Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1919-01-16
HIGGINS WELCOMES SOLDIER
Village Folk Extent Greeting to vii
Liam Francisco


The following article on the reception
given by the higgins folk to W llian
Francisco, a soldier returae! from
France, was contributed
The village of Higgins were yer,
agreeaby surprised on January ( by Tho
arrival home of one Of her raunmcc
soldier boys who was the first yolun-
teer for the war for democracy from
the Salmon river country when William
Francisco sreturned from service in
France. Mr.. Francisco went from Free
dom, but being well acquainted at Rig
gins we also claim him as one of our
sons. Billy was in the aerial service
and while he had many perilous trips in
the air and did wonderful service in
this position he also was more or less in
other parts of the army which has de-
fcated the Huns and made the world
safe and sane place for all of the present
generation as well as for our descen-
dants. He served as a machine gunner
at the famous battle of Lyons with the
French as well as in many of the air
battles which were won by the Ameri-
can boys.
Billy being the first of the A. E. +.
boys to return to our part Of the world,
every one was anxious to meet him and
get first-hand news Of the conflict and
to say that he had plenty of questions
to answer is putting it very mildly, and
as it was impossible for us all to meet
him and talk to him personally, Mrs
Helen Toney, the proprietress of the
higgins hotel, gave a banquet in his
honor For those who know Mrs. Toney
there has been enough said regarding
the banquet, but for those who have not
had the pleasure of meeting her, we
might explain that it was a feed fit for
a king.
After the banquet was over and those
who had partaken had partially return
ed to II comfortable state from the feel
ing which always follows banquet of
this nature, Billy gave us a two-hour
talk ON what he seen on the other side
Of the world. He took us through the |
training camps from the time a "cow-
arrived until he was started |
across the pond. He had us seasick |
ON our imaginary trip across with him. !
then landed us on French soil He des- |
,ribed to us the feeling of first trip |
up into the air and down again, he told |
is the feeling Of seeing a bunch of Huns |
coming, the smell of the gas, described |
he gas masks and the discomforts of |
one, and also the effects of the |
yas from his personal experience. his
hospital eXverience, the feeling of get
ing lost from his company and wander
ng in trying to again locate them, the
,ood the Y. NJ. C. A. did as well as the
ied Cross and the Salvation Army, but
e asked us all as a kindness to him to
ot forget the Red Cross as he stated
hat we who stayed at home could not
ealize the good this organization did
Of the lonesome boys.
The question asked him would have (
red the patience of Job, but he ans 9
cred all in modest way which was |
ertainly "A treat to the assembled Rig @
mites. While Billy was the first to
turn we will all be just as glad to see
he other boys return and win give all y
lie same welcome when Uncle Sam has \
Id them they have done their duty e.
ell and allows them to return to our =
idst. After Billy had finished with ~
: talk the rest of the night was spent \
dancing at the higgins hotel y