Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-01-06
bends Morning and Aft.
y ernoon in Inspection Of
/ Rock Island Arsenal.

Triumphal music blared a well
ruone and banners waved a greet
ius as the former comman-
dsr Of Americas expedition
ay force in France, Gener-
Il John ]. Pershing. alighted
from the steps Of his private car
to the station platform in Daven-l
mort. at 9:15 o'clock this morning.
The air was filed with misty rain
driven by cold wind, but unmind-
full Of this a great throng of people
hacked Main street for block in
each direction about the station,
pressing ever forward for. just a
glimpse Of the distinguished Off
Ger.
Policemen standing at entrances
sto the station platform kept all but
those directly interested in the gen.
erals reception from the elevated
space. Several photographers, per-
! haps fifty service men in uniform,
s.press representatives and the re-
.Heption committee composed the
roup which filled the platform.
ySomewhat to one side was the Ot-
tumwa American Legion band,
which greeted the generals appear
lnce with spirited martial music.
Mayor Lee J. Dougherty of Dav-
enport was first to step out of the
car door, having in formal manner
met the general inside. Pershing
stepped ont upon the car platform
and paused moment. He looked
around slowly, His hand rose in
salute to the Stars and Stripes held
rigidly upright by the color bearer
Of a line of service men who stood
At attention along the station plat
form, facing the car. Then he sa-
luted the rest Of the crowd, and
stepped down to the station plat
prm, closely followed by Mayor
Dougherty and several officers.
Camera men refused to be over
awed by military dignity and those
who waited with their lenses
trained upon the spot where he
should alight were no exception.
.hey kept him waiting for nearly a
minute, while they adjusted their
Instruments.
All right, 60 ahead and shoot.
] won't be here very long" said
the general, not losing in the least
his human smiles The cameras
licked, and Pershing passed on to
be first Of the ex-service men
drawn up for inspection. Here his
famous characteristic of giving
3the personal touch to a formal
greeting, was noticed. for he had a
kindly word for each of the dough-
boys there to meet him.
Shaking hands with each he
would say to one, Hello, my boy"
70 another, "Glad to see you" to a
third, We'll, l see you were all
the way over-six months? Fine"
Particular attention went to the
Boys with wound stripes on their
sleeves. What was your wound?"
asked Pershing of one, and on re-
celving the answer asked again,
All right now, strong again."
Never hurried. always with a
CHEEKY word and smile for the par
tlcular person he came in contact
with. and yet animated with a mill
Mry briskness. gentle voice for a
man, with nevertheless the hint of
hre and steel sounding occasion
any pleasant and yet a rugged
countenance, a man of work and
a mind swayed by cool, quick
tncughts-is the impression Perish
ing leaves upon those who meet
him.
colonel Harry Evans. Lieutenant
0C Coionels Simpson, Reid and Wald-
N, as well as several other OH
rs, we're introduced to the gen.
N BY Colonel Harry B. Jordan,
Vmmandant Of the arsenal. when
nersning finished his inspection OF
ns ex-soldiers. The party then
passed to the waiting squadron OF
automobiles. The first in the pa
saoe held press representatives
,us second held the general, the
davenport mayor. one of the aides
ana q driver. The other cars car.
nea members Of the reception COM
ml1tee and the officers in the Wis
itins group.
'ne ride through Davenport was
sensational occasion. Thousands
vIowded the streets along the
.Vute. trying to catch first sight oi
- great man. Cheering. shouting
~ waving flags filed the air as
~ automobiles slowly passed by
sao when the last had gone the
svo filled up the gap, rush
~ forward to remain near the
aerai as long as possible. They
e threatened by the wheels o.
car and only the repeated
.rninss Of the occupants OF thu
Pings. ~ ppe
rershing was "in clover" how,
ssef' several times when the route
pSssea through the vicinity of {
ssnoos The schools had been dis
Massed and the hundreds o
svunssters were there, lining tn,
eet to add their small cries t
~ general tumult. They surget
.'aafd as the automobile bearing
- ,ts 'front.' the gold-bordered scar
laS with four gold stars In thu