The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-03
Twenty-Eight OF to Funston
To Learn War Game.
Three of Third Quota Failed
To Show Up at Train.
TEARS SHED BY RELATIVES
~. Z. AtchisOn Addressed Men
Before They Entrained.
TrainIOadS From Other Places
Pass Thru Today.

Tears were shed at the Union Pa
cific depot this noon when twenty
eight Shawnee county drafted men
left for Camp Funston, the third
quota sent from this county Yet
they were not as profuse as at the
leave taking of forty-eight drafted
men about a week ago when the SOD
bing of mothers wives and sweet
hearts brought Jumps to throats OF
men who didn't know a single one OF
the forty-eight by sight.
Maybe, the loved ones determined
to steel themselves against displaying
their emotion. Or. maybe. Americas
heart is getting used to the good-byes
flung by tens of thousands of Amerl-
can mothers, wives and sweethearts to
their bows in the last few weeks.
The shawnee county quota of
tweuty-eight was merely a drop IN d
bucket compared to thousands Of
drafted men who passed thru Topeka
on the Union Pacific today on their
way to Fort Riley. Union Paclflc OF
ficials stated that ten special trains
for drafted men are scheduled TO pass
thru Topeka before sunset tonghL
Bulls From Leavenworth Here
Two trainloads bearing men from
Kansas City, Leavenworth and 81 10
seph and other points passed thru
while the Topeka men and thelr
friends and relatives were waiting at
the depot Jack Glynn, former ST
ToseDb detective. now chief of police
at I.eavenworth, and Sheriff w IL
Courtney of LeaVenworth' VINO were
in Topeka were at the depot 10 wave
a friendly goodbye to the heaVeil-
worth lads. -
AS on previous occasions the sides
of the cars were plastered with appro-
pirate if iuelegant expressions;
We're the fighting bulls from K
C's First Ward" read one.
''Who the -- says we ain't2 was
the challenge appearing below it
The third quota of Shawnee county
men really rumber thirty-one. How
ever. at roll call on the depot platform
lust before the train left three failed
10 reDort They are. Axel William
Sboberg. State Hospital, st. Peter.
Mimi; Wilhelm O. 3. Schmidt r. r.
1 Topeka: Clarence Lee COmstock,
r. r. :, Topeka. Members of the ex-
emptI1n boal d believe all three of the
men failed to make connections ana
will report for duty.
AtchIson Talks to Men.
The Nv enty-eight men reported at
the court house at 10 o'clock. There
W F. Atchison, former county attor-
rev addressed them. Mr.. AtchisOn
nut the men in an optimistic mood,
also their mothers. fathers, etc, who
Iverc present. He told of the wonder
ful education the trip to France would
be for them. Then he quoted staus-
tfrs showing that casualties were small
in comparison to the large number OF
men fighting in the French trenches.
The men marched out of the court
house, lined up in pairs and marched
to the Union Pacific depot There
was no band, no uniforms, nothing
to indicate to those on the street that
these men. too, were answering their
country's call, some taken from wives
and children, to do so. A few stopped
and watched the small handful
marching down the center of Kansas
avenue.
At the depot the men were obliged
TO wait nearly two hours. Surrounded
by friends and relatives they walked
up and down the depot platform,
laughed at the antics of the St
Joseph, LeaVenworth and Kansas City
men, whose train stopped long
enough for the men to go to the
depot and get box lunches prepared
for them by the Union Pacific.
Finally the train pulled in. A few
women cried. Several fathers held
their babies in their arms for 4 few
minutes. Everybody, who had any
business doing, did some kissing
others wanted to do likewise
Girl Writes on Car.
Miss Hazel Keek, who had a friend
among the drafted men. went to the
depot armed with chalk. She wrote
the following on the side of the car
bearing the Topeka men:
Goodbye Topeka Hello Funston.
then France and then-home."
4 wish it was home now" said a
woman standing at the side of the car.
William Frederick Kobs, steward at
the Boys Industrial school, was one
of the quota. He was present when
the forty-eight men left. one of the
forty eight missed the train and Kobs
and another man drew straws to see
who would fill his place.
Finally, the train whistled out of
town. Cheers were heard on all sides.
The men waved their hands until the
train pulled out Of sight TO the west.
several stood with babies in their arms
until the last minute. Several women
sobbed as the train pulled out of town.