Breathitt Bids Farewell to Soldiers

Jackson Times - May 31, 1918

Last Saturday morning, early, the ringing of the courthouse bell called together the people of the town for a leave taking of the Breathitt County boys who, called by the third draft, were going to Camp Zachary Taylor, preparatory to a trip to France to aid the hard-pressed allies in their fight against the Huns.

Soon the house was filled and Hon. James H. Hammons, acting as chairman and master of ceremonies, called for order and introduced Hon. E. C. Hyden as the first speaker, and it is only fair to say that Mr. Hyden made a good speech; one that dealt with history and causes of the war, and full of good advice to the outgoing young men. He was followed along similar lines by Hon. South Strong, county attorney, who promises to see that all slackers and those guilty of spreading German propaganda were vigorously dealt with. After Mr. Strong came Hon. John W. Taulbee, who was followed by Prof. J. C. Hanley, president of Lees Collegiate Institute, who in that dignified, eloquent, and clear-cut speech of which he is so well the master, bid the boys goodbye and told how earnestly he hoped they would return without being wounded in their bodies or in their morals, after which Prof. H. H. Harris and Hon. A. H. Patton made a couple of those earnest speeches of which they are capable. Then came the 78 young men, and on each one was pinned a lovely white silk badge by the the young girls who made up the local Red Cross, and this was supplemented by a fresh red rose, given to each and all by Miss Georgia Sewell, who, with others, pinned them on the lapels of the coat of each soldier, and then falling in line they marched to the depot where assembled the largest crowd, it is said, seen in the town since the hanging of Bad Tom Smith.

The soldiers and the Red Cross fell in line, singing as they marched to a fit place and had a picture taken of the group, and just here it is proper to say a thing we had almost forgotten to mention. The Junior Order of United American Mechanics were out in their uniforms, and carried at the head of the column the American flag, which everywhere brought forth cheers.

While waiting for the train not much was said, but it was plain to see that the feeling was tense and that it grows tenser as draft after draft follows one after another, like wave after wave rolls up on the shore of the sea.