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Show CHEER AS BOYS 00 TOTHE WAR Galveston, Tex.. April 24 A crowd f 25,000 cheering them on the wharves whar-ves of Gaheston, with bands playing "Auld Iang Syne" and "The Girl I Left Behind Me," the four transports bearing the Fifth Brigade, Second division, divi-sion, the first unit of the American army to be sent Into Mexico, left this port tonight. The SumtiT was the first to get aw-ay, leaving the pier at A 15 o'clock. Then came the McClellan at 5.06, and thereafter the Kllpatrlck and Meade at half hour intervals. Th? torpedo boats Fhisser. Preston and Reid, Lieutenant William Ancrum in command, left shortly afterward to act as convov to the transports. On board the Kllpatriclc was General Funston and staff, and as the Kilpat-ri Kilpat-ri h drew from the pier, so prolonged and loud was the cheering that the whistles blowing throughout the city could not be heard Frenry of Emotion. For hours thousands had stood in the blazing Texas sunshine chaffing, smiling and seeing the humor of a situation that to many was filled with welling tears But when the great white prow of the Sumner shook free the worrying tug that dragged her from the wharf apron and headed Mexico-ward, a trenzy of emotion wrung I the crowd. Hands s.wung alou In salute. sa-lute. Hats soared through the air hopelessly lost. The hoarse note of an unorganized cheer tore from 26,000 throats as with one voice they shouted shout-ed farewell encouragement to the J soldiers. "They're off for Mexico" that was the one coherent sentence that was heard in a shrill feminine voice that I thrilled a throng as no Galveston crowd has been thrilled since the day the famous Galveston immune regiment regi-ment set out for (he Spanish war. Even the blare of the Fourth infantry band on board was for the moment merged in the wild yells. All Hearts Beat High. The ritcgina of the transports was so 1 .tilled with regulais in brown uniforms that they seemed like huge swarms ofi bees let loose upon the harbor As tugs laid hold on the Kilpatrlck to pull her into midstream, the bands began i to play 'Everybody s Doin' It" and the soldiers heean to tango on the decks, j There were tears on shore, but only the song of battle in the hearts on the transports. Then came a moment's lull. Slowly the Sumner gathered headway. Across the waters floated the rollicking, but plaintive, bars of: They dressed me up in soldier clothes They treated me so kindly. But yet I never will forget The girl I left behind me." Another momentary pause. Then the shrill notes of "Dixie" came to the j waiting crowds and the girls thev had left behind them forgot tbe choking of tears suppressed and Joined in the j frantic eestaev of patriotism that was the last American scene imprinted on the minds of the men who were the first to leave for the front. |