The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-12-09
FORD SHIP STARTS
AMID WILD SCENES
Cheers and Tears as Oscar Sails
for Europe.
BRYAN AND EDISON PRESENT
Head Of Party Asserts Plan Is to Boost
Peace, But Doesn't Know What
Will Happen When Vessel
Reaches Other Side.

New York, Dec. 6.-The good ship
Oscar II, with Henry Ford's peace pill
grim's aboard, set sail for blood stained
Europe. Cheers and tears flooded Ho-
boken's water front. William Jennings
Bryan stood on the end of the thronged
dock waving a red rose and murmur-
ing God bless you"
Beside Bryan stood Thomas A. Edi-
son and Mrs. Ford and her son, Edsal
Behind these stood 10000 bowling men
and women. And oat of these 10000
one man went insane and jumped into
the water.
"PlI Ward OF Torpedoes."
He jumped, saying he'd swim be-
hind the ship to ward off torpedoes
Public opinion was forcing him to do
1t, he said. He made clear dive right
beneath the outstsetched arm OF Mr..
Bryan. And then he started to swim
1t took the crew of the tug Girard Fl.
Kellar ten minutes to fish the man
out Of the cold river. They took him
to st. Mary's hospital.
Two bands were playing II Didn't
Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier" A
thousand flags were waving from the
crowded decks of the Oscar. The
mobs on the pier were singing, howl
ing, whistling and crying. Some were
hysterical; others were simply leaping
up and down emitting roars of Peace.
peace, peace, peace"
Roses Fall on Edison and Bryan.
From the decks of the liner there
fell shower of roses. They descend
ed upon Mr.. Edison and Mr.. Bryan.
Jenkin Lloyd Jones of Chicago was
standing amidships, with his hand
raised and his lips moving in prayer
Ford was standing in the bow with
his hand and his face turned skyward.
Around him were a dozen women sing
ing America" In front of him cam
eras were clicking and moving picture
machines whirring.
On the shore there were impromptu
religious services. Hymns reminis-
cent Of Billy Sundays Paterson cam
paign arose.
An intoxicated young man with a
German accent shouted: Colt Strafe
Heinrich Ford"
"Good-by. God bless you. Keep
your shoulder on the wheel, and do
not lose courage. Right is might,
and we are right"
{ This was Bryan's last word to Ford
as the former left the decks of the
Oscar an hour before sailing time.
you can do no harm by trying. You
may not be successful, but certainly
your hopes are for the best"
That is what Mr.. Edison said.
No Peace on Peace Ship.
Possibly there Is peace on the Oscar
II at night. There was none during
the day. The exact number sailing is
less than 140. OF these 81 are news
paper men and women, magazine cor
respondents and camera men.
Almost everything from murder
down attended the sailing Mr.. Bryan
was the busiest man on board. He was
a formal and official witness to the
wedding of Berton Braley, poet, and
Miss Marian Rubincam, newspaper
girl. He was kissed by an elderly
lady who wore many white streamers
on which Peace at Any Price" was
printed. The kiss landed on Mr..
Bryan's hand. The crowd was too
great to permit access to his ruddy
cheeks.
The Oscar was scheduled to sail at
two, but the wild pandemonium that
reigned on the dock and on deck de-
layed her departure an hour and thir-
teen minutes. John Burroughs, nat
uralist, and c. L. Pietro, sculptor, were
there to wave farewell to the pilgrims
The Kiss Of Peace.
Mr.. Burroughs was most dignified,
but Mr.. Pietro became ecstatic. When
he babe farewell to the Detroit paci-
fist there were tears in his eyes. And
to give full vent to his feelings he
threw both arms around the motorcar
makers neck and kissed him.
When he gave his last message, a
few minutes before the gangplank
went up, he was smiling broadly, This
was his message: ~5H
my last words is boost, boost
peace Isdon't know how this thing is
coming out. l don't know what wen
do when we get over in Europe, but
anyway I'm going to do the best I
can"