The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-04-03
BOYS PARADE IN COLUMBIA
Units of The goth Division Now Be-
ing Discharged


ing with the JOY of victory, faces
sobered by the thoughts Of the car,
mage through which they had passed
and by realization of the successful
termination of the high adventure
upon which they embarked nearly
twelve months ago, 1000 virile, stall
wart Americans, the choicest prod
ucts of the South, paraded through
the streets of Columbia this after
noon, between banks of massed hu-
manity, from which mighty cheers
arose, the plaudits of graceful South
Carolians, North Carolians, Tennes-
seeans and the folk of other States:
1t was the initial appearance OF
the Fifty-ninth brigade of the fight.
ing Thirtieth division, composed
principally of men from North and
South Carolina and Tennessee, with
a sprinkling of soldiers from western
States. but Americans all, welded in
to blood-brothers by the fires Of bat
tie and by the trials and vicissltudes
undergone by these greatest OF mod
ern crusaders.
All Records Broken
The parade and subsequent enter
tainment and celebration were un-
paralelled in the history Of this city
in the character of the event and the
size of the crowd, which has oeen
variously estimated at from loo,ooo
to 125,000 peoples.
The emotions of the crowd were
complexed. Roar after roar OF cheers
welled upward as the men OF the
Thirtieth marched in close forma-
tion. Platoon front headed by their
brigade commander, Brig. Gen. l.:
D. Tyson, of Knoxville, Tenn, and
his staff; but occasionally a SOB
could be heard from a black-veiled
figure for one who now hes under
the sod Of France or in Flanders
fields, democracy's contribution to
humanity and freedom. The faces OF
parents, whose sons were in the pa,
rade, radiated with joy, pride and
relief that t,,"" had escaped the su-
prene sacrifice, while others their
hero undctected in the sameness OF
the khaki-clad lines, gazed tensed in
suspense, with heart-hunger IN their
ewes. Winsome matrons, with in
fants in their arms, looked for hus-
bands, perhaps to introduce father
and baby. Bent men and aged wom-
en-, their hair whitened by years and
faces scanned from hardship, looked
upon the martial spectacle and their
youth with its miraculous leavening
almost seemed to return to them.
Veterans of the war between the
States, thinking of the battles of the
South they fought through four long
wears, became more erect and more
soldierly in bearing and would liked
to have Joined with the warriors OF
this generation. Young girls would
point with pride to their sweethearts
or fances.
At Every Vantage Point
Along the whole line Of March of
over three miles. every conceivable
vantage point was occupied by men.
women and children. Along Main
street the windows of every build
ing were jammed and men and boys
clung to hazardous perches aloft.
The top of every building was firing
ed with humanity.
The city, in honor of the Thirtieth,
had been extensively decorated, the
buildings being festooned with red,
white and blue bunting and hung
with the National Emblem and the
flags of the Allies.
Incandescent lights are arched
across Main street
After the parade the city was
turned over to the soldiers and they
were entertained by the people Of
the State. They thronged the streets
in the afternoon and night and every
thing possible was done for their
comfort and to add to the hilarity
Of the occasion. Booths had been
erected along Main street, and from
these the men were supplied with
various sorts of refreshments. the
gift of Columbia and other cities Of
the State.