Nogales international., 1938-03-19
Commander of the
Armies Still Commands

WHILE California threatened momentarily to wash
: INTO the Pacific and East and Midwest shivered
under sleet, snow and biting cold this past week
tucson, Justly proud of its famed winter sun, bask
ed IN the warming glow of the greatest publicity the
Old Pueblo ever received; publicity that could not
nave been bought for million dollars
Said more than 1,500 daily newspapers. carving
United FRESHMAN Harry Ferguson's by-lne story out
OF tucson one day during the week
ne General Pershing) was wheeled out on
sun-drenched veranda and for 40 minutes permitted
to absorb the healthful, warm winter sunshine for
which Tucson is famous -
BY weeks end General Pershng was so we'll that
ne basked In Tucsons for hours not minutes
and no secret made of the fact that the warmth
OF the sun was tremendous factor in the 7-yearold
soldiers recovery
Three weeks ago General Pershing last of the
World Wars great commanders, was stricken so i'll
he was moved from his winter home to Dr. Davison's
now world famous Desert Sanitarium immediately
dozens of top newshawks settled On Tucson, estab-
hshed death-watch and keep 100O00000 people
around the world posted such grave matters as
the Generals blood pressure his sinking heart beats,
the saddenlng news his kidneys had ceased function
ing.
Hundreds of thousands Of words went out of Tue
son by telephone, telegraph and teetype Picutres,
still and notion flew out Of the Old Pueblo on every
plane.
For week. two weeks and then into the third
week news reports said the General gallant fighter
that was, could not be expected to recover
A special Southern Pacific train was ordered by
the War Department to carry the Generals body to
Arlington Cemetery in military state Newspaper
men from Washington and New York renowned for
their ability to move emotions of million readers,
were ordered post-haste by their editors to Tucson
to accompany the train it's cross-nation trip of
mourning.
Then the miracle happened
General Pershing who once told newspapermen
that he would prefer die with his cavalry boots on
rallied His pulse beat became stronger His kidney
condition responded to treatment. His lungs gained
strength and the oxygen tent abandoned Glucose
nourishment injections were stopped and "Black
jack ravishingy slipped warm broth, later nunched
solid foods.
Thin worn by his terrific fight against death, the
General went into the sunshine daily for longer and
longer periods Eastern scribes, forced to discard
derbys and furlined COATS marveled at Tucsons Win
ter sunshine heard the doctors say the sun was the
Generals best healer.
The rest is history.
TucsOn's winter sunshine advertised by the Tue
son Chamber of Commerce when finances permitted,
leaped from advertising columns to front pages,
shared in credit for bringing back to continue
a colorful and dramatic life Americas World War
ry the title Commander of the Armies"
Most humorous of many humorous incidents oc-
curing in Tucson during General Pershings illness
was the story of Tucson Florist Hal Burns Antlcl-
patng flood of telegraphc orders for floral fnery
upon the flash Of the Generals death, smart Florist