The Adair County news., 1919-04-30
BIG DAY FOR COLUMBIA
Thousands Of People Here TO See
- the Airplane Which Scared
Over the Town and
County.
OTHER COUNTIES WERE REPRESENTED.

The Liberty Loan drive pulled off
here last Thursday was a success in
so far as getting the people together.
The crowd was notified to be at the
Fair Grounds at 10 a. m, and at that
time the amphitheater and grounds
we're swarming with humanity. But
the airplane was not on time, having
met with an accident. in starting
from Camp Taylor, and it was between
and o'clock before it was observed
approaching the grounds. When it
came in sight all heads were up, and
for some minutes there were contin-
uous cries. "Yonder it u.s." "Here it
comes" 1t scared for some time over
the grounds and town, and then to
the lighting place - on Mr.. r. T.
Rowe's farm, beyond the bridge.
While the engine tank was being re-
filled the speaking commenced from
stand in front of the amphitheater.-
The first speaker was Sergeant Ben
Worley, who was followed by DR..
Charles WEIGH, both speakers being
from Louisville. They were intro
duced by Judge w. W. Jones. The
first speaker spent seven months in
France and was often on the firing
line. He told his story in an interest
ing and patriotic manner, and his
praise of the heroic Americans who
were in the thickeSt of the fighting
was Justify cheered. His story of the
dead, wounded and manned was pa
thetic, bringing tears to many hearers.
At the conclusion of his speech DR..
WEIGH took the stand and began his
address, but before he had spoken ten
minutes the airplane again made its
appearance, and it was impossible for
as good a speaker as he is to hold the
crowd, and it left the stand for the
grounds. After so long a time the
crowd again came together and the
speaker concluded, though he icouId
not speak, for the confusion, with any
degree of satisfaction to himself nor
the audience. People were continu-
onsly walking upon the floor of, the
amphitheater and babies we're crying.
Buying bonds and why they should
be purchased were the principal
themes Of the speakers. and their ap-
peals brought good results. The
amount raised, sixty thousand dol
lars To this add four thousand six
hundred that had been subscribed a
day or two before the meeting and
you have sixty-four Thousand. six hun
dred of the ninety-eight thousand
that the county has to raise. 3 The
solicitors, numbering fifteenIor; twen-
ty, now see their way clear to ''go
over the top" Quite number of la,
dies were active during the day, and
also fifteen or twenty gentlemen. 1t
is impossible to get all the names Of
the solicitors, but they all did good
work. Mrs. Mary J. Brakeman,
of this place, was the largest subscri.
Der. She purchased five thousand
dollars worth of bonds.
The local officers of the drive are
6. r. Reed, District Chairman; T. E.
Jeffries, County Chairman; John Lee
Walker, Sales Director; ]. c. Strange
Publicity Chairman.
The route laid down for the plane
was from Camp Taylor to Columbia
Columbia to jamestown and from
jamestown to Liberty, and from Lib
erty back to Columbia. When th,
<machine left this place in the direc
ton of jamestown it got out of com
mission, and reaching the Montpelie,
section. it had to reverse it's wing.
and sail back in order to reach Cam
Taylor before night.
The missing of Jamestown and Lib
erty was a great disappointment, a
thousands Of people had gathered a
these points.
These towns will probably be give
an opportunity little later to see
plane in action.