau had
planned a banquet in honor of the
boys, which was to have been served
at the First Methodist church by the
ladies, on Thursday evening, but it
was impossible to get all the boys
together on that evening, so it was
necessary to cancel this affair. The
boys, however, living in Wausau, spent
the evening at their respective homes
with relatives and friends Tickets
for the Bijou theatre were given each
boy on Thursday for the evening
show, and all those who wanted to go
to this moving picture house could
do so.
On Good Friday morning, at an early
hour, our citizens began to gather at
the court house square to get in line
for the parade and do honor to the
members of the contingent leaving on
this day on special train on the Mil
waukee & st. Paul railroad for Camp
Grant. Citizens, young and old, and
from every walk in life took part in
the big parade and escorted the boys
to the depot. The line of march was
headed by the band followed by the
Tenth Separate Company in full uni
form, the exemption boards, selected
men, school children carrying flags,
and lastly citizens. The procession
was formed on the corner of Fourth
and Jefferson streets, during which
time the band gave a concert in the
band stand on the court house square,
followed by the march down Third
street, turning on Scott and going di-
rectly to the coaches awaiting them,
where they left with smiling faces
and will prepare to fight for a worthy
cause.
Upon arriving at the place where
the boys entrained, the band played
several patriotic selections, while the
fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers and
friends OF the boys crowded around
them to bid them farewells and God
Speed. Tear-stained faces were in
evidence, but even so the boys were
as brave as any that have left Wau-
Sau and Marathon county, and as the
Nvnf 70. tD1 10 AI,N
immense crowd, every one cheered,
whistles blew and the band played,
and helped in a large measure to
console "the folks at home" that the
boys were leaving for a worthy and
needy cause, and one for which we
must make big sacrifices if necessary.
A large number of Marathon county
boys are now stationed at Camp Grant,
and we can feel assured that when this
contingent reached camp they were
met with open arms by boys from
here, who have been there for some
time. They will get-to-gether and talk
about great many things. For in
stance the boys who nave been at
this camp for some time will want to
know about every body back home,
etc, etc, while the boys leaving here
on Friday will be getting more and
more anxious about the work they are
supposed to do for Uncle Sam, and
will keep the full fledged Marathon
county soldiers at Camp Grant busy
answering questions as to the novelty
of the training for war work and so
forth.
The following were members of this
contingent:
FIRST DISTRICT
Frank M. Braun, Racine.
Frank McHugh, Edgar
Raymond L. Parrett, Spencer.