The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-10-20
LAST MANS
CLUB MEETS
Buddies Who Hadn't Met Since
1918 Shake Hands; "a
Attend Conclave.

Sd11A1O1l I4OOPo AAAoA NAASSA
officers barked orders-the great war
that ended 20 years ago was lived
again as IA members of the Last Mans
club gathered in the Ely Community
Center for their seventh annual con-
vention. Buddies who hadn't seen each
other since 1918 shook hands and re-
called life in the coast artillery corps,
of which they were all members.
They elected w. H. Schirmer, Hib-
bling, president; j. H. Edman, Hibbing,
first vice president; reelected A. E.
johnson, Virginia, secretary treasurer;
named the Iron Ore capital the site of
the 1899 convention, and heard many
greetings from members who could not
be present, including one from Col. w.
H. Tobin, San Francisco, in charge of
their regiment, before adjourning to
the cafeteria where they were treated
to a banquet featuring roasted venison,
served by local service men.
After the dinner, a short program, in
which many of the visitors took part,
was presented, with Jacob L. Pete, re-
firing president, as POSTMASTER. Ernest
W. Hanson scored a hit with his imper-
sonation of a Swedish veteran and Fred
LaLonde, Virginia, who bears the title
of official entertainer for the club,
created plenty of laughter with his wit.
H. j. Dillon led in community singing,
with George Matesha playing the piano
accompaniment. Anton Perushek,
Louis Senta and John Fink, Boy Scout
instrumental trio, presented several
numbers. DR.. j. E. Thompson and C.
G. Carlton, Tower, also contributed to
the program. Motion pictures of the
Ely territory, in charge of Ray Hoefler,
were shown.
A quart bottle of Dry Monopole
champagne made in 1888 and import
ed from Reims, France, was presented
to the club by Harry Goldenberg, Du-
luth. 1t will he opened by the last
two members, and will replace the
bottle of wine originally set aside for
the final member.
Carl Messenger, Virginia, brought a
personal greeting to the club from Col
onel Tobin whom he visited while on
the west coast for the national con-
vention of the American Legion. In
reply to this message and one written
to Secretary Johnson, the club sent a
telegram wishing the colonel "best
wishes and asking that you arrange to
attend our 1899 meeting at Hibbing."
Long life, happiness and good luck, -
COLONIAL -
tary, ito the men of the Last Mans
club who offered their lives for their
country on the other side when their
country called, and who never shirked
their duty. May God watch over you
in your years TO come and may those
years be many and prosperous -"
The Army Artillery Park of which
the coast artillery corps was a part was
the only group of its kind to leave this
country. Organized under the English
system, its spent three months at the
front and took part in the battles of
st. Mcneil and Muese Argonne.
Seven years ago E. F. Bauer, Hopper,
Mimi, j. G. Milroy and Mr.. Johnson,
Virginia, organized the Last Mans club
among artillery corps members who left
northern Minnesota Dec. II, 1917, for
Fort Scott at San Francisco. The first
meeting was held in Duluth.
Today these men, who once resided in
this section of Minnesota, are scattered
through six other states, including Cal
ifornia, Illinois, North Carolina, Massa-
chussets, Michigan and Wisconsin.
On the clubs honor roll are the fol-
lowing deceased members: Henry O
Ojala, Ely; Sam Petro, C. C. Corbitt
John Buckley, Duluth; Ralph C. Lund-
berg, Rooney Staff, Virginia; William
Messner, James D. O'Brien, Hibbing;
Emil c. Finnala, Aurora; Alfred Mark
er, Two Harbors; Captain Murphy, Sar
Francisco; Alex Allia, Erick Carlson
James Wade, David Hoark, Thomas
(COntinlled on Last PapeD